MODEL DETEKSI PRODUKSI DAN RESPON TANAMAN SORGUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) PADA BERBAGAI DOSIS PUPUK TRICHOKOMPOS DAN KALIUM = Model of production detection and response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) to various doses of trichocompost and potassium fertilizer

ACHKMAL HUSAIN. Model of production detection and response of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) to various doses of trichocompost and potassium fertilizer (Supervised by Burhanuddin Rasyid and Muh. Farid BDR). Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an adaptive cereal crop with considerable potential for development as an alternative food source, animal feed, and bioenergy in tropical regions. However, sorghum productivity at the field level remains relatively low due to limited soil fertility and inefficient fertilization practices, particularly with respect to potassium. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various rates of Trichocompost and potassium fertilizers, applied individually and in combination, on the growth and productivity of sorghum, as well as to analyze the relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and plant growth and yield as a basis for developing a crop production detection model. The study was conducted at the Cereal Crop Breeding and Testing Center, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, from August to December 2024. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. The main plots consisted of five Trichocompost application rates (0, 4, 6, 8, and 10 t ha⁻ ¹), while the subplots consisted of four potassium fertilizer rates (0, 80, 100, and 120 kg ha⁻ ¹). Observed parameters included plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, number of branches, days to flowering, days to maturity, leaf chlorophyll index, panicle length, panicle dry weight, grain weight, 1,000-grain weight, stem weight, moisture content, juice volume, juice brix, and grain productivity. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, least significant difference (LSD) tests, correlation analysis, and path analysis. The results indicated that Trichocompost and potassium fertilization had significant to highly significant effects on most growth and yield components of sorghum. The combination of 10 t.ha⁻ ¹ Trichocompost and 80 kg.ha⁻ ¹ potassium produced the highest grain yield, with an average productivity of 4.94 t.ha⁻ ¹. Most observed traits showed positive correlations with productivity, with juice brix content (0.65) exhibiting the greatest direct effect on yield. NDVI values were strongly associated with plant growth and yield, indicating their potential as a non-destructive indicator for effectively detecting plant responses and predicting sorghum production.