Effect of Inorganic Fertilizers and Stingless Bee Pollination on Increasing Productivity of Corn (Zea mays L.)

Increasing agricultural output can be encouraged by fertilizing, even the greater the fertilizer is given, the higher the yield will be obtained. On the other hand pollinator services to increase agricultural output is also quite large, but this potential has not yet been optimized. Corn plants are monoecious but they are also protandry so pollinator services are needed. This research aims to get optimization of increasing yield of corn by fertilizing and pollination with stingless bees.

The study was carried out at Korong Gadang sub-district, Kuranji District, Padang City at an altitude 20 m above sea level. The experiment comprised of 4 treatments laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice.

The results of the study showed a positive influence of doses inorganic fertilization and stingless bee on corn production. There was at an increase in the number of seeds per cob and cobs per plot due to fertilization than the pollination stingless bees. Increased seed production per plot due to fertilizer use ranged between 17.25 to 25.06% compared to organic manures. The pollination process could increase production in the range of 3, 98 - 6.66% compared to wind pollination. Thus pollination with Tetragonula laeviceps could help seed yield per ha when accompanied by the application of inorganic fertilizers. The use of organic manures could not meet the nutrient requirement of the crop and hence production was low.