Page 29 - Demo

1st Int. Transborder Conf. of the Timor Island: Timor %u2013 Science without borderDili, 7-8 May 202528Enhancing Growth and Nutritional Quality of Hydroponic Maize Fodder With Natural Liquid Fertilizers: Insights From A Comparative StudyI. Benu1,*, I G. N. Jelantik1, M. L. Mullik1, G. E. M. Malelak1, M. M. Laut2, W. Turupadang1, G. A. Y. Lestari1, D. M. Sabat1and M. M. Sol%u2019uf11Faculty of Animal Science, Marine, and Fisheries, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Indonesia2Faculty of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Nusa Cendana, Indonesia*Corresponding author: imanuelbenu@staf.undana.ac.idAbstractThe utilization of hydroponic systems presents a promising and sustainable approach to mitigating fodder shortages, particularly in dryland and resource-constrained environments. This study aimed to assess the influence of natural liquid fertilizers, including bio-urine (BU), Chromolaena odorata extract (CO), and compost tea (CT), applied at varying concentrations (0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%), on the growth performance and chemical composition of hydroponic maize fodder. The findings revealed that fertilizer source significantly affected key nutritional parameters, including crude fiber, ether extract, and carbohydrate content. BU and CT treatments led to higher crude fiber concentrations, whereas CO application significantly enhanced ether extract levels. Additionally, fertilizer concentration had a notable effect on ether extract content and oven-dried biomass weight. Morphological attributes such as plant height, leaf length, and leaf width improved significantly with fertilizer application, with optimal responses observed at the 30% application level. In summary, the use of natural liquid fertilizers (bio-urine, Chromolaena odorata extract, and compost tea) shows strong potential to improve both the nutritional quality and biomass yield of hydroponically grown maize fodder. These findings highlight the value of eco-friendly fertilizer alternatives as practical and sustainable solutions to enhance forage availability, especially in dryland regions where conventional fodder production is often constrained.Keywords: bio-urine, compost tea, Chromolaena odorata, hydroponic fodder, organic fertilizer.