Impact of compost application on growth and yield of lowland rice varieties under rainfed conditions in Gowa, Indonesia

Abstract

Enhancing rice productivity under rainfed ecosystems remains a major challenge for sustainable food security. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of compost application on the growth and yield of three lowland rice varieties in Tompobalang Village, Gowa Regency, Indonesia. A field experiment was conducted from November 2022 to May 2023 using a split-plot design with three replications. The main plots consisted of three rice varieties, namely Celebes (V1), Cisantana (V2), and Ciliwung (V3), while the subplots were compost application rates: 0 (control), 0.75 t ha−1, and 1.5 t ha−1. The results showed that rice variety significantly affected yield. Ciliwung produced the highest yield (3.79 t ha−1), while Celebes had the lowest (3.24 t ha−1). Compost application tended to improve growth and yield, although the effects were not consistently significant across all parameters. No significant interaction between variety and compost dose was observed for most traits, except for harvest maturity. These findings suggest that compost application has potential to support rice production in rainfed systems, although its effectiveness may vary depending on the observed traits.