PENGARUH PEMUPUKAN TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN, PRODUKSI, DAN MUTU TANAMAN TIMI (Thymus vulgaris L.)

ABSTRAK   Tanaman   timi   banyak   dibudidayakan   di   Indonesia   karena bermanfaat  untuk  kesehatan.  Kebutuhan  hara  N,  P,  dan  K  pentingdiketahui  untuk  mendukung  budidayanya.  Penelitian  bertujuan  untukmengetahui respon pemupukan terhadap pertumbuhan, produksi, mutusimplisia, dan serapan hara tanaman timi. Penelitian dilaksanakan di KP. Manoko  (1200  m  dpl)  pada  bulan  Januari  sampai  Desember 2013.Penelitian menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok dengan empat ulangan.Perlakuan pemupukan: (1) kontrol (tanpa pupuk); (2) 20 ton/ha pupukkandang; (3) 20 ton/ha pupuk kandang + urea, SP36, dan KCl masing- masing 50 kg/ha; (4) 20 ton/ha pupuk kandang + urea, SP36, dan KCl masing-masing 75 kg/ha; (5) 20 ton/ha pupuk kandang + urea, SP36, danKCl masing-masing 100 kg/ha; (6) 20 ton/ha pupuk kandang + urea, SP36,dan KCl masing-masing 125 kg/ha; (7) 20 ton/ha pupuk kandang + urea,SP36, dan KCl masing-masing 150 kg/ha; dan (8) Urea, SP36, dan KClmasing-masing 150 kg/ha. Peubah yang diamati: tinggi, bobot segar dankering, produksi herba kering, mutu simplisia, serta kadar hara N, P, dan K tanaman. Produksi herba tertinggi (3,93 ton/ha) diperoleh pada perlakuanurea, SP36, dan KCl masing-masing 150 kg/ha. Peningkatan SP36 menjadi 150 kg/ha yang diikuti oleh urea dan KCl masing-masing 150 kg/ha tanpapupuk kandang, mampu meningkatkan herba kering timi 44-88%. Kadar thymol  tertinggi (70,90%)  dicapai  pada  perlakuan 20  ton/ha  pupuk kandang +  urea,  SP36,  dan  KCl  masing-masing 150  kg/ha,  namunmenghasilkan kadar minyak atsiri terendah (0,30%). Sebaliknya, kadarthymol terendah (43,99%) dicapai pada perlakuan tanpa pupuk, tetapi memiliki kadar minyak atsiri tertinggi (0,92%).   Kata kunci:  Thymus  vulgaris  L.,  pemupukan,  pertumbuhan,  produksi, kualitas   The Effect of Fertilizer on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.)  ABSTRACT       Thyme has been cultivating in Indonesia because of  its benefits for health. Thyme nutrients requirement is important to support its cultivation.This study is aimed to evaluate thyme responses to fertilizer. The research was  conducted  at  Manoko  Experimental  Garden (1200  m  asl)  fromJanuary to December 2013, arranged in randomized block design with four replications. Fertilization treatments: (1) control (no fertilizer); (2) 20tonnes/kg manure; (3) 20 tonnes/ha manure + 50 kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl; (4) 20 tonnes/kg manure + 75 kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl;   (5) 20 tonnes/kg manure + 100 kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl; (6) 20tonnes/kg manure + 125 kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl; (7) 20tonnes/kg manure + 150 kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl; and (8) 150kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl. Parameters observed: plant height, fresh and dry weight per plant, yield of dry herb, simplicia quality, and N, P, and K contents. Treatment 150 kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl was produced the highest yield (3.93 tonnes/ha). The increase of SP36 until 25 kg/ha combined with 150 kg/ha urea and KCl could enhance yield of dry herb 44-88%. The highest thymol content (70.90%) was obtained from treatment 20 tonnes/kg manure + 150 kg/ha of each urea, SP36, and KCl, but it produced the lowest essential oil content (0.30%). Contrarily, control treatment produced the highest essential oil content (0.92%) but gave the lowest thymol content (43.99%). Key words: Thymus vulgaris L., fertilization, growth, yield, quality