Growth and Physiological Responses of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Red Mud-Contaminated Soil Enriched with Biofertilizer and Soil Amendments

Rakyan Haikal Sabili, Prof. Dr. Laurentius Hartanto Nugroho, M.Agr.

2026 | Skripsi | BIOLOGI

Red mud merupakan limbah samping produksi alumina yang bersifat sangat basa dan mengandung logam berat sehingga berpotensi menurunkan kualitas tanah serta menghambat pertumbuhan tanaman. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi pengaruh biofertilizer, baik secara tunggal maupun dikombinasikan dengan asam humat (HA) dan nanosilika (NS), terhadap pertumbuhan, respons fisiologis, biokimia, dan profil senyawa organik volatil (volatile organic compounds/VOC) tanaman tomat (Solanum lycopersicum) yang ditanam pada tanah tercemar red mud. Penelitian menggunakan enam perlakuan, yaitu kontrol positif, kontrol negatif, biofertilizer (B), B + HA, B + NS, dan B + HA + NS. Parameter yang diamati meliputi pertumbuhan tanaman selama tujuh minggu, aktivitas nitrat reduktase (NRA), aktivitas superoksida dismutase (SOD), kandungan klorofil (SPAD), serta profil VOC menggunakan Headspace Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (HS-GC-MS). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tinggi tanaman dan jumlah daun tidak berbeda nyata antar perlakuan (p > 0,05), yang mengindikasikan bahwa aplikasi biofertilizer, baik tunggal maupun dikombinasikan dengan asam humat dan nanosilika, belum mampu meningkatkan pertumbuhan tomat secara nyata pada kondisi tercemar red mud. Aktivitas NRA dan SOD juga tidak menunjukkan perbedaan yang signifikan antar perlakuan (p > 0,05). Namun demikian, kandungan klorofil pada perlakuan B + HA + NS secara signifikan lebih tinggi (p < 0>

Red mud, a highly alkaline by-product of alumina production, contains elevated concentrations of heavy metals that pose risks to soil quality and plant growth. Biofertilizers have emerged as a sustainable approach for improving plant performance in contaminated soils. This study evaluated the effects of biofertilizer, applied alone or in combination with humic acid (HA) and nanosilica (NS), on the growth, physiological, biochemical, and volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in red mud-contaminated soil. Six treatments were evaluated: positive control, negative control, biofertilizer (B), B + HA, B + NS, and B + HA + NS. Growth parameters were monitored over seven weeks, while physiological responses were assessed through nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Biochemical responses were evaluated using chlorophyll content (SPAD) and headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) analysis of leaf VOCs. Plant height and leaf count did not differ significantly among treatments (p > 0.05), indicating that biofertilizer, alone or combined with humic acid and nanosilica, did not measurably improve tomato growth under red mud stress. Similarly, NRA and SOD activities showed no significant differences across treatments (p > 0.05). However, chlorophyll content was significantly higher (p < 0>

Kata Kunci : biofertilizer, abiotic stress, enzymatic activity, red mud, Solanum lycopersicum