Topo Tidore Shallot Growth and Yield under Clove Canopy: Effects of Elevation and Liquid Organic Fertilizer

HistoryThe Topo Tidore shallot variety is a leading horticultural commodity in North Maluku with high economic potential.However, its productivity remains relatively low because of suboptimal cultivation practices and cultivation under shaded clove-based agroecosystems.This study aimed to evaluate the interaction effect of altitude and liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) concentration on the growth and yield of Topo Tidore shallots cultivated in clove canopies.The experiment was conducted from September to November 2025 at two altitudes, 50 and 500 m above sea level (asl), using a factorial randomized block design with three replications.The first factor was altitude, while the second factor consisted of six LOF concentrations: 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mL L⁻¹.The observed variables included plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, fresh weight, and dry weight of plants.The results showed that altitude and LOF concentration significantly affected shallot growth and yield.Plants cultivated at 50 m asl exhibited superior growth compared to those at 500 m asl.The application of 15 mL L⁻¹ LOF produced the optimum results at 50 m asl, with plant height reaching 44.67 cm at 40 days after planting, seven leaves, and 10 tillers plant⁻¹.Fresh and dry weights reached 52.67 g and 28.33 g, respectively, representing increases of 43.7% and 37.6% compared with the control treatment at the same altitude.In contrast, plants grown at 500 m asl showed lower growth performance across all parameters.Overall, the best treatment combination was obtained at 50 m asl with an LOF concentration of 15 mL L⁻¹, indicating that moderate organic fertilization effectively improved shallot productivity under shaded agroforestry conditions.These findings demonstrate the potential application of environmentally friendly fertilization strategies to support sustainable shallot cultivation and improve the productivity of local varieties in clove-based agroecosystems.