Effect of different seed treatments methods on the growth and yield of shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.)

Seed treatment is an effective strategy for improving seed vigor, plant establishment, and crop productivity. However, information regarding the effectiveness of peptide-based seed treatment methods on shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of different seed treatment methods using Golden Grow and keratin hydrolysate peptide on the growth and yield of shallots. The experiment was conducted in Songan B Village, Kintamani, Bali, Indonesia, using a randomized block design with three seed treatment methods and nine replications. The treatments consisted of: (Sa) farmers' conventional practice by cutting one-third of the bulb tip, (Sb) coating bulbs with a solution containing 1 mL Golden Grow L⁻¹ water and 2 mL peptide L⁻¹ water, and (Sc) briefly dipping bulbs in the same solution before planting. Growth variables, physiological traits, yield components, and bulb productivity were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by the least significant difference test at the 5% level. The conventional cutting treatment (Sa) produced superior vegetative growth, resulting in the highest leaf chlorophyll content (74.58 SPAD units), relative water content (87.96%), and number of leaves (53.74). In contrast, the coating treatment (Sb) consistently produced the highest yield performance, including bulb weight per clump (118.93 g), number of bulbs per clump (18.65), yield per plot (4.28 kg), and estimated yield per hectare (14.27 t ha⁻¹). These findings indicate that coating shallot bulbs with Golden Grow and keratin hydrolysate peptide is a promising seed treatment approach for enhancing yield while maintaining favorable plant growth, offering an environmentally friendly alternative for sustainable shallot production.