The Content of Agar Seaweed Gracilaria verrucosa Fertilized with Vermicompost

The economic value of seaweed G. verrucosa depends on the content of the agar it has. Cultivation Gracilaria verrucosa generally use inorganic fertilizers that are not environmentally friendly, inorganic fertilizer is not a wise step considering the recent increase in consumers who want a product that is free of pesticide residues. The purpose of this study was to analyze the optimal dose of vermicompost fertilizer to produce high quality of agar rendement, viscosity and gel strength seaweed Gracilaria verrucosa. From the result of the research, it was found that the quality of agar rendement, viscosity and gel strength were normal and homogeneous distribution (p>0,05). Then the ANOVA test showed that the fertilizer treatment gave a significant effect on the quality of agar rendement and viscosity (p <0,05), while the quality of agar gel strength did not give significant effect (p> 0,05). The highest level of viscosity and rendement of Gracilaria verrucosa seaweed was found in treatment A and the lowest in treatment F (control). The highest level quality of agar gel strength Gracilaria verrucosa was found in treatment F compared with other treatment.