Growth and Yield Responses of Three Carrot Varieties (Daucus carota L.) to Different Growing Media in Lowland Areas

Carrots are typically cultivated in highland areas; however, land expansion efforts enable carrot cultivation in lowland environments. Organic cultivation produces healthier carrots free from chemical residues. This study aimed (i) to evaluate three carrot varieties grown in different media and (ii) to assess the interaction between variety and media composition on growth and yield in the lowland area of Bengkulu City. The experiment was conducted in Kandang Limun (20 m a.s.l.), Muara Bangkahulu District, Bengkulu City, from December 2024 to March 2025, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Factor V (variety) had three levels; factor M (growing media) had four levels. The study had 12 treatment combinations with three replications, yielding 108 sample polybags. The study concluded that the use of three carrot varieties significantly influenced plant growth and yield. The Kuroda variety showed superior adaptation to lowland conditions, with the highest root weight (66.58 g) compared with the other two varieties (46.47 g and 34.81 g). A growing medium of topsoil and cow manure (1:1) produced the highest root weight (21.58 g) among the media treatments. It is recommended to cultivate carrots in polybags in lowland areas using the Kuroda variety with a growing medium composed of topsoil and cow manure (1:1).