<![CDATA[Bawang merah (Allium ascalonicum L.) merupakan komoditas hortikultura bernilai ekonomi tinggi dan banyak dibudidayakan di wilayah Indonesia, termasuk di Desa Jawi-Jawi Kecamatan Panai Hulu Kabupaten Labuhanbatu. Salah satu faktor budidaya yang memengaruhi produktivitas bawang merah adalah jarak tanam, karena ruang tumbuh berkaitan langsung dengan kompetisi cahaya, air, dan unsur hara. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh variasi jarak tanam terhadap pertumbuhan bawang merah dan menentukan jarak optimal untuk diterapkan di lokasi penelitian. Metode penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) terdiri atas tiga perlakuan jarak tanam: P1 (10 × 10 cm), P2 (15 × 15 cm), dan P3 (20 × 20 cm), masing-masing diulang tiga kali. Parameter yang diamati meliputi tinggi tanaman, jumlah daun, dan diameter umbi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa jarak tanam berpengaruh nyata terhadap semua parameter pertumbuhan. Perlakuan P2 memberikan hasil terbaik dengan rata-rata tinggi tanaman 32,8 cm, jumlah daun 12,7 helai, dan diameter umbi 3,6 cm, sedangkan perlakuan P1 menghasilkan nilai terendah. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa jarak tanam moderat memberikan keseimbangan optimal antara ruang tumbuh dan penggunaan lahan. Dengan demikian, jarak tanam 15 × 15 cm direkomendasikan sebagai jarak tanam ideal dalam budidaya bawang merah di Desa Jawi-Jawi dan wilayah dengan karakteristik lahan yang serupa. The Effect of Planting Distance on the Growth of Shallots in Jawi-Jawi Village, Panai Hulu District, Labuhanbatu Regency Abstract Shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.) are a horticultural commodity with high economic value and are widely cultivated in Indonesia, including in Jawi-Jawi Village, Panai Hulu District, Labuhanbatu Regency. One of the cultivation factors that influence shallot productivity is planting distance, because growing space is directly related to competition for light, water, and nutrients. This study aims to determine the effect of variations in planting distance on shallot growth and determine the optimal distance to be applied at the research location. The research method used a quantitative approach with a randomized block design (RAK) consisting of three planting distance treatments: P1 (10 × 10 cm), P2 (15 × 15 cm), and P3 (20 × 20 cm), each repeated three times. The parameters observed included plant height, number of leaves, and bulb diameter. The results showed that planting distance significantly affected all growth parameters. Treatment P2 produced the best results, with an average plant height of 32.8 cm, leaf number of 12.7, and bulb diameter of 3.6 cm, while treatment P1 produced the lowest results. These findings indicate that moderate planting distance provides an optimal balance between growing space and land use. Therefore, a planting distance of 15 × 15 cm is recommended as the ideal planting distance for shallot cultivation in Jawi-Jawi Village and areas with similar land characteristics.]]>
