AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE www.arccjournals.com Indian J. Agric. Res., 53(6) 2019: 741-744 Print ISSN:0367-8245 / Online ISSN:0976-058X *Corresponding author’s e-mail:endang.purbajanti@live.undip.ac.id 1 Universitas Diponegoro, Jalan Prof Sudharto SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia. 2 Field Instructor of Agriculture, Getasan sub-district, Semarang regency, Agriculture Ministry, Indonesia. Growth, Herbage Yield and Chemical Composition of Talinum Paniculatum (Jacq.) Endang Dwi Purbajanti* 1 , Susi Setyawati 2 and Budi Adi Kristanto 1 Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia. Received: 11-01-2019 Accepted: 08-08-2019 DOI: 10.18805/IJARe.A-411 ABSTRACT Java Ginseng (Talinum paniculatum Gaertn.) is a succulent plant from the family Portulacaceae which can be consumed as vegetable. There were three main objectives for the research. Firstly, to evaluate the growth of plants Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) with the different levels of nitrogen and harvesting times. Secondly, to understand the level of nitrogen fertilizer on the largest biomass production. Thirdly, to know the harvesting weeks for the largest biomass production with the best quality. The combination treatment between the harvesting times of 8 wk and the manure 150 kg N ha -1 has effects on the plant height, the numbers of branches and leaves. The highest protein content was reached at 4 wks harvesting age with fertilization of 150 kg N ha -1 with significant difference in all treatments. Key words: Growth, Harvesting weeks, Nitrogen fertilizer, Quality, Talinum paniculatum Gaertn, Yield. INTRODUCTION Talinum paniculatum Gaertn. or Som Java is recognized as having various medicinal properties (Manuhara et al., 2015). Plants Som Java (Talinum spp.) is known as a source, of traditional herbal medicine in Asia as a tonic for fertility (Thanamool et al., 2013). Its leaves and plant canopy can be consumed as vegetable that contains high nutrition. Ginseng is easily propagated by using plant materials such as seeds or stem cuttings (Susanti et al., 2008). Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Wild. (Portulacaceae) is a caulescent, perennial herb growing to a height of 80-100 cm. It is popularly known as Waterleaf because of its high moisture content of almost 90.8% edible leaf (Swarna and Ravindhran, 2013). With sufficient supply of nitrogen, nitrogen uptake depends largely on the level of plant growth through internal regulation (Gastal and Lemaire, 2002). Nitrogen deficiency has three potential effects, decrease in leaf area and in leaf nitrogen content preservation for photosynthesis, decrease in managing the leaf area and lowering the leaf nitrogen content, or combination of both responses (Flecther et al, 2013). Growth is influenced by root uptake and accumulation of nitrogen allocation. Although long roots can only absorb a small amount of nitrogen, nitrogen allocation to older leaves is higher in plants with long roots. Nitrogen is needed to support the growth of leaves. When root growth rate is low, nitrogen supplied from other parts of the plant, such as old leaves was almost yellowing (Schoene and Yeager, 2007). This study was conducted to determine the agronomic ability of Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) as a vegetable crop to evaluate the growth, biomass production and the quality of vegetables production of Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) at different levels of nitrogen and harvesting ages (cutting intervals). MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was conducted at the editorial Village, Getasan sub-district, Semarang regency, Indonesia, in March, 2016 to September, 2016. The soil was classified as a type of Oxisol with loam texture. The soil pH was 5.6, organic matter was of 1.4% and a bulk density was 1.1. The soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and pottasium (K) content were 0:28%, 16 ppm and 18 ppm, respectively. The experimental design was a 3 x 3 Factorial RBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) with three replications. The spacing 50 x 25 cms (40 plants.plot -1 ). Treatments were harvesting intervals of 4, 6, 8 weeks after sowing and fertilizer application of 50,100,150 kg N ha -1 . Plants were given phosphate fertilizer as much as 70 kg SP36 and 50 kg KCl ha -1 . Micronutrients (Fe, Mn, B, Mo, Cu, Zn, Cl, Co) were added as much as 10 grams per plot. Gap filling was done on 5 day after sowing. Parameters measured were plant height, number of branches, number of leaves and crop growth rate. Harvesting was done by taking the entire header and leaving the stem with the height of 10 cms from the ground. Plant height is measured from the base of the stem to the growing point of the plant. The number of branches and leaves were calculated on the entire plant canopy. Biomass yield was calculated in each plot. Dry matter content, mineral content, fat, fiber and protein were analyzed