Litterfall Production and Semi Aerobic Decomposition of Leaf Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King).
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Date
2014Author
Nugroho, Setyo Andi
Muhadiono
Rusmana, Iman
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Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) is one of the most valuable tropical tree in the world, due to their potential use in the development of artificial forest such as a forest city. Mahogany trees produced enough litter, however the litter was not used maximally. These litter can be used as a compost fertilizer after composting decomposition. This research aims were to assess the productivity of litter mahogany, to evaluate the effect of leaf size mahogany and addition of EM4. Mahogany litter productivity was measured using litter-trap method. Litter leaf fall was trapped by 1m x 1m sample plot. There were 24 sample plots placed under mahagony stands. The plot height was 50 cm above the soil surface. Semi aerobic decomposition was set up in bucket with nets. The cover of the bucket had 3 holes with a diameter of 2 mm for air ventilation and maintaining moisture. Temperature and pH were monitored weekly. The experiment was set up with two factors completely randomized design. The first factor was the size of litter with 3 different sizes i.e. 25-30 cm2 (P1), 7-10 cm2 (P2) and 0,7-1 cm2 (P3). The second factor was microbes (EM4) addition with 3 different volume i.e. 5 ml (K1), 10 ml (K2) and 20 ml (K3). The microbes (EM4) was prepared with 100 g of sugar in 1 liter water. Data were analyzed using the F test at the 95% confidence level. If there was significancy, then continued with DMRT. Enumeration of bacterial groups was conducted using 4 selective media i.e. MRSA media for Lactobacillus sp, SCA for Actinomycetes sp, sistrom’s media for photosynthetic bacteria, and PDA for yeast. Productivity of litterfall was determined from the average of collected litter. The reduction rate of semi aerobic litter decomposition were used to show the decomposition rate. Total concentration organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphate and potash were analised at the end of experiment. The results showed that the highest litter productivity of mahogany at sixteen weeks of composting periode, it was 89.24 g/m2/week in May-June (the dry season). The highest litter productivity was found in tree no 2 (with 33 cm in diameter, 20 m in height, and 5.5 m crown thickness). Total productivity was 1415 g/m2/week. The results showed that P3K2 treatment was the most efficient decomposition process, it was shown at seven week of composting periode. This treatment was combination of 0.7-1 cm2 litter size and addition of 10 ml EM4.