Pengaruh Pemberian Mulsa Jerami Jagung dan Kepadatan Tanah terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Jagung (Zea mays)

Abstract

Intensive land cultivation can damage soil structure and further enable soil to be compact, and reduce water availability in the soil. Mulch application to cover the soil surface will reduce evaporation rate and increase availability of water in the soil. The research was aimed to study the effect of corn straw mulching and soil density application on physical characteristics of the soil, to determining soil bulk density and dose of mulch which is most suitable for corn growth and production of corn. The experiment was designed using a completely randomized factorial design. The first factor is the density of soil which is consist of soil bulk density 0.8, 1.0, dan 1.2 g/cm3 (K1, K2, dan K3). The second factor was corn straw mulch application which was divided into three doses i.e. 0%, 30%, 60%, and 90% (M0, M1, M2, and M3). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and further testing using Tukey Test at the level of 5%. The results of the research show the interaction of soil compaction with mulch were significantly affect on plant height at age 11-14 weeks after growing, the number of leaves at the age of 10, 11, 12, and 14 weeks after growing, dry weight of corncob both with and without husk, and dry weight of seed.The increasing of soil compaction were significantly affect on field capacity, soil resistance before planting, both total and reproductive phase evapotranspiration in single growing season, weight of roots, plant biomass, plant growth and production, also soil physics characteristic after harvest. Mulch application significantly affect on evapotranspiration of vegetative phase, plant height at 8-14 weeks after growing, stem diameter at 10 weeks after growing, and production except dry weight of seed. Soil bulk density and mulch cover suitable for the growth and production of corn is 0.8 g/cm3 and 90%.