Pengaruh Limbah Kulit Samak terhadap Kurva Retensi Air Regosol Dramaga dan Podsolik Jasinga

Abstract

Leather waste is the residue of the leather tanning process. Since leather waste is by product of organic based industry it may have the potential to be used in agriculture practices. The objectives of this research are to examine the effect of leather waste on water retention curve of sandy and clay soils. Water retention curve were derived from pressure plate apparatus data. The water content of the leather waste of pF 1, pF 2, pF 2.54 and pF 4.2 were respectively 22.85%, 15.66%, 14.79% and 13.29%. The analysis of variance showed that leather waste dosage, soil texture and their interactions significantly affected water content of pF 1, pF 2, pF 2.54 and pF 4.2. Leather waste application tend to shift water retention curve to the left, either in sandy or clay soil. The higher the dosage leather waste the lower the water content. The decrease of water content at higher pF value suggests that leather waste only has the ability to absorb water but not capable to hold them when a pressure is applied.