Evaluasi Lima Legume Cover Crops Berdasarkan Pertumbuhan Vegetatif, Tutupan Tanah dan Biomassa

Abstract

Legume Cover Crops (LCC) merupakan tanaman penutup tanah yang banyak digunakan pada fase tanaman belum menghasilkan (TBM) dan peremajaan kelapa sawit. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi lima jenis LCC, yaitu koro pedang (Canavalia ensiformis), koro benguk (Mucuna pruriens), kecipir (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), kacang tunggak (Vigna unguiculata), dan Mucuna bracteata berdasarkan pertumbuhan, penutupan tanah, dan produksi biomassa. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Perumahan Alam Sinar Sari, Dramaga, Bogor, pada April 2026–Juni 2026 menggunakan Rancangan Kelompok Lengkap Teracak (RKLT) dengan lima perlakuan dan tiga ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa koro benguk dan M. bracteata memiliki daya berkecambah tertinggi (100%) pada 12 HST. Koro benguk menghasilkan panjang tanaman tertinggi (210,5 cm), sedangkan kacang tunggak menghasilkan jumlah daun terbanyak (102 helai). Koro pedang menghasilkan penutupan tanah tertinggi (90%) serta biomassa tertinggi, yaitu biomassa basah 212 gram dan biomassa kering 62 gram. Berdasarkan pertumbuhan dan produksi biomassa, koro pedang dan koro benguk berpotensi dimanfaatkan sebagai tanaman penutup tanah sekaligus sumber biomassa dan pupuk hijau.

Legume Cover Crops (LCCs) were widely used as cover crops during the immature and replanting phases of oil palm plantations. This study aimed to evaluate five LCC species, namely jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis), velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens), winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), and Mucuna bracteata, based on their growth, ground cover ability, and biomass production. The experiment was conducted at Alam Sinar Sari Residential Area, Dramaga, Bogor, from April 2026 to June 2026 using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments and three replications. The results showed that velvet bean and M. bracteata achieved the highest germination percentage (100%) at 12 days after sowing (DAS). Velvet bean produced the greatest plant length (210.5 cm), while cowpea produced the highest number of leaves (102 leaves). Jack bean produced the highest ground cover (90%) and biomass, with 212 grams of fresh biomass and 62 grams of dry biomass. Based on growth and biomass production, jack bean and velvet bean had the potential to be utilized as cover crops as well as sources of biomass and green manure.