OPTIMASI PENAMBAHAN PUPUK KANDANG SAPI PERAH DAN SAPI PEDAGING UNTUK PEMBIBITAN ALFALFA (Medicago sativa L.)

Abstract

Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh jenis dan dosis pupuk kandang sapi perah dan sapi pedaging terhadap pertumbuhan bibit alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) faktorial 2 × 5 dengan 10 ulangan, terdiri atas dua jenis pupuk kandang dan lima dosis, yaitu 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, dan 20%. Parameter yang diamati meliputi tinggi tanaman, diameter batang, jumlah cabang, dan jumlah daun. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa jenis pupuk kandang tidak memberikan pengaruh berbeda nyata terhadap seluruh parameter pertumbuhan. Peningkatan dosis hingga 20% meningkatkan tinggi tanaman dan jumlah cabang secara nyata, sedangkan diameter batang dan jumlah daun tidak menunjukkan peningkatan nyata. Korelasi menunjukkan hubungan sangat kuat antara dosis pupuk kandang sapi perah dan jumlah cabang (r = 0,96), serta hubungan kuat antara pupuk kandang sapi pedaging dan tinggi tanaman (r = 0,77). Simpulan dari penelitian ini adalah dosis pupuk kandang 20% efektif mendukung pertumbuhan vegetatif awal bibit alfalfa.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of manure type and application rate of dairy and beef cattle manure on the growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seedlings. A 2 × 5 factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 10 replications was used, consisting of two manure types and five application rates: 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The observed parameters were plant height, stem diameter, branch number, and leaf number. The results showed that manure type did not significantly affect the growth parameters. Increasing the manure rate up to 20% significantly increased plant height and branch number, while stem diameter and leaf number did not show significant increases. Correlation analysis showed a very strong relationship between dairy cattle manure rate and branch number (r = 0.96), and a strong relationship between beef cattle manure rate and plant height (r = 0.77). The conclusion of this study is 20% manure application rate was effective in supporting the early vegetative growth of alfalfa seedlings.