Developments of Desmodium spp. as cover crop plant in post mining reclamation.

Abstract

Mining is one of state revenue source in Indonesia. The topsoil were deployed after the excavation of minerals that usually not form a compact structure, so it is prone to erosion when it rains. One effort to reduce the rate of soil ground erosion is planting cover crops. Cover crops are specifically planted to protect soil from erosion threat of damage and to improve the chemical and physical properties of soil. The Objective of this study is to obtain information about taxonomy and characteristics of cover crop of Desmodium spp. type, to calculate the productivity of cover crop of Desmodium spp. types, and to analyse the response of jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba) seedlings growth to soil cover crops Desmodium spp. This research was conducted in three stages, the first stage is multiplication Desmodium spp. and observation on its characteristic, second is planting in the nursery to measure the rate of plant growth and productivity, and the lastly is planting Desmodium spp. with jabon seedling to observe its effects on jabon seedling. The research data is analyzed with statistics to observe the effect of its treatment and treatment combination of growth parameters of jabon seedling, if significant then further tested DMRT (Duncan's Multiple Range Test) with a 5% significance level. Study results shows that Desmodium spp. plant has different characteristics among species. D. heterophyllum type is the highest type of its individual accretion compared with D. ovalifolium and D. triflorum. Desmodium spp. plant have different productivity among species. D. heterophyllum type has the highest productivity compared with other types, where the speed of land cover, plant growth rate, and the highest biomass production compared with D. ovalifolium and D. triflorum. Treatment interaction of Desmodium spp. with soil type can increase the diameter, height, number of leaves of jabon seedlings with the greatest sequence is planting with D. triflorum, D. heterophyllum, D. ovalifolium, and control, so that it can recommended to be planted together.