Kajian Agronomi Pemanfaatan Biomulsa Kacang Hias (Arachis pintoi) pada Budidaya Jagung Manis (Zea mays saccharata Strurt.) di Lahan Kering

Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to observe the effect of the utilization of legum cover crop Arachis pintoi as bio-mulch on sweet corn production (Zea mays saccharata Sturt) compared with Centrosema pubescens and Calopogonium mucunoides. The experiment was held at Cikabayan Eksperimental Field, Bogor in February-September 2013. Randomized completey block design (RCBD) was used in this experiment with a single factor and three repitions. The factor is the difference of mulch variety that consist of control (natural vegetation with weeding), natural vegetation (without weeding), plastic mulch, A. pintoi, C. pubescens, and C. mucunoides. The use of A. pintoi bio-mulch influenced weeds variety replacement that grown in the treatment field. The treatment of A. pintoi is more effective to decrease the growth of grass weeds than that of C. pubescens and C. mucunoides. The treatment of A. pintoi bio-mulch increased the content of C-Organik, N-Total, and K2O in the soil. Based on the result, the difference of mulch variety showed a significant effect on all of observed sweet corn characters, except cob long and circle. The result also showed no significant difference among the treatments of A. pintoi, C. pubescens, and C. mucunoides on sweet corn production. The treatment of plastic mulch showed a higher rate than another treatment in increasing sweet corn production.