Weeding on Sago Plantation at PT. National Timber and Forest Product, Tebing Tinggi Island, Meranti, Riau, Indonesia

Abstract

Weed is one problem in the cultivation of sago palm, especially on deep peat soil. Weed can growth and develop faster in humid mineral soil. Weeding is very important in the early growth stage to reduce competition for nutrients, water, sunlight .. and space. After weeding, sago palm maintenance could be done more easily. This experiment has been conducted at PT. National Timber and Forest Product. Although weeding was very interesting, from 2004-2008 weeding was not done. At the beginning of 2009, the weeding has been restarted. The treatments consisted of many kind herbicides and dosages. The treatments were glyphosate (liquid), and metsulfuron (granular) herbicides. Dosages of herbicides were 1.5 I, 3 I, 37.5 g, 75 g, per ha dosages, Combination herbicides were (glifosat 3 I/ha, metsulfuron 75 g/ha, glifosat 1.5 I/ha + metsulfuron 37.5 g/ha, combined with manual weeding), only manual weeding, control (without weeding), and (glifosat 3 I/ha, metsulfuron 75 g/ha, glifosat 1.5 I/ha + metsulfuron 37.5 g/ha without manual weeding in the beginning). The results indicated that dominant weed were Neprolephis bisserata Schott., Stenoclaena palustris (Burm,) Bedd, Mikania micrantha H. K. B., Boreria sp., Melastoma malabatrichum, Glichenia sp. Manual weeding combined with glyphosate 1.5 I/ha and metsulfuron 37.5 g/ha was not significantly different with manual weeding only. It could be seen in the SDR (Summed Dominated Ration), dry weight and height of weeds. The effect of weeding treatments on sago palm growth was not significantly different.