Pengendalian Hama Kapas Menggunakan Mulsa Jerami Padi - SUBIYAKTO SUBIYAKTO; I G.A.A. INDRAYANI (Puslitbang Perkebunan, 2008)
ABSTRAKTeknik pengelolaan serangga hama dan budidaya tanaman mempunyai suatu kesamaan, yaitu menciptakan ekosistem alami. Penggunaan mulsa jerami padi adalah upaya manipulasi habitat yang menyebabkan iklim mikro lebih kondusif terhadap perkembangan mikroartropoda tanah dan artropoda predator serangga hama. Pemberian mulsa jerami padi dapat meningkatkan peran artropoda predator sebagai pengendali alami serangga hama, sehingga dapat mengurangi frekuensi ambang populasi hama dan mengurangi penggunaan insektisida. Pemberian mulsa jerami padi 6 ton/ha pada tanaman kapas tumpangsari dapat mengurangi penggunaan insektisida 57%. Dilihat dari aspek budidaya, pemberian mulsa jerami dapat menjaga kelembapan dan suhu permukaan tanah. Pemberian mulsa jerami padi pada kapas tumpangsari kedelai dapat meningkatkan hasil panen kapas 21% dan kedelai 31%. Kebiasaan petani membakar jerami dapat memberikan dampak negatif terhadap perkembangan mikroorganisme, khususnya mikroartropoda tanah dan artropoda predator serangga hama.Kata kunci: Gossypium hirsutum, pengendalian hama, mulsa, jerami padi, tumpangsari. ABSTRACTCotton insect pest control by using paddy straw mulchInsect pest management and cultural techniques have been applying for plant management based on natural ecosystem properties. Habitat manipulation by applying paddy straw mulch is one of biological approach to increase micro climate environment become suitable for growth and development of soil arthropod population. Paddy straw mulch of 6 ton/ha enhanced the role of soil microarthropods and predators, reduced the frequency of pest population threshold, and decreased the chemical insecticide application for insect control by 57%. Straw mulch can also be used to maintain moisture and temperature of soil surface needed by arthropod for their population development. Cotton yield increased by 21% while soybean about 31% in cotton intercropped with soybean when paddy straw mulch were applied before planting during cotton season. Sanitation by burning paddy straw after harvest would make the soil environment unsuitable for growth and development of soil microorganisms due to killed by this activity.Key words: Pest control, paddy straw mulch, intercropped.