KARAKTERISTIK FISIK DAN KIMIA TANAH PERKEBUNAN KELAPA SAWIT Elaeis guineensis Jacq) DENGAN PENUTUP TANAH Mucuna bracteata", journal = "Institut Teknologi Sawit Indonesia", volume = "Vol 1 No 1 (2017): Juni 2017", pages = "", year = "2017", url = https://ejurnal.stipap.ac.id/index.php/JAE/article/view/59/50 author = "Sakiah Sakiah; Mariani Sembiring; Novita Sari", abstract = "Optimal nutrient delivery is one way to increase palm oilproduction. This is because the need ofnutrients for palm oil is quite high, while the soil capacity in providing nutrients for plants is limited. Besides fertilization, nutrients can be given in the form o forganic materials added or grown as cover crop. Beans as a cover crop is a vine that can increase nutrients and improve soil quality. Ofthe many types o fbeans as a cover crop, Mucuna bracteata is the most widely used species, because it has several advantages, namely rapid growth, high biomass production, resistant to shade, resistant to drought, suppress the growth ofweeds, and not liked by livestock. Mucuna bracteata also has benefitsforpalm oil crops such as increasing soil fertility, protecting against erosion hazards, improving soil properties and shortening seedling periods. This research was conducted to obtain informative data about the physical and chemical properties o fsoil on slope andflat areas planted with Mucuna bracteata as a cover crop and without Mucuna bracteata. This research was conducted at Afdeeling IKebun Bangun Bandar Socfindo Inc, Tanjung Maria Village, Dolok Masihul Sub-District, Serdang Bedagai District, Sumatera Utara Province. The research was conducted from May to July 2016. This research was conducted by descriptive analysis method that is collecting direct data infield and testing o fsoil samples in laboratory. Soil samples were taken based on: Topography (flat and slopes 15-30%), cover crops (without Mucuna bracteata and with Mucuna bracteata) and plant life (seedling periods 1, 2 and 3). The soil sample is taken composite by zigzagging soil sampling method. The research results showed that the planting of Mucuna bracteata in palm oil plantations was able to improve some physical and chemical properties of the soil; Planting Mucuna bracteata onflat area can fix bulk density o f 12.64%, on slope area o f 6.04%. The color o fthe soil that is planted with Mucuna bracteata tends to be darker than those not planted. The infiltration rate belongs to the class 'very quickly'with a sandy clay-dominated ground texture; Planting o fMucuna bracteata onflat area can increase soil organic matter content by 42.74%, while on slope area o f15.11%, increase ofN-total soil level by 31% and on slope area does not increase N-total.",