RESPON PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT KELAPA SAWIT (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) DENGAN PEMBERIAN BEBERAPA JENIS BIOCHAR PADA TANAH GAMBUT - Charloq, Charloq; Yazid, Abu; Yohanes, Alfedro (Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Janabadra, 2024)
Utilization of peat soil still has many obstacles due to the physical and chemical properties that are less supportive of plant growth. Constraints of peat soil as a medium for plant growth can be overcome by applying amelioration technology such as the use of biochar. This study aims to determine the growth response of the main nursery oil palm seedlings to the application of various types of biochar on peat soils. The research was carried out from March 2022 to June 2022 at the Experimental Field of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan with an altitude of ± 25 meters above sea level (asl). The research design used was a Completely Randomized Non-Factorial Design with four replications and five treatment of various types of biochar, namely rice husk biochar 55 g/polybag, oil palm empty fruit bunches biochar 50 g/polybag, coconut shell biochar 37.5 g/polybag, palm frond biochar 25 g/polybag. The results showed that the applycation of various types of biochar from rice husk 55 g/polybag, biochar empty oil palm 50 g/polybag, coconut shell 37.5 g/polybag, and palm fronds 25 g/polybag, were not significant for increasing the growth of oil palm seeds in the main nursery. Keywords: Biochar, Palm Oil, Peat. INTISARIPemanfaatan tanah gambut masih memiliki banyak kendala karena sifat fisik dan kimia yang kurang mendukung terhadap pertumbuhan tanaman.Kendala tanah gambut sebagai media pertumbuhan tanaman dapat diatasi dengan penerapan teknologi ameliorasi seperti penggunaan biochar.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui respons pertumbuhan bibit kelapa sawit main nursery terhadap pemberian berbagai jenis biochar pada media tanam berupa tanah gambut. Penelitian dilaksanakan pada bulan Maret 2022 hingga Juni 2022 di Lahan Percobaan Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan dengan ketinggian tempat ± 25 meter di atas permukaan laut (dpl). Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap Non Faktorial dengan empat ulangan dan lima perlakuan pemberian berbagai jenis biochar yaitu biochar sekam padi 55 g/polybag, biochar tandan kosong kelapa sawit 50 g/polybag, biochar tempurung 37,5 g/polybag,biochar pelepah kelapa sawit 25 g/polybag. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Pemberian berbagai jenis biochar yang bersumber dari sekam padi 55 g/polybag, biochar tandan kosong kelapa sawit 50 g/polybag, tempurung kelapa 37,5 g/polybag, dan pelepah kelapa 25 g/polybag, belum signifikan untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan bibit kelapa sawit.Kata kunci: Biochar, Kelapa Sawit, Gambut.