PERANAN MULSA DALAM MENINGKATKAN PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI CABAI MELALUI MODIFIKASI KONDISI FISIK DI DALAM TANAH

Joko Basuki (Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Kupang)
Ahmad Yunus (Staf Pengajar Pascasarjana Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta)
Edi Purwanto (Staf Pengajar Pascasarjana Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta)

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Vol 16, No 2 (2009): Edisi November

Soil is growing media for plant growth. It preserves water and nutrients for plants. The physical  changes in soil affect the life of roots and plant performances. The goal of  research  was to  change physical condition in soil through mulching for increasing pepper plant production. Land for pepper cultivation was mulched using rice straws and plastic sheet (PE). Physical condition such as soil suhue and humidity and content of organic matters in the soil were measured or examined. Also, production components such as plant height and stalk diameter were measured as well as fruit production. The result showed that mulching increased significantly soil suhue and humidity as well as content of organic matters in the soil. Mulching increased plat height, diameter of stalk, and fruit production, especially in using  rice straws Therefore, mulching have  a role in increasing growth and production pepper fruit  through modification of physical condition in soil.Keywords :  mulching, growth, production, pepper