Pengaruh Mulsa Organik dan Volume Air Siraman pada Beberapa Sifat Kimia Tanah di Pembibitan Utama Kelapa Sawit

The availability of water is one of the common factors affecting growth of oil palm seedlings, especially in the main nursery. Palm oil seedlings in the main nursery require about 2,000  ml of water.day-1.plant -1 . Water loss occurs through transpiration and evaporation. This study aims to obtain the best type of organic mulch in several soil chemical properties,  compare the effect of the volume of water on several soil chemical properties, and get the interaction between the types of organic mulch and the volume of water in several soil chemical properties. The study was arranged in a factorial pattern randomized block design  with three replications. The first factor is the type of organic mulch, ie without mulch (M0),  rice straw mulch (M1), rice husk mulch (M2), and oil palm empty fruit bunches (M4). The second factor is watering volume which consists of two levels, namely 1,000 ml.day -1 .plant -1  (V1) and 2,000 ml.day -1 .plant -1 (V2). Sample plants consist of three plants. Observations were  made on C-organic level, total N-content, P-available level, K level, and soil pH. The results  of the observation were tested by analysis of variance and continued with LSD at 95%  confidence interval. The results showed that there was no interaction between the  application of organic mulch and watering volume. The types of organic mulch of oil palm  empty fruit bunches produce the highest soil pH and organic C-level. The watering volume  1,000 ml.day -1 .plant -1 and 2,000 ml.day -1 .plant -1 has no effect on the soil chemical properties  observed. Keywords: soil properties, subsoil, water efficiency, water loss