Pengaruh Pemberian Mulsa Jerami Padi Terhadap Kelimpahan Gulma dan Pertumbuhan Tanaman Tomat (Solanum Lycopersicum) di Lahan Tadah Hujan

Abstract

Mulch is material that is used to coversoil surface which serves to avoid water loss through evaporation and suppress the growth of weed aggregate. Rice Straw mulching can be maintain soil surface from the force of the rain water, reduce soil erosion, prevent water evaporation, and protect the soil from sun exposure, and can help improve the physical properties of the soil , especially soil structure. This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of straw mulch to suppress various types of weeds that grow on tomato plants and increase the yield of tomatoes. The experiment was conducted at Indonesian Agricultural Environment Research Institute. The experiment was conducted in February -April 2015. Straw mulching treatments consisted of P0(without straw mulch), P1(straw mulch 0.5kg), P2(mulching straw1kg), P3(straw mulch1.5kg), replicated 3 times. Plot size was 3,4 m2. Data observed was plant growth, yield and weed species. The results showed that the treatment of straw mulching could increase plant height , leaf number, leaf length and width , the number of flowers and fruit weight . Treatment of straw mulching 1.5 kg better than mulching other stage in the growth of tomato plants. Treatment mulching can also suppress weeds growing of Hedyotis corymbosa, Phyllanthus niruri and Portulaca olerace