KARAKTERISTIK TANAH DAN PERBANDINGAN PRODUKSI KELAPA SAWIT (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) DENGAN METODE TANAM LUBANG BESAR DAN PARIT DRAINASE 2:1 PADA LAHAN SPODOSOL DI KABUPATEN BARITO TIMUR PROPINSI KALIMANTAN TENGAH - INDONESIA
Abstract: Spodosol soil of
Typic Placorthod sub-group of East Barito District is one of the problem soils
with the presence of hardpan layer, low fertility, low water holding capacity,
acid reaction and it is not suitable for oil palm cultivation without any
properly specific management of land preparation and implemented best agronomic
practices. A study was carried out to evaluate the soil characteristic of big
hole (A profile) and non big hole (B profile) system and comparative oil palm
productivity among two planting systems. This study was conducted in Spodosol
soil at oil palm plantation (coordinate X = 0281843 and Y = 9764116), East
Barito District, Central Kalimantan Province on February 2014, by surveying of
placic and ortstein depth and observing soil texture and chemical properties of
2 (two) oil palm's soil profiles that have been planted in five years. Big hole
system of commercial oil palm field planting on Spodosol soil area was designed
for the specific purpose of minimizing potential of negative effect of shallow
effective planting depth for oil palms growing due to hardpan layer (placic and
ortstein) presence as deep as 0.25 - 0.50 m. The big hole system is a planting
hole type which was vertical-sided with 2.00 m x 1.50 m on top and bottom side
and 3.00 m depth meanwhile the 2:1 drain was vertical-sided also with 1.50 m
depth and 300 m length. Oil palm production was recorded from year of 2012 up
to 2014. Results indicated that the fractions both big hole profile (A profile)
and non big hole profile (B profile) were dominated by sands ranged from 60% to
92% and the highest sands content of non big hole soil profile were found in A
and E horizons (92%). Better distribution of sand and clay fractions content in
between layers of big hole soil profiles of A profile sample is more uniform
compared to B profile sample. The mechanical holing and material mixing of soil
materials of A soil profile among the upper and lower horizons i.e. A, E, B and
C horizons before planting that resulted a better distribution of both soil
texture (sands and clay) and chemical properties such as acidity value (pH),
C-organic, N, C/N ratio, CEC, P-available and Exchangeable Bases. Investigation
showed that exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K), were very low in soil layers (A
profile) and horizons (B profile) investigated. The low exchangeable cations
due to highly leached of bases to the lower layers and horizons. Besides, the
palm which was planted on the big hole system showed good adaptation and
responsed positively by growing well of tertiary and quaternary roots that the
roots were penetrable in to deeper rooting zone as much as >1.00 m depth.
The roots can grow well and penetrate much deeper in A profile compared to
undisturbed hard pan layer (B profile). The FFB (fresh fruit bunches)
production of non big hole block was higher than big hole block for the first
three years of production. This might be due to the high variation of monthly
rainfall in between years of observation from 2009 to 2014. Therefore, the
hardness of placic and ortstein as unpenetrable agents by rootsJurnal Pertanian
Tropik ISSN Online No : 2356-4725Vol.2, No.2. Agustus 2015. (19) : 148-
158149and water to prevent water loss and retain the water in the rhizosphere
especially in the drier weather. In the high rainfall condition, the 2:1 drain
to prevent water saturation in the oil palm rhizosphere by moving some water in
to the drain. Meanwhile the disturbed soil horizon (big hole area) was drier
than undisturbance immediately due to water removal to deeper layers. We
concluded that both big hole and 2:1 drain are suitable technology for Spodosol
soil land especially in preparing of palms planting to minimize negative effect
of hardpan layer for oil palm growth.
Key words: Spodosol, Typic
Placorthod, big hole, drain, fresh fruit bunches, hardpan, placic, ortstein
Penulis: Surianto, Abdul Rauf,
T. Sabrina, Edi Sigit Sutarta
Kode Jurnal: jppertaniandd150347