Pengaruh Pemberian Biochar Tempurung Kelapa Terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Produktivitas Rumput Odot (Pennisetum Purpureum Cv. Mott)

Abstract

Most farmers or livestock breeders in Indonesia still use chemical fertilizers. This can result in a decrease in soil quality if done continuously over a long period of time, so efforts are needed to improve it by applying biochar which can improve the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil. This research was conducted in July - October 2023 in Greenhouses and Field Laboratories and Research Laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara. This research used a Completely Randomized Design method consisting of 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatment used coconut shell biochar consisting of B0: control 10 ton/ha (manure), B1: 10 ton/ha, B2: 15 ton/ha and B3: 20 ton/ha. The variables observed were number of leaves, plant height, fresh weight production and dry weight production. The results showed that the application of coconut shell biochar had a very significant effect (P<0.01 lower effect on the number of leaves, plant height and fresh weight production and had a significant effect (P<0.05) lower effect on the dry weight production of odot grass. B3 treatment with a dose of 20 ton/ha or 78,4 gr/polybag showed better results compared to giving biochar 39,2-58,8 gr/polybag. Production tends to increase as the dose of coconut shell biochar increases. This explains that giving coconut shell biochar can increase production in odot grass.