Pengaruh Beberapa Jenis Biochar dan Dosis Biochar pada Media Tanam Terhadap Pertumbuhan Bibit Kakao (Theobroma cacao L.)

Abstract

Abstrak. Kakao (Theobroma cacao L.) merupakan salah satu komoditas perkebunan yang memiliki peran penting dalam perekonomian Indonesia. Manfaat dan nilai kakao mencakup berbagai aspek, diantaranya sebagai penyedia bahan baku industri, penyedia lapangan pekerjaan, penghasil devisa negara, serta sumber pendapatan petani. Keberhasilan usaha replanting tanaman kakao  sangat dipengaruhi oleh kualitas bahan tanam yang digunakan. Salah satu cara meningkatkan kualitas dan kesuburan media tanam kakao yaitu dengan pemberian biochar. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh beberapa jenis dan dosis biochar pada media tanam terhadap pertumbuhan bibit kakao. Penelitian dilakukan di kebun Campus Experimental Site the ACIAR Project USK Darussalam, Banda Aceh. Jenis biochar yang digunakan yaitu biochar bambu, biochar kayu pulai, dan biochar tempurung kelapa dengan dosis 10 ton ha^-1, 20 ton ha^-1, dan 30 ton ha^-1. Metode yang digunakan yaitu rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) non-faktorial dengan sembilan taraf perlakuan dan satu sebagai pembanding (kontrol). Masing-masing perlakuan diulang sebanyak tiga kali dan didapat 30 satuan percobaan. Setiap satuan percobaan ditanam dengan 3 polybag sehingga didapat 90 unit percobaan.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemberian perlakuan berbagai jenis dan dosis biochar pada media tanam kakao berpengaruh nyata terhadap parameter tinggi tanaman dan jumlah daun, namun tidak berpengaruh nyata terhadap parameter panjang akar, volume akar, berat berangkasan basah, dan berat berangkasan kering tanaman kakao. Perlakuan jenis biochar tempurung kelapa dengan dosis 30 ton ha^-1 merupakan perlakuan terbaik dengan perolehan hasil amatan tertinggi hampir pada setiap parameter yang diamati.

Effect of Several Types of Biochar and Biochar Dosages in Planting Media on the Growth of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Seedlings)

Abstract. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is a plantation commodity that has an important position in the Indonesian economy. The benefits and value of cocoa are enormous from various aspects, including as a source of foreign exchange, providing employment opportunities, providing industrial raw materials, and a source of income for farmers. The success of a cocoa plant replanting business is greatly influenced by the quality of the planting material used. One way to improve the quality and fertility of cocoa growing media is by providing biochar. This research aims to determine the effect of several types and doses of biochar in planting media on the growth of cocoa seedlings. The research was conducted in the gardens of the Campus Experimental Site of the ACIAR Project USK Darussalam, Banda Aceh. The types of biochar used are bamboo biochar, Pulai wood biochar, and coconut shell biochar with doses of 10 tons ha-1, 20 tons ha-1, and 30 tons ha-1. The method used was a non-factorial randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatment levels and one as a comparison (control). Each treatment was repeated three times and 30 experimental units were obtained. Each experimental unit was planted in 3 polybags to obtain 90 experimental units. The results of the research showed that treatment with various types and doses of biochar in the cocoa growing media had a significant effect on the parameters of plant height and number of leaves, but had no significant effect on the parameters of root length, root volume, wet hull weight and dry hull weight of the cocoa plants. The coconut shell biochar type treatment with a dose of 30 tons ha-1 was the best treatment with the highest observed results obtained in almost every parameter observed.