PENGARUH APLIKASI ARANG TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN AWAL Michelia Montana Blume DAN PERUBAHAN SIFAT KESUBURAN TANAH PADA TIPE TANAH LATOSOL

Abstract

The application of biochar as one of soil conditioner material in plantation forest operation is rarely used, despite the fact that the raw materials of this biochar in the form of leftovers of tree cuttings are abundant and potentially available to be processed as soil conditioner. For that reason, this research was conducted to examine the effects of fine biochar application on stimulating the growth of six-month old Michelia montana Blume seedlings. This species was planted at a clay texture of Latosol soil types in an Experimental Garden of Carita, Banten Province. It is expected that the application of biochar as soil conditioner would increase soil fertility parameters that actually shift to the better fertilities. Climate of Carita is type B with average annual rainfall 2,516 mm, minimum temperature 22 0 C, and maximum temperature 33 0 C, as air humidity between 76% and 84% well. The result of this research indicated that the 5% dosage of fine biochar application (v/v) significantly improved the early growth of six-month old M. montana Blume species. Meanwhile, positive effects of biochar application on chemical soil fertility were revealed with the raise of concentrations of soil pH, soil cation Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + , K 2 O, P 2 O 5 , CEC, and BS as well as the decrease in those of exchangeable H + and Al 3+. Biochar additions to the clayey Latosol soil types promate significantly the fertility.