The Improvement of Chemical Properties of Ultisol Soils Through the Application of Coffee Husk Compost

Abstract

Coffee fruit waste which reaches 50-60% of the harvest should be used as compost to improve the chemical properties of Ultisol soil. Ultisol soil has problems with low organic matter, pH, C-organic nutrients N, P as well as high Al-dd soil.  This research aimed to improve the chemical properties of Ultisol soil and the growth of maize (Zea mays L.) by applying coffee husk compost.  This research used a non-factorial randomized block design (RAK) consisting of 4 treatments, namely without coffee husk compost, 10 tons/ha coffee husk compost (25 g/polybag), 20 tons/ha coffee husk compost (50 g/polybag), 30 tons/ha coffee husk compost and 30 tons/ha coffee husk compost.  ton/ha of coffee husk compost (75 g/polybag) and 4 replications.  This research was conducted in the screen house of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra.  The results showed that the application of coffee husk compost had not been able to improve pH, C-organic, P-available but could increase N-total and decrease Al-dd at a dose (30ton/ha) and could increase the growth of corn plants (Zea mays. L).