PENGARUH PEMUPUKAN TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI JAMBU METE DI LOMBOK

Abstract

ABSTRAK Penelitian dilakukan untuk mengetahui pengaruh dosis dan komposisi pupuk NPK terhadap pertumbuhan dan produksi jambu mete yang ditanam pada tanah regosol cokelat-kelabu di Desa Loloan, Kecamatan Bayan, Lombok Barat, dari tahun 1997 sampai 2000. Faktor yang diuji adalah: (1) komposisi NPK, 2 macam (1:1:1, dan 1:1:2); dan (2) dosis pupuk, 4 taraf (500, 750, 1000 dan 1500 g/pohon/tahun). Perlakuan disusun dalam rancangan acak kelompok dengan 4 ulangan dan ukuran petak 4 pohon. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa tanaman jambu mete cukup responsif terhadap pemupukan. Pemberian pupuk menaikkan kandungan hara N, P dan K daun. Dosis pupuk yang cukup memadai untuk menunjang pertumbuhan dan produksi jambu mete adalah 500, 750, dan 1000 g NPK/pohon/tahun dengan komposisi pupuk NPK 1:1:2, masing- masing untuk umur tanaman 5, 6, dan 7 tahun. Pupuk tersebut diberikan dalam 2 kali agihan, yaitu 50% pada awal musim hujan, dan 50% lagi menjelang akhir musim hujan. Kata kunci : Jambu  mete,  Anacardium  occidentale,  pemupukan, pertumbuhan, produksi, Nusa Tenggara Barat ABSTRACT Effect of fertilizer application on the growth and yield of cashew in Lombok A field study was conducted on cashew trees grown at grayish- brown regosol soil located at Loloan, Bayan, West Lombok, from 1997 to 2000. The objectives of the study were to examine the effect of NPK fertilizer and its composition on growth and yield of cashew. Treatments examined were: (1) composition of NPK (1:1:1, and 1:1:2); and (2) fertilizer dosage (500, 750, 1000 and 1500 g NPK/tree/year). The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with 4 replications and plot size of 4 plants. Research results showed that the application of fertilizers significantly affected the growth and yield of cashew. The content of N, P and K in cashew leaves improved as the fertilizer dosage increased. Appropriate amounts of NPK were 500, 750 and 1000 g NPK/tree/year with composition of 1:1:2 for cashew trees of 5, 6 and 7 years old, respectively. The fertilizers were applied twice a year (50% in the beginning of rainy season, and 50% in the end of rainy season). Key words : Cashew, Anacardium occidentale, fertilizer application, growth, yield, West Nusa Tenggara