Pot experiment to assess soil quality index and rice harvest index in sandy soil using Azolla microphylla and chicken manure

Jauhari Syamsiyah, Luthfi Sh. Afnani, Sudadi, Aktavia Herawati, Mujiyo

Abstract: Sandy soil in Indonesia have the potential to develop as cultivated land, but it has low soil organic carbon, nutrients, and less water holding capacity. This less quality of sandy soil needs to be improved. One of the ways to improve the quality of sandy soil is the application of organic matter. This study aims to measure the soil quality index (SQI) and rice harvest index (HI) on the sandy soil with the application of Azolla microphylla (azolla) and chicken manure and to determine the correlation between the soil quality index and the rice harvest index. The previous pot research in the greenhouse used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors and three replications. Factor I is fresh azolla (0, 50, 100, 150) tons ha-1. Factor II is chicken manure (0, 20, 40) tons ha-1. Pots with a height of 37 cm and a diameter of 24 cm are filled with sandy soil weighing 9.6 kg. Incubation of the soil with fresh azolla and chicken manure was proceed in two weeks before transplantation. The results showed that there was an increase in the soil quality index and rice harvest index in the sandy soil with the application of azolla and chicken manure. The use of azolla 100 tons ha-1 and chicken manure 20 tons ha-1 gives the rice harvest index is the highest of 25.57% and increased 47.97 % of the control. The soil quality index was the highest at 0.36 (moderate class) and it increased 24.14 % of the control obtained on the use of azolla 100-150 tons ha-1 and chicken manure 40 tons ha-1, with the determining factor of soil quality index being soil organic carbon. The soil quality index was positively correlated with the harvest index of rice (r = 0.645**).

Keywords: completely randomized design; organic matter; soil organic carbon

Date published: 2023-08-21