LAND HUSBANDRY: THE ROLE OF BIOCHAR AS SOIL AMENDMENT ON INTERCROPPING PATTERN OF CASSAVA AND MAIZE

Abstract

Biochar, a soil amendment material, which consists of various types of plant biomass and  wastes are burned perfectly to produce charcoal. This charcoal contains organic C and complete nutrients.  Biochar can improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, as well as improve crop production. This study was a field experiment in a farmer field in Batu, about 15 km southeast of Malang, East Java, Indonesia, Alfisol type and 8% surface slope.  The objective of this research to examine the effect of biochar on soil fertility and  crop yield in intercropping pattern of cassava and maize. The method used was 1) field experiment using Randomized Block Design (RBD) with the following treatment: 1. Monoculture (without soil amendment, M). 2) Monoculture with Chicken Biochar Pump (MMcB), 3. Monoculture with Corncob Biochar (MCcB), 4. Intercropping of cassava and corn (CS), 5. Intercropping of cassava and corn with chicken manure  biochar (CSMcB), 6. Intercropping of cassava and corn with Corn Cobs biochar (CSCcB). The results of this study  showed that biochar application can improve physical and chemical soil quality,  and crop yield on intercropping system. The crop management of land husbandry showed a symbiotic mutualism between cassava and corn. Soil organic C, total pore, drainage, water availability and soil aggregate stability increased after being treated using  chicken manure biochar (MMcB). The increase in pH and N, P, K, Ca, Mg and cation exchange capacity ware found in MMcB and CSMcB treatment on intercropping pattern. After harvesting the corn,  the chemical properties of  soil on the  biochar  treatments had a high pH (​​6.26), nitrogen content by 0.14%, P content by 6.13 ppm,   K content by  0.26 me/100g,  CEC by  12.7, Ca content by 2.38 cmol/kg and Mg by 1.40 cmol/ kg. The application of both chicken manure and corn cob biochar have proven to improve the yield of cassava and corn   in monoculture and intercropping system. The highest yield of cassava was found in monoculture system with chicken manure biochar (MMcB) by 33,14 ton /ha and intercropping with chicken manure biochar (CSMcB) by 30.16 ton /ha, and corn seed yield for 4.89 ton /ha

Key word: Land Husbandry, biochar,  Soil amendment, Intercropping, Cassava and Maize