Analysis of Soil Puddling Method and the Effect to Soil Physical Properties and Rice Plant Growth

Abstract

Soil puddling is soil tilling activities by mixing soil and water to produce mud. There are two puddling methods commonly used by farmers, namely one-stage puddling method and two-stage puddling method. The objective of this research is to analyze the physical properties of the soil resulting from the two commonly used puddling methods and to analyze the effect of the puddling method on the growth of rice plants. The research was carried out in experimental rice fields, University Farm, IPB University. The results showed that after puddling with one-stage or two-stage method, there was a decrease in dry bulk density, increased in porosity, and increased in water content. In the plot of one-stage puddling method with IP value of 70.07%, the growth of rice plants after 60 DAP was indicated by dry biomass weight, plant height, and root length each of 109.84 g/clump, 119.76 cm, and 28.40 cm respectively, while in the plot of two-stage puddling method with an IP of 60.06%, each was 104.20 g/clump, 113.78 cm, and 26.36 cm respectively.