Effect of zeolite and cow manure application on soil nitrogen content in ramie (Boehmeria nivea) plant growth

Abstract

Ramie productivity can achieve optimum through improving soil fertility and adding cow manure and zeolite to the soil. The research was conducted in 2018 at Karangploso Research Station-ISFRI. The research design used was a completely randomized design with two factors of manure and zeolite, three replications. Cow manure treatments consisted of no cow manure (P0), 2 tons cow manure (P1), 4 tons cow manure (P2), 6 tons cow manure (P3), while zeolite treatments consisted of no zeolite (Z0) and 4 tons zeolite/ha (Z1). The results showed that the application of zeolite and cow manure affected soil properties and the growth of ramie. The combination treatment of fertilizer and zeolite gave various values of pH, N, C-organic, plant height, and the number of leaves, although there was no interaction. The best results were found in treating 6 tons/ha of cow manure and 4 tons/ha of zeolite with pH values: 6.37 and 6.26; N-Total 0.14% and 0.15%; C-Organic: 1.14% and 1.13%, respectively. Treatments of 6 tons cow manure and 4 tons zeolite gave the best hemp growth, namely plant height at 84 (Days After Planting), DAP 123.23 cm and 98.5 cm, and the number of leaves 104 80.