Effects of Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. L) and Conservation Method on the Chemical and Biological Properties of Soil

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the use of conservation techniques and compost fertilizer application on small holder oil palm plants with different planting years to repair and improve of chemical and biological soil character. This research was conducted in Pagarmanik Village, Silinda Sub-District, Serdang Bedagai Regency and PT. Socfin Indonesia and also Central Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sumatera Utara. The research was conducted in February 2018 to June 2018. The research used Split Plot Design with 2 factors and 4 replications. Factor I: year planting (Main plot) consists of 2 levels, T1: 5 years planting and T2: 20 years planting and Factor II: conservation method (sub-plot) consists of 3 levels, K1: conventional, K2: concave disk + compost and K3 : individual rorak + compost. The compost used is municipal waste + cow/sheep manure + urine and cow washing water with 5: 5: 5: 1 ratio. Soil sampling is carried out vertically with 0-60 cm depth. The parameters used are soil pH, cation exchange capacity and organic soil matter. The results showed that the use of conservation techniques in oil palm plants can maintain the pH soil content (20 years) and cation exchange capacity in the soil in 20 years old plants but have not been able to maintain the C-organik content in the soil at the age of 20 years.