Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Alkaline Biochar Influences Total Soil Microbial Population, Number of Root Nodules and Soybean Growth in Wonosari Inceptisol

Abstract

Alkaline biochar oil palm empty fruit bunches is the result of converting oil palm empty fruit bunch waste from the palm oil mill. The waste converted into resources that can be function to repaired / transformed edacid soils into agricultural land alkaline biochar oil palm empty fruit bunches is the result of converting oil palm empty fruit bunch waste from the palm oil mill. The waste converted into resources that can be function to repaired / transform acid soils into agricultural land. The purpose study is to examine the ability of Biochar Alkaline Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches and their effect on the total soil microbial population, the number of root nodules, and the growth parameters of soybean plants in the Inceptisol Tanjung Morawa Medan acid soil. The Screenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of HKBP Nommensen Medan conducted the greenhouse test phase research by using a completely randomized design research design. Field-testing confirmed by a Dessin factorial randomized trial design. Determination of Total Population of soil microbial cups at both stages of testing is to conduct at the Biology Laboratory of the University of North Sumatra, Meda. (The research method uses all statistical observations in the form of analysis of variance analysis (ANOVA). The results of the different parameter tests followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test the results showed the influence of Biochar as acid amelioration for acid soil affected the total microbial population and the growth of soybean plants. The research (including chemical and physical properties) with various parameters of other plant elements proved that the alkaline biochar of the palm oil-palm bunches was able to replace agricultural lime (calcite) in repairing acid soils. Further research results show the use of biochar oil palm empty fruit bunches has a more diverse effect; because in addition to improving soil chemical properties such as pH and alkaline nutrient levels, this material also helps improve soil physical conditions in terms of porosity and acidic soil water systems, compared to agricultural lime only has a chemical effect. The advantages of biochar oil palm empty fruit bunches are renewable resources (replacing resources) replacing agricultural lime (calcite) which is a mining material that is classified as an unrenewable resource.