The Balance Composition of Urea and Sugar Palm Bagasse Compost and Its Effects on Growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine Max L.)

Abstract

Demand for soybeans in Indonesia has not been matched by adequate soybean production. The productivity of soybean (Glycine max L.) in Indonesia is still low, one of which is the decrease in soil fertility due to the continuous use of inorganic fertilizers. Increasing soybean productivity can be done through the management of soil fertility by utilizing unused plant residues, one of which is sugar palm bagasse as organic fertilizer. This study aims to obtain the optimal balance between urea and sugar palm bagasse with an optimal mixture of gliricidia leaves to increase soybean yields. This research was conducted at the Greenhouse and Experimental Field, Faculty of Agriculture, Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta from June to October 2020. This study used a single factor design, namely the balanced dose of urea and sugar palm bagasse compost with a mixture of gliricidia leaves, consisting of five treatments, namely 1) Urea 100%. + 0% sugar palm bagasse compost; 2) 75% Urea + 25% sugar palm bagasse compost, 3) 50% Urea + 50% sugar palm bagasse compost, 4) 25% Urea + 75% sugar palm bagasse compost, and 5) 0% Urea + 100% sugar palm bagasse compost. Each treatment was repeated three times and arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results showed that the balance of using urea and bagasse compost with the optimal mixture of gliricidia leaves was 0% urea + 100% compost for bagasse which increased the soybean yield by 34% and was not significantly different from other treatments.