| dc.description.abstract | MUNAWARAH. Assessment of Biomass Cover Crops in Oil Palm (Elaeis gueneensis Jacq.) Plantations in Peatlands and its Relationship with Soil Characteristics (under the guidance of ABDUL RAUF as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee and T. IRMANSYAH as Member of the Supervisory Committee).
The clearing of peatlands for oil palm cultivation causes a decrease in soil surface due to the drying process. The presence of ground cover is able to rehabilitate the peat soil so that it supports the growth of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) by returning in the form of biomass. This study aims to evaluate the total biomass of vegetation on peatlands, the total biomass of vegetation on moisture, and the total biomass of vegetation on peat chemical characteristics. This research was conducted at PTPN IV Kebun Meranti Paham using the ex post facto method. Observations were made on 6 different years of oil palm planting. The results showed that there were differences in the total biomass of ground cover vegetation at each age of oil palm planting. The highest biomass in the 2011 planting year was 32,17 tons/ha and the lowest in the 2015 planting year was 13,46 tons/ha. The increase in total biomass can maintain soil moisture in the upper and lower layers of peat in young plants and increase C-organic and N-total content in the upper layer and increase pH, P2O5, and K2O in the lower layer of peat.
Keywords: Peat, Vegetation, Biomass, Moisture Content, Chemical Characteristics | en_US |
