The Effect of Compost Application on Soil Fertility and Productivity of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.).
a*)L Asrul, a)UE Setiani, b)K Mustari, b)AC Trisnaputri

a) Graduate School of Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar 90245, Indonesia
*otheasrul1963[at]gmail.com
b) Faculty of Agriculture of Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar 90245, Indonesia

Abstract

Soil security is really important to develop and sustain cocoa production in Indonesia. Therefore, the use of organic input such as compost is highly recommended to improve productivity as well as maintain soil fertility. The on-farm processing of cocoa can provide about 80% of cocoa fruit is discarded as residual biomass, including cocoa pod husks. Therefore, recycling of nutrients can help to reduce the dependence on synthetic fertilizer. This study aims to determine the effect of the application of cocoa husk compost on soil fertility and the productivity of cocoa plants. This research was conducted in Gantarangkeke Village, Gantarangkeke District, Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi. This study was carried out using Randomized Block Design (RBD) as its environmental design with the compost application consists of 5 levels (0kg- 2.5kg- 5.0kg- 7.5kg- 10kg). The results showed that the application of 10 kg compost per tree resulted in soil pH of 6.3- CEC of 27.14 cmol (+) kg-1, organic C of 2.16%, available P of 18.1 ppm, available K of 0.46 cmol (+) kg-1, the number of fruit per tree 9.67 (fruit), seeds / fruit 28.37 (seeds), Weight 100 dry seeds 113.17 (g), dry seeds per tree 315.50 (g), dry seeds per hectare 350.50 (kg / ha).

Keywords: cocoa, compost, production, soil fertility

Topic: Sustainable Development