Scenarios of Sago Plants of Each Clump Based on The Crop Water Requirements in Three Stages of Growth in Dry Land
YUMNA (1), SUGENG PRIJONO (2), ZAENAL KUSUMA (2), SOEMARNO (2)

(1)Faculty of Forestry, Andi Djemma University, Palopo, Indonesia.
(2) Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Malang, Indonesia.

Abstract

The ideal number of sago plant in each clump can be determined if the crop water requirements of sago palm is known. The research uses the plant water needs variable in three stages of growth and the availability of land water. The plot of sago plant using various compositions of age, namely the initial-stage (one year), middle-stage (four years), and end-stage (eight years). Measurement in the initial stage uses the water balance principle (Lysimeter drainage). Measurement in the middle and end stages uses the circular-plot method. Measurement of water availability is carried out using Thornthwite-Mather, and potential evapotranspiration is determined using Cropwat 8.0 application. The results show there are eight scenarios (two scenarios in the initial-stages, three scenarios in the middle-stages, and three scenarios in the end-stage). Based on the results of the scenarios, the number of plants in a clump for rain-fed drylands is the number of plants, namely the initial stage contains two seedlings for the maximum number (scenario 2IS), the middle stage contains one sapling added by two seedlings (scenario 1MS 2IS), and the end-stage contains one mature plant (end-stage), one sapling (middle-stage), and two seedlings (initial-stage) (scenario1ES 1MS 2IS).

Keywords: Evapotranspiration, Metroxylon sp., precipitation, productivity, Water balance

Topic: Crop Production and Environment