Hydroulic conductivity and soil cracking in vertisol after puddling at different soil depths Mona Ayu Santi, Sikstus Gusli, Sartika Laban
Dept. of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Hasanuddin
Abstract
Vertisol is a potential ground for agriculture, including for the production of raindrops rice fields. But the nature expands when wet and shrinkage when dry complicates the growth of non-paddy plants in the dry season, the soil becomes very hard and cracked. Our objective is to learn the effect of the depth of the puddling and the addition of organic materials (ash husk and compost) to the hydraulic conductivity and Vertisol cracking pattern. The research method is organized according to split plot design, the main plot is the depth puddling (10 and 15 cm), and the sub plot is organic material (compost, ash husk, and control) with a dose of 10 tons/ha each. Measurements include hydraulic conductivity after being crushed and after rice is harvested before the soil is drained. The measured cracking index includes the number, width, depth and length of the cracks. The result of the type of organic material added does not affect soil hydraulic conductivity, but is influenced by the depth puddling. The puddling of the 15 cm gives hydraulic conductivity lower than the 10 cm puddling. The value of hydraulic conductivity increases due to the growth of plant roots. Organic matter affects the number, length and length of the cracks. The depth of the puddling only affects the depth of the crack.
Keywords: soil expands and shrinkage, soil cracking index, conductivity of water, compost, ash husk
