Strategi Pemupukan Nitrogen terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Rumput Gajah Pakchong (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand) | Strategies for Nitrogen Fertilization on the Growth and Production of Pakchong Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand)

Rumput Gajah Pakchong (RGP/Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand) merupakan hijauan pakan unggul dengan tingkat produksi dan kandungan nutrien yang baik. Penelitian yang dilakukan bertujuan mengukur pertumbuhan dan produksi RGP yang telah melalui strategi pemupukan nitrogen berdasarkan level dosis dan frekuensi berbeda. Penelitian ini dirancang dengan 2 rangkaian secara paralel menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dan dianalisis dengan sidik ragam (ANOVA), jika ditemukan perbedaan nyata dilanjutkan dengan uji Duncan. Penelitian rangkaian 1 terdiri dari 4 perlakuan level dosis pupuk urea dengan pengaplikasian bertahap (50% pada 14 HST dan 50% pada 42 HST) dan 10 ulangan: P1 = urea dosis 100 N kg ha-1, P2 = urea dosis 200 N kg ha-1, P3 = urea dosis 300 N kg ha-1, dan P4 = urea dosis 400 N kg ha-1. Penelitian rangkaian 2 terdiri dari 5 perlakuan frekuensi pemberian pupuk urea dan 10 ulangan: P1 = 1 kali pemberian urea (100% pada 14 HST); P2 = 2 kali pemberian urea (50% pada 14 dan 42 HST); P3 = 3 kali pemberian urea (33,33% pada 14, 28, dan 42 HST); P4 = 4 kali pemberian urea (25% pada 14, 25, 31, dan 42 HST); dan P5 = 5 kali pemberian urea (20% pada 14, 21, 28, 35, dan 42 HST). Penelitian rangkaian 1 menunjukkan bahwa penambahan pupuk urea dengan dosis 200–400 N kg ha-1 nyata (P<0,05) lebih baik dibandingkan dengan 100 N kg ha-1 pada 56 HST untuk jumlah daun, panjang daun, tinggi tanaman, produksi biomassa total segar dan kering RGP. Penelitian rangkaian 2 menunjukkan bahwa pemberian pupuk urea dengan frekuensi 2–5 kali nyata (P<0,05) lebih baik dibandingkan dengan 1 kali pada 56 HST untuk jumlah daun, lebar daun, tinggi tanaman, produksi biomassa total segar dan kering RGP. Simpulan penelitian rangkaian 1 menunjukkan bahwa pemberian dosis pupuk urea 200 N kg ha-1 adalah optimal untuk mencukupi kebutuhan pertumbuhan dan produksi RGP. Simpulan penelitian rangkaian 2 menunjukkan bahwa frekuensi pemberian pupuk nitrogen 5 kali adalah optimal untuk mencukupi kebutuhan pertumbuhan dan produksi RGP.

Pakchong Elephant Grass (PEG/Pennisetum purpureum cv. Thailand) is a superior forage with good production levels and nutrient content. This research aimed to measure the growth and production of PEG through nitrogen fertilization strategies based on different dosage levels and frequencies. This study was designed with two parallel series using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and analyzed with ANOVA; if significant differences were found, Duncan's test was conducted. Series of research 1 consisted of 4 treatments of urea fertilizer dosage with gradual application (50% at 14 days after planting and 50% at 42 days after planting) and 10 replications: P1 = urea dosage of 100 N kg ha-1, P2 = urea dosage of 200 N kg ha-1, P3 = urea dosage of 300 N kg ha-1, and P4 = urea dosage of 400 N kg ha-1. Series of research 2 consisted of 5 treatment frequencies of urea application and 10 replications: P1 = one-time application (100% at 14 days after planting); P2 = two applications (50% at 14 and 42 days after planting); P3 = three applications (33.33% at 14, 28, and 42 days after planting); P4 = four applications (25% at 14, 25, 31, and 42 days after planting); and P5 = five applications (20% at 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after planting). Series 1 of research showed that adding urea fertilizer at doses of 200–400 N kg ha-1 significantly (P<0.05) improved leaf number, leaf length, plant height, total fresh and dry biomass production of PEG compared to 100 N kg ha-1 at 56 days after planting. Series of research 2 indicated that applying urea with frequencies of 2–5 times significantly (P<0.05) improved leaf number, leaf width, plant height, total fresh and dry biomass production of PEG compared to once at 56 days after planting. The conclusion of series of research 1 showed that a urea dosage of 200 N kg ha-1 is optimal to meet the growth and production needs of PEG. The conclusion of series of research 2 indicated that a nitrogen application frequency of 5 times is optimal to meet the growth and production needs of RGP.