The effect of sugarcane litter compost to soil physical mechanical properties and ratoon
sugarcane performance
Iqbal1, Tineke mandang2, E. Namaken Sembiring2, and M.A. Chozin3
Dept. Agricultural Engineering Hasanuddin University
E-mail : iqbaliqma@yahoo.com
2
Dept. Mechanical Engineering and Biosystem, Bogor Agricultural University
3
Dept. Agronomy and Horticulture, Bogor Agricultural University
Abstract
It is expected that the use of sugarcane litter compost as organic fertilizer in the field will
contribute in improving soil structure and increased sugarcane production. The objectives of this
study were to identify the quality of sugarcane litter compost and to analyze the influence of the
compost to soil chemical, physical and mechanical properties, soil fertility, and ratoon crop
growth. The results showed that, based on C/N ratio, the quality of compost produced was
appropriate with SNI 2001, Agriculture Ministry Regulation No. 2/2006 and No. 28/2009. The
application of compost will reduce production cost and will increase the level of C and N organics,
respectively by 8% and 21% within 4 months used of compost. It is also found that, compost
positively affect the soil chemical, physical and mechanical properties. Based on the growth of
high and diameter stem, the average growth of sugarcane plant with compost application was better
than those without compost application.
Keywords : sugarcane litter, compost, quality, sugarcane, soil chemical, physical and
mechanical properties