PENGARUH PEMBERIAN DUA JENIS PUPUK KANDANG TERHADAP SIFAT KIMIA TANAH DAN PRODUKSI TANAMAN JAGUNG MANIS (Zea Mays Saccharata)

Soil is a natural resource that is very important for the sustainability of life because it acts as a medium for plant growth and a provider of nutrients. The intensity of agricultural land use without proper management can cause soil degradation, decreased organic matter content, and reduced soil fertility. One effort to improve soil quality is through the use of organic fertilizers, especially cow and goat manure, which can improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil in a sustainable manner. This study aims to determine the effect of the application of two types of manure, namely cow manure and goat manure, on soil chemical properties (organic C, total N, and Cation Exchange Capacity/CEC) as well as the growth and production of sweet corn (Zea mays Saccharata.). The study was conducted at the Academic Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) consisting of nine combinations of manure treatments and three replications. The results showed that the application of cow and goat manure had a significant effect on the growth of sweet corn plants, as indicated by an increase in plant height and number of leaves at various observation ages. In addition, manure application also affects changes in soil chemical properties, particularly organic C, total N, and CEC, although the response varies depending on the type and dosage of fertilizer applied. Goat manure tends to provide a better response in sweet corn growth and production, especially at a high dose of 6 kg, due to its higher nutrient content and faster decomposition. Meanwhile, cow manure plays a more stable role in increasing cation exchange capacity and gradually improving soil fertility. Overall, the use of cow and goat manure, either singly or in combination, has the potential to increase soil fertility and sweet corn production when applied at the right dosage and according to soil conditions. Therefore, the results obtained with the lowest organic C value were found in the K1S2 treatment with an average of 1.30%, while the highest value was obtained in the K1S0 treatment with an average of 2.57%. The lowest total N value was found in the K1S2 treatment with an average of 0.16%, while the highest value was obtained in the K1S0 treatment with an average of 0.40%. The lowest Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) value was found in the K1S2 treatment with an average of 19.93 (cmol(+)kg-1), while the highest value was obtained in the K1S0 treatment with an average of 57.12 (cmol(+)kg-1).
Keywords : Sweet Corn, Organic C, Total Soil N and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)