Companion Plant System: A Strategy to Grow Trees on An Extreme Soil

ABSTRACT

Without addition of organic matter (OM), growing trees is very difficult on soil in ex-coal mining area in South Kalimantan. The OM should be supplied every year to get a normal growth of reclamation trees. Continuing supply of OM to sustain the plant growth will increase maintenance cost. A companion plant (Co-plant) system was introduced to sustain trees growth on adverse soil without additional organic fertilizer after transplanting. To study the Co-plant system in supporting trees grown in ex-coal mining area of PT Adaro Indonesia, two models of Co-plant were established. The first model involves Vetiveria zizanoides + 3 legume trees, namely, Albizia falcataria (Sengon), Calliandra haematocephala (Kaliandra) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lamtoro). The plot was located in sloping (27%) area. The second model was established in a flat area using Desmodium heterophyllum and Jatropha curcas. The effect of Vetiveria on the leguminous trees was shown by measuring the growth parameters, these were plant height and stem diameter and measured after 1 year transplanting. Effect of Desmodium on the Jatropha and a number of soil properties were shown by measuring nitrogen (N) content in the leave, total carbon (C) and N and pH of the soil under the Desmodium. The preliminary results revealed that both Vetiveria and Desmodium improved the growth of the leguminous trees and Jatropha, respectively. It was observed that the presence of Vetiveria increased the height of Albizia, Calliandra and Leucaena by 172,
192 and 205%, respectively and the diameter by 141, 262 and 303%, respectively. It was also observed
that Desmodium increased N content of Jatropha’s leaves by 24% and the total C by 62% and N by 66% and pH by 16% of soil underneath. Clarification on mechanism underground (root-root) communication in the Co-plant system is still in progress.

Keywords: Co-plant system, Desmodium heterophyllum, Jatropha curcas, leguminous trees, Vetiveria zizanoides

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Judul Seri

Prosiding INAFOR (International Conference of Indonesia Forestry Researchers) 2012

No. Panggil

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Penerbit

: ., 2012

Deskripsi Fisik

42-47

Bahasa

English

ISBN/ISSN

978-979-845245-1

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