SUBSTITUTION OF WATER HY ACINTH (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms) AS GREEN MANURE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ELEPHANT GRASS (Pennisetum purpureum)

Abstract

Experiment was conducted to investigate Water Hyacinth (E. crassipes (Mart.) Solms) as green manure (GM) on the performance of Elephant Grass (P. purpureum). Two different forms of water hyacinth (wilted~Water Hyacinth, W-WH and composted-Water Hyacinth, C-WH) were incorporated into the field of Elephant Grass. It was conducted in the experimental site, Forage Crops Science Laboratory, Department of Nutrition and Animal Feeds, Faculty of Animal Agriculture, Diponegoro University, Semarang, INDONESIA. Completely randomized design iniseries experiment (2 x 6) with 3 replications was used throughout the experiment. Treatments consist of two different form of water hyacinth (W-WH, P1 and C-WH, P2) and the level of WH: Urea (U) composition (TO, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5). Both in the P1 and P2 treatments were consists of To (0% P1 : 0% U); T1 (0% P1: 100% U); T2 (25% P1 : 75% U); T3 (50% P1 : 50% U); T4 (75% P1 : 25% U); T5 (lO0% P1 : 0% U) as groups l; and To (0% P2: 0% U); T1 (0% P2: 100% U); T2 (25% P2: 75% U); T3 (50% P2: 50% U); T4 (75% P2: 25% U); T5 (100% P2 : 0% U) as groups 2. Amount of tillers (AT), amount of leaves (AL) and dry matter (DM) yield were recorded during the experiment. Data were statically analyzed using ANOVA, and Duncan multiple range tests were employed for further analysis. Experiment resulted that there were no significantly differences on the AT, AL and DM yield due to the treatment of P. While there were significantly differences in the treatment of T and interaction (P x T) on AT, AL and DM yield, with the exception occurred on AT of T treatment. Result of experiment suggested that the addition of WH (W-WH and C-WH) did not significantly effective in increasing soil N availability, while the level of those two forms of WH with Urea combination seemed more effective in affecting the performance of elephant grass (P. purpureum).