Physical Characteristics of Soil from Palu Valley on Sweet Corn Plant Growth ( Zea mays saccharata)
Abstract
One important factor in the growth of sweet corn plants is soil characteristics including physical and chemical properties of the soil. This study aimed to analyze the physical condition of the soil on the growth of sweet corn plants. The research method was the Randomized Block Design (RBD) method which consists of the treatment of the source of soil, namely group 1 (soil from Langaleso Village), group 2 (soil from Kalukubula Village), and group 3 (soil from Guntarano Village). The results of the study found that these three soil samples were into the heavy soil content weight category with hydraulic conductivity in the medium category from the village of Kalukubula had a hydraulic conductivity of 2.86 cm/hour.Porosity variable that was categorized as not good were found in the soil from the Kalukubula village (49.48 g cm-3) and soil from Langaleso Village (42.18 g cm-3). The field capacity value in the land from Langaleso Village had a higher field capacity value (37.43 g cm-3). The soil from Kalukubula Village (159.00a) had the highest plant height and was significantly different from the soil from Guntarano Village (151.50b). The corn planted on the soil from the Kalukubula village had the highest dry weight of the plant and was significantly different from the corn planted on the soil from Langaleso and Guntarano villages. The dry weight of the roots in the soil from Kalukubula village was higher than that of the other 2 soils. The conclusion is the growth of corn plants is better in terms of plant height, plant dry weight, and the root dry weight in the soil from Kalukubula village.
