Large plantations such as oil palm plantations are usually covered by several weed species which occasionally function as a land cover. Soil samples were obtained through Simple Random Sampling on various types of ground cover weeds, e.g Asystasia intrusa, Eleusine indica, Cyperus kyllingia Endl. and Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum Stapf., in 7-year old oil palm stands, and Asystasia intrusa, Cyperus kyllingia Endl., Cyrtococcum oxyphyllum Stapf. and Cyperus rotundus, in 6-year old stands. Each sample was randomly obtained from each replicate plot at a depth of 0-20 cm (layer 1) and 20-50 cm (layer 2) at 5 points. Variables of soil chemical properties observed were N-total, P-available, K-total, C-organic and soil pH, while the physical properties observed were water content (%) and volume weight, using the gravimetric method. The results showed that the presence of weeds beneath the oil palm stands in plantation areas did not continuously have a negative effect on the growing environment. In this study, the presence of 4 (four) weed species under 6 and 7 years old were found around old oil palm stands and classified as dominant existences actually have a positive tendency to influence the quality of physical and chemical properties of soil under oil palm stands.
Oleh :
Rini Fitri
