T. Islami, S. Kurniawan, W.H. Utomo
Field experiment was carried out to study the yield stability of cassava planted in cassava + peanuts intercropping systems after 3 years of biochar application was carried out from September 2009 to September 2012. The crops were treated with 5 organic amendment, i.e. (i) without organic amendment, (ii) farm yard manure (FYM) applied once at the first year only, (iii) FYM applied at every planting year, (iv) biochar made from FYM, and (v) biochar made from cassava stem. To calculate land use efficiency, additional treatment of monoculture cassava and monoculture peanuts were planted without organic amendment. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with 3 replications. The experimental result showed that addition both FYM and biochar improved soil quality and increased crop yield. The increase of cassava yield due to FYM addition was only occurred for the first year cassava, whereas that of for biochar still occurred until the third year cassava. The yield of the first yield peanuts did not significantly influenced by organic amendment application. To maintain the beneficial effect of FYM, it should be applied at every planting. Application of biochar increased and stabilized land use efficiency of cassava + peanut intercropping.
University of Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia; International Research Centre for Management of Mining and Degraded Land (IRC-MEDMIND), University of Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia
