ANALISIS POTENSI LORONG PENGATUS DANGKAL UNTUK PERCEPATAN JADWAL TANAM PALAWIJA DI TANAH SAWAH (Analysis of Shallow Mole Drainage’s Potential to Plant Crops Earlier on Paddy Field)
Authors: Suharyatun Siti , Purwantana Bambang , Rozaq Abdul , Mawardi Muhjidin 
Published: December 2016

Installing shallow mole drainage in paddy soil can increase the rate of lowering soil moisture into such a condition which is suitable for the early growth of non-rice crops. This study aimed to analyze the shallow mole drainage installation potential to plant crops early in paddy soil. The study was conducted in a laboratory scale using a soil bin, a model of mole plow, and soil kept homogeneous in boxes. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory for Energy and Agricultural Machinery, Agricultural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agricultural Technology Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. Mole drainage was installed in 2 paddy soils, with different clay content, namely; 41.17% (soil B) and 53.36% (soil C). Soil moisture content was measured periodically by using gypsum blocks. The analysis showed that the mole drainage installed in soil B was able to speed up the time taken to reach field capacity. At the distance horizontally to the center of mole drainage (x) = 6.5 cm with the depth (z) =5 cm took 72 hours faster than the control. At z =10 needed 92 hours, at z = 15 cm needed 154 hours faster than the control. At the distance horizontally to the center of mole drainage (x) = 11.5 with z = 5cm took 52 hours, with z = 10 cm took 161 hours, with z = 15 cm took 150 hours faster than the control. The installation of mole drainage in soil C was also able to speed up the time required to reach field capacity. At the distance horizontally to the center of mole drainage (x) = 6.5 cm with the depth (z) = 5 cm took 165 hours, with z = 10 cm took 184 hours, with z = 15 cm took 200 hours faster than the control. At x = 11.5 with z = 5 cm took 144 hours, with z = 10 cm took 154 hours, with z = 15 cm took 192 hours faster than the control. The lesser time required to reach field capacity indicated that mole drainage installed in soil B and C was potential to plant crops early in paddy soil.Keywords: Rate of lowering soil moisture, mole drainage, paddy soil, to plant crops ABSTRAKLorong pengatus dangkal di lahan sawah berfungsi meningkatkan laju penurunan lengas tanah di lapisan olah, sehingga kondisi tanah yang sesuai untuk pertumbuhan awal tanaman palawija dapat segera tercapai. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis potensi pembentukan lorong pengatus terhadap peluang percepatan jadwal tanam palawija di tanah sawah. Penelitian dilakukan dalam skala laboratorium dengan menggunakan soil bin, model bajak lorong, dan tanah di dalamboks yang dijaga homogenitasnya. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Energi dan Mesin Pertanian, Jurusan Teknik Pertanian, Fakultas Teknologi Pertanian Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. Lorong pengatus dibuat pada 2 jenis tanah sawah bertekstur lempung, dengan kadar lempung yang berbeda, yaitu 41,17% (tanah B) dan 53,36% (tanah C). Pengukuran kadar lengas tanah dilakukan secara periodik menggunakan gypsum blok. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwapembentukan lorong pengatus pada tanah B dapat mempercepat waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk mencapai kapasitas lapang. Pada jarak horisontal dari pusat lorong (x)=6,5 cm dengan kedalaman (z)=5cm, membutuhkan waktu 72 jam lebih cepat dibanding kontrol, pada z=10 cm membutuhkan 192 jam, pada z=15 cm membutuhkan154 jam lebih cepat dibandingkontrol. Pada x=11,5 membutuhkan waktu 52 jam (z=5cm), 161 jam (z=10 cm), 150 jam (z=15 cm) lebih cepat dibanding kontrol. Pembentukan lorong pengatus pada tanah C juga dapat mempercepat waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk mencapai kapasitas lapang. Pada x=6,5 cm, membutuhkan waktu 165 jam (z=5cm), 184 jam (z=10 cm), 200 jam (z=15 cm) lebih cepat dibanding kontrol. Pada x=11,5 membutuhkan waktu 144 jam (z=5cm), 156 jam (z=10 cm), 192 jam (z=15 cm)lebih cepat dibanding kontrol. Menurunnya waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk mencapai kapasitas lapang menunjukkan bahwa pembentukan lorong pengatus di tanah B dan C berpotensi untuk mempercepat jadwal tanam palawija.Kata kunci: Laju penurunan lengas tanah, lorong pengatus, tanah sawah, jadwal tanam palawija