UTILIZATION OF COCONUT SHELL WASTE AND LIVESTOCK MANURE TO IMPROVE SOIL QUALITY AND SHALLOT PRODUCTION IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Abstract

The effect of biochar from coconut shell waste and goat manure on ultisol soil has not been fully studied. The study aims to determine the effect of biochar and goat manure on several soil characteristics, namely soil pH, base saturation, CEC, available N, P, and K, and shallot yield in supporting sustainable agriculture. This study used an experimental method of factorial group randomized design with three replications. Coconut shell biochar as the first factor consists of four levels (0, 15, 25 and 35 ton ha ^-1) and goat manure as the second factor consists of three levels (10, 15, and 20 ton ha ^-1 ). The results showed that biochar (15 ton ha ^-1) and goat manure (20 ton ha ^-1) improved soil characteristics, and shallot yield. Goat manure in this study would function as a source of nutrients while rice coconut shell biochar acted as storage of nutrients that were then released slowly to soil solution for plant uptake. It was concluded that the mixture of 15 tons coconut shell biochar ha ^{- 1} and 20 tons goat manure ha ^{- 1} was the best combination of soil conditioners to be applied to ultisol soil.