Effects of Organic Fertilizer Application and Spatial Arrangement on the Growth of Zingiber officinale var. amarum in Oil Palm Polyculture Systems

¹ University of Sriwijaya, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, Jl. Raya Palembang-Prabumulih Km 32 Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30662, Indonesia
² University of Sriwijaya, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil Science, Jl. Raya Palembang-Prabumulih Km 32 Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30662, Indonesia
³ UMR ABSYs, CIRAD, L'Institut Agro Montpellier, France
⁴ University of Sriwijaya, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agroecotechnology, Jl. Raya Palembang-Prabumulih Km 32 Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30662, Indonesia
⁵ University of Muhammadiyah Palembang, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agrotechnology, Palembang 30139, South Sumatra, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Polyculture systems in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) plantations represent an integrated agricultural approach with the potential to improve land-use efficiency and the productivity of intercrops. This study aimed to analyze the effects of integrated nutrient management and plant spacing on the vegetative growth of emprit ginger (Zingiber officinale var. amarum) in an oil palm-based polyculture system. The study was conducted at the oil palm research plantation, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, Indralaya District, Ogan Ilir Regency, South Sumatra, at a position of 3 ° 13'13.1 "S 104 ° 38'28.6" E - 3 ° 13'33.8 "S 104 ° 38'08.9" E. The study used a split-plot design with three replications was employed. The main plot factor consisted of organic fertilizer types, namely P1 (chicken manure at 10 ton ha⁻¹) and P2 (compost EOPFB/TKKS at 15 ton ha⁻¹). The subplot factor consisted of plant spacing variations: SA1 (30 cm × 60 cm), SA2 (40 cm × 60 cm), and SA3 (50 cm × 60 cm). The results showed that organic fertilizer type and plant spacing significantly affected most vegetative growth parameters of emprit ginger. The application of chicken manure tended to produce optimal growth compared to compost EOPFB/TKKS. A spatial arrangement of 40 cm χ 60 cm was identified as the optimal spacing arrangement for promoting growth and biomass accumulation in emprit ginger. Furthermore, the interaction between chicken manure based organic fertilizer and the 40 cm × 60 cm spacing exhibited the most favorable treatment combination, resulting in increased rhizome production and greater plant biomass accumulation.