Pengaruh Media Tanam Terhadap Pola Kelembaban Tanah Dan Pertumbuhan Tanaman Tomat

Abstract

Tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) are one of the important horticultural commodities in Indonesia. One of the main factors that affect tomato growth is the planting medium, especially in terms of the ability to store and maintain soil moisture. This study aims to analyze the effect of variations in planting media on soil moisture patterns and tomato plant growth. The planting media used consisted of a mixture of soil, manure, rice husks, and cocopeat with several comparisons. The study was conducted experimentally. Soil moisture was measured using a humidity sensor periodically, while plant growth parameters were observed by measuring plant height, leaf width, stem diameter, and chlorophyll content. Data analysis was carried out descriptively, and tested with ANOVA to determine the effect of soil moisture on growth. The results showed that a mixture of soil, manure, and cocopeat (1:1:1) was the best planting medium in maintaining soil moisture because the pore structure of cocopeat efficiently stores water. However, very high humidity (>90%) was not significant in accelerating plant growth, although it could affect the stability of flower yields. Based on the ANOVA test, the lowest humidity has a significant effect on plant growth, while the gradient of decreasing humidity is not significant. The selection of the right planting media affects the pattern of soil moisture and growth of tomato plants. These findings can be used as a basis for more efficient management of planting media and irrigation to increase tomato plant productivity.