Union farmers plant union bulb either in big or small size of bulb. The
bigger bulb is, the more expensive it is, therefore cultivator prefer to small or
medium. In rainy season, they undertake rice as preference. So, straw is
considered as a compost heap and then it is burned in the edge of street. These
ashes in overload condition create negative effect to the soil. This condition is
very regretful, since we are able to take the benefit as mulch in the next planting
season for union cultivation.
The aim of this research was to find out the effect of planting bulb
weight and straw mulch giving toward union product. This research was
conducted in Dukuhwaluh, Kembaran Sub-district, Banyumas regency in
October 2011 until January 2012. Research area took about 68 meter
approximately above the sea level with Latosol soil type.
This research was factorial design experiment arranged through
Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) of two factors. First, it was
from the size of bulb, 3 gram (U1) or 5 gram (U2). Second factor gave nothing
(M0), 5 tons/hectare (U1) and 10 tons/hectare (U2) mulch. Every treatment was
done 4 times.
The result of the research showed that the weight of bulb gave significant
influence toward number, packaging weight, wet and dry weight bulb and did
not give effects to leaves length, wet leaves and root weight and volume of bulb.
In the giving of straw mulch effected really to the length of leaves after 28, 42
and 60 after planting. Main interaction between bulb weight and straw mulch
only happened on the length of leaves variable.