Effect of size and thickness of mulch on soil temperature, soil humidity, growth and yield of red beetroot (Beta vulgaris l.) in Jatikerto dry land, Indonesia

Background and Objective: The impact of land-use change encourages the development of agricultural businesses directed at sub-optimal land use, such as dry land. However, because one of the characteristics of dry land is a high temperature and a low level of water availability, environmental engineering such as the use of mulch needs to be done. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of different parameters on Red Beetroot. Materials and Methods: The study used a split-plot design and each treatment combination was repeated three times. Paddy straw mulch length, which is 30 and 10 cm is placed in the main-plot, while the thickness of mulch (without mulch, mulch thickness of 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm) was placed in sub-plots. F test at 5% is used to determine the effect of treatments, while differences between treatments were referred to Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) value at 5%. Results: The use of 10 cm mulch length at a mulch thickness of 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm is able to suppress the maximum soil temperature of 4.41, 5.17, 5.07 and 4.9EC, respectively, but followed by an increase in minimum soil moisture of 2.2, 4.5, 6.1 and 17%, compared to the use of 30 cm mulch length. In the same treatment combination, the tuber yield per hectare also increased by 3.09, 15.48, 17.25 and 25.91% compared to the use of 30 cm mulch length. Conclusion: In general, the application of mulch at various lengths and thicknesses has a positive effect on all parameters observed, including plant microclimate, plant growth and tuber yields per hectare, rather than without mulching. In the treatment without mulch, all parameters produced were the lowest, while the higher ones were obtained in a combination of a mulch length of 10 cm with a mulch thickness of 8 cm.