Effect of differences in soil tillage and application of organic fertilizers on soil water content and yield of upland rice

Abstract The research objective was to increase upland rice yield and balancing it with efforts of land conservation to maintain sustainable land productivity. It has been conducted in the research station of Lampung Assessment Institute for Agricultural Technology (AIAT). The treatments were arranged in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The treatment in the main plot was the method of tillage whereas the subplot was organic fertilizers. The tillage methods were: (1) Maximum tillage and without ditch, (2) Minimum tillage with ditch. The organic fertilizer treatments were control, bio urine plus 10 L ha−1, bio urine plus 20 L ha−1, biodecomposer 10 L ha−1, and biodecomposer 20 L ha−1. The upland rice variety was Inpago 12. The variables observed were soil water content, growth and yields of rice. The results showed that the minimum soil tillage with ditch provided a higher soil water content than the maximum tillage. Likewise, the application of liquid organic matter from local microorganisms (biodecomposer) increased soil water content compared to the control. Application of bio urine plus 20 L ha−1 significantly increased plant height and yield. The highest dry grain was obtained in the treatment of minimum tillage and biodecomposer 20 L ha−1.