PENGARUH SWA (SUPER WATER ABSORBENT) PATI SINGKONG TERHADAP SIFAT RETENSI AIR TANAH

Abstract

The development of dry-land agriculture often face some constraints, especially when it is related to water needs which is depending on rainwater. Global climate change, that occurs lately has made rainfall patterns become more erratic and less predictable. Therefore, new technology that could help maintaining soil water content is needed to ensure that water availability for plant growth is still sufficient. SWA (Super Water Absorbent) cassava starch is one of a technology that can be used for this purpose. This study was aimed to assess the effect of SWA cassava starch and its comparison to the other water absorbent, for maintaining soil water retention on two different soil textures (clay and sandy clay). The results showed that addition of SWA cassava starch was not significantly different from the other soil water absorbent for maintaining soil water retention. SWA cassava starch performance at clay textured soil was better than sandy clay-textured soil.

Keywords: Soil Water Content, SWA cassava starch.