APPLICATION OF ORGANIC MATTER ON ENTISOL-SOIL AFFECTED SOIL MOISTURE CAPACITY AND GROWTH OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.)

The research aimed to know growth of maize and soil moisture retention of the Luro-Entisol by application of organic matter. Field research was carried out in the Odofuro / Luro Timor Leste, analysis of soil samples was done in the Soil Physics Laboratory, Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Brawijaya, and Malang. Field experiment used the split plot design, consisting of two factors and four replications, resulting in 24 units of experiments. The first factor is organic matter (P) consisting of cow manure (P1) and sheep manure (P2), and the second factor is dosage of manure, including without fertilizer (D0), manure 5 tons ha-1 (D1) and manure of 10 tons ha-1. Results showed that dosage of manure has significantly effects on plant height, stem diameter, fresh weight and dry weight of stalk, but not significant effected the soil particle density, soil bulk density, total soil porosity and soil moisture.