PERTUMBUHAN DUA KLON KARET ASAL BIBIT OKULASI DI KABUPATEN BANYUASIN, PROVINSI SUMATERA SELATAN (Growth Performance of Two Rubber Budding Clones in Banyuasin District, South Sumatera Province)

ABSTRACT Rubber clones have different adaptability  which leads to no rubber clone being superior for all planting locations. Therefore, the agro-climatic characteristics of plantation area are needed to determine the suitability class of the land before extensive rubber planting is carried out. The aim of this study was to examine the growth of combination of clones  (IRR 112 and IRR 118) and the number of umbrella leaves (two umbrellas and three umbrellas) during immature plants (TBM). Plantation was established at the Experimental Garden of the Rubber Research Center, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra Province. Land suitability was determined based on soil data and climate data. Clone growth was observed based on the growth of stems from a sampling of 500 trees for each clone-umbrella combination. Growth measurement was carried out every year until five years old plants. The results showed that IRR 112 clone rubber with three umbrellas was the best rubber planting material and reach 81% mature tapping stems after five years old. It is recommended that IRR 112 clone rubber with three umbrellas can be planted on land with the land suitability class suitable (S2) in the lowlands on Ultisol soil type. Keywords: Clone, rubber seeds, land suitability, circumference of the stem ABSTRAK Klon tanaman karet memiliki daya adaptasi yang berbeda-beda, sehingga tidak ada klon karet yang unggul di semua lokasi penanaman. Oleh karena itu karakteristik agroklimat pada areal penanaman tanaman karet diperlukan untuk menentukan kelas kesesuaian lahannya sebelum penanaman karet secara luas dilaksanakan. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menguji pertumbuhan kombinasi klon (IRR 112 dan IRR 118) dan jumlah payung daun bibit karet (payung dua dan payung tiga) selama masa tanaman belum menghasilkan (TBM). Penanaman dilakukan di Kebun Percobaan Pusat Penelitian Karet, Kabupaten Banyuasin, Provinsi Sumatera Selatan. Penentuan kelas kesesuaian lahan dilakukan berdasarkan data tanah dan data iklim. Pertumbuhan klon diamati berdasarkan pengukuran lilit batang pada 500 pohon sampling untuk setiap kombinasi klon-jumlah payung. Pengukuran pertumbuhan dilakukan setiap tahun sampai dengan umur lima tahun. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa bibit karet klon IRR 112 dengan jumlah payung tiga merupakan bibit karet yang terbaik dan pada umur lima tahun telah menghasilkan 81% batang matang sadap. Bibit karet tersebut dianjurkan ditanam pada lahan dengan kelas kesesuaian lahan sesuai (S2) di dataran rendah pada jenis tanah Ultisol. Kata kunci: Klon, bibit karet, kesesuaian lahan, lilit batang