PENGGUNAAN ROOT TRAINER SEBAGAI ALTERNATIF PENGGANTI POLYBAG UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT KARET (Hevea brasilliensisMuell. Arg.)

The problem of the availability of rubber planting material for large planting areas has encouraged efforts to develop technology to provide rubber planting material that is easier, more effective and efficient. One technology that has developed especially in India is a root trainer. Root trainer technology is expected to be an alternative to polybag and it is expected that the planting material produced will have better growth and development in the field. The study was conducted using a root trainer with a diameter of 15 cm and a height of 30 cm, planting material used topsoil, cocopeat, Chicken dung and compost. The experiment was arranged in a factorial randomized design with one factor, the factor was type of planting media such as cocopeat, Chicken dung and compost with 4 levels, 100%: 75%: 50% and 25% (w / v).The results showed the use of a mixture of 50% cocopeat and 50% chicken dung significantly affected plant height and diameter of rubber seedlings at the age of 1 until 7 weeks after planting with an increase reaching 1-2 times compared to all treatments and controls (polybags). It is suspected that chicken dung contains macro nutrients N, P and K needed by plants at the beginning of its growth and Cocopeat makes the growing media have better aerase and drainage in supporting the development of plant roots.The cost of making seedlings in the root trainer is more expensive than the seeds in a poly bag, but it is not too significant, but the size of the rubber seeds in the root trainer is also smaller than the seeds in a polybag so it is easier and cheaper to transport seedlings in the field. Keywords: Media, Root trainer, Rootstock, Rubber, and Seed