PERAN MULSA JERAMI PADI DALAM MENINGKATKAN PRODUKTIVITAS DAN EVISIENSI USAHATANI PADA BUDIDAYA PADI TANAM BENIH LANGSUNG

Abstract

Increasing rice production in Indonesia has led to a corresponding increase in the amount of rice straw waste generated during each harvest season. However, most rice straw is still burned in the fields, resulting in the loss of essential nutrients, reduced soil organic matter, and increased environmental pollution. At the same time, rice cultivation faces challenges related to high labor requirements and production costs, particularly during nursery establishment, transplanting, and weed control. One alternative to address these issues is the utilization of rice straw as mulch in combination with the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) system. This article aims to review the findings of previous studies on the use of rice straw mulch in rice cultivation under the DSR system. The study employed a literature review method by synthesizing information from scientific journals, books, and relevant official statistical data. The findings indicate that the DSR system improves labor efficiency by eliminating the need for nursery preparation, seedling uprooting, and transplanting. Meanwhile, the application of rice straw mulch suppresses weed growth, reduces the frequency of weeding, conserves soil moisture, and improves soil quality. The synthesis of previous studies also demonstrates that integrating rice straw mulch with the DSR system has the potential to reduce labor requirements measured in person-days, lower labor costs, improve farm efficiency, and promote sustainable agricultural waste management. Therefore, the use of rice straw mulch in the DSR system represents a promising cultivation technology to enhance labor efficiency while supporting productive and sustainable agricultural development.