KAJIAN BUDIDAYA JAMBU AIR MERAH DELIMA DI KABUPATEN DEMAK

Merah Delima is considered as superior native variety of water apple in Demak. The fruit is well known as the high quality water apple in the regions. Suitable environment of climate, topography and soil physicochemical properties in Demak make it possible for the fruit to produce more than twice per year with attractive physical appearance of the fruit as red and shiny color , large, sweet, crispy and high economic value. However, researches of Merah Delima water apple were still limited compared to other fruit superior commodities. Therefore, the survey as assessment method of water apple was conducted to identify and study the differences of cultivation, growth and production of the fruits which were cultivated in dry land and paddy fields as specific conditions of Demak regency. The assessment series included pre-survey in October 2011 � January 2012 and plants� observation in March� June 2012 which was a peak season for the fruits. The site locations were chosen purposively, i.e. in Wonosalam, Demak and Bonang Sub Districts. In that case, water apple tree�s population differences were being the criteria of sites selection. In pre survey, as many as 50 farmers were interviewed as respondents with the proportion of consecutive 28: 14: and 8 farmers for each Sub District. The plants� observation included 54 trees which were chosen purposively. �Nested design� was used (3 sub district x 2 land types x 3 plants). Basically the cultivation results were compared to Water Apple Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by Demak Agriculture Services. Parameters observed in the survey involved physical and chemical properties of soil, microclimate, growth, production and quality of water apple . The results showed that water apple cultivation applied statuses in dry and paddy field were only in low and medium, based on Water Apple Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Infact, there were significant interaction effect between research sites and cultivation applied as well as between the land types and cultivation applied in Merah Delima Water Apple production. Water Apple cultivation in surjan system or integrated with fish-farming system were less suitable since most of the time the roots were under anaerobic condition. Water apple cultivation is more suitable in flat land with intermittent irrigation system since soil moisture was not relatively high. In Grumosol soil type, available soil moisture is considered as one of soil physical properties that has negative significant effect for Merah Delima water apple production, both in dry land and paddy field. In that case, the higher available soil moisture the lower water apple Merah Delima production