Penggunaan Sensor Kelembaban Tanah untuk Penetapan Jadwal Penyiraman Tanaman Cabai melalui Irigasi Tetes: Use of Soil Moisture Sensors to Determine Chili Irrigation Scheduling through Drip Irrigation

Fertigasi melalui irigasi tetes merupakan teknologi adaptasi dalam menghadapi perubahan iklim. Penanaman cabai menggunakan irigasi tetes di lahan kering memerlukan jadwal penyiraman yang tepat. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi metode penyiraman berdasarkan sensor kelembaban tanah dan nilai evapotranspirasi pada penanaman cabai menggunakan irigasi tetes. Penelitian dilakukan di Lahan Percobaan Cikarawang, IPB University, Bogor, mulai Juli hingga September 2022. Cabai verietas Imola ditanam pada lahan dengan kandungan P-tersedia 19.6 ppm (sedang) dan K-tersedia 84.64 ppm (tinggi) (Mechlih-1), 1.45 C Organik, dan pH 6.85. Perlakuan jadwal penyiraman disusun dalam Rancangan Acak Kelompok dengan perlakuan 1xETc, 2xETc (1.2 kali nilai evapotranspirasi tanpa sensor), 2xETc-S (menggunakan sensor kelembaban tanah) dengan 6 ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa semua metode penyiraman dapat digunakan untuk mendukung produksi cabai dengan produktivitas rata-rata 8.825 - 10.797 ton ha-1. Secara umum, perlakuan 2xETc-S menghasilkan bobot buah per bedengan tertinggi dibandingkan perlakuan 1xETc dan 2xETc. Bobot buah cabai tidak layak pasar per bedeng tertinggi terdapat pada perlakuan 2xETc. Untuk implementasi lapangan komersial, perlu mempertimbangkan jumlah sensor, ambang batas kelembaban, dan volume penyiraman untuk memaksimalkan kualitas dan produktivitas. Keywords: evapotranspirasi, jadwal irigasi, lahan kering, sensor kelembaban tanahFertigation through drip irrigation is an adaptation technology in dealing with climate change. Chili planting using drip irrigation in dry land requires an appropriate watering schedule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the watering method based on soil moisture sensors and evapotranspiration values in chili planting using drip irrigation. The research was conducted at the Cikarawang Experimental Field, IPB University, Bogor, from July to September 2022. Imola chili varieties were grown on fields with available P content of 19.6 ppm (medium) and available K of 84.64 ppm (high) (Mechlih-1), 1.45 % C Organic, and a pH of 6.85. Treatment of the watering schedule of the arrangement in a randomized block design with 1xETc, 2xETc (without sensor), 2xETc-S (using a soil moisture sensor) treatment with 6 repetitions. The results showed that all watering methods could be used to support chili production with an average productivity of 8,825 - 10,797 ton ha-1. In general, the 2xETc-S treatment produced the highest fruit weight per bed compared to the 1xETc and 2xETc treatments. The highest unmarketable pasar chili fruit weight per bed was in the 2xETc treatment. For commercial field implementation, it is necessary to consider the number of sensors, humidity thresholds, and watering volume to maximize quality and productivity. Keywords: dryland, evapotranspiration, irrigation scheduling, soil moisture senso