APPLICATION OF CONSERVATION METHODS ON CHILLIES FARMING IN KLUNGKUNG REGENCY

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the application of conservation methods in chillies farming. The research was conducted in Subak Kacang Dawa, Klungkung Regency. The research sample is chili farmers who apply conservation using plastic mulch and straw. The data collected were soil moisture, soil temperature, and dry weight of weeds, farm costs and revenues. Soil moisture and dry weight of weeds were analyzed in the laboratory, to determine differences in the application of conservation data were analyzed-using t-test, then multiple linear recression was used to analyze the effect of farming and labor costs on chili farmers' income. The results of the study found that the use of plastic mulch was better in maintaining soil moisture and controlling weeds compared to straw mulch. But the use of straw mulch is better in maintaining the stability of soil temperature. The use of plastic mulch costs more than using straw mulch, but the use of plastic mulch requires less labor. Cost has a positive and significant effect on farmers' income, while labor has a negative and significant effect on farmers' income. The income of chili farmers who use plastic mulch is greater than that of farmers who use straw mulch.