Pemulsaan merupakan teknik yang sering digunakan petani di Indonesia untuk mengendalikan gulma pada area penanaman. Daun ketapang gugur yang merupakan sampah masih memiliki banyak manfaat salah satunya dapat dijadikan sebagai mulsa organik untuk mengendalikan gulma. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menganalisis efektivitas penggunaan mulsa daun ketapang gugur dalam menghambat pertumbuhan gulma dan pengaruhnya terhadap pertumbuhan serta produktivitas tanaman tomat. Penelitian terdiri atas tiga perlakuan yaitu tanpa mulsa, mulsa daun ketapang, dan mulsa plastik dengan masing-masing terdiri atas empat ulangan. Tanaman tomat ditanam di bedengan selama delapan pekan pengamatan. Efektivitas penggunaan mulsa ditinjau dari parameter tanah, pertumbuhan vegetatif tanaman, produktivitas tanaman tomat, dan pertumbuhan gulma. Hasil pengamatan parameter tanah seperti suhu, pH, dan kelembapan menunjukkan rerata yang cenderung seragam pada semua perlakuan. Berdasarkan uji Anova, tinggi tanaman, berat basah tanaman, dan kadar klorofil tidak berbeda nyata antar perlakuan. Data generatif tanaman yang diamati berupa waktu berbunga. Penggunaan mulsa daun ketapang gugur dinilai sangat efektif dalam menghambat pertumbuhan gulma. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat memberikan informasi tambahan terhadap pemanfaatan daun ketapang gugur dalam mempengaruhi produktivitas tanaman dan pengendalian gulma.

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Mulching is a technique often used by farmers in Indonesia to control weeds in planting areas. Ketapang fallen leaves which are considered as a waste still have benefit, they can be used as organic mulch to control weeds. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of using mulch of ketapang fallen leaves on weed control and tomato plant productivity. This study consisted of three treatments, without mulching, leaf mulch of Ketapang, and plastic mulch each consisting of four replications. Tomato plants were planted in raised beds for eight weeks. The effectiveness of using mulch was determined from soil parameters, vegetative growth, plant productivity, and weed growth. The observations on soil parameters such as temperature, pH, and humidity, showed average values tend to be uniform in all treatments. Based on the Anova test, vegetative growth such as plant height, fresh weight, and chlorophyll content were not significantly different. The plant productivity is measured at the time flowers appears. The use of ketapang fallen leaves as mulch is considered very effective in inhibiting weed growth. This study is expected to provide additional information on the use of ketapang fallen leaves in influencing plant productivity and weed control.