Pengaruh Media Tanam Terhadap Pertumbuhan Bibit Bakau Minyak (Rhizophora apiculata Bl.)

Mangrove ecosystems have an important role to play in maintaining coastal ecological balance, but high levels of damage require effective rehabilitation efforts. One of the main species that is widely used in rehabilitation is Rhizophora apiculata Bl., as it has strong roots, high tolerance to tides, and a relatively fast growth rate. The success of rehabilitation is highly dependent on the quality of the seedlings planted, while the planting medium in the seedbed is a key factor that determines early growth. This study aims to evaluate the influence of various types of planting media on the growth of R. apiculata seedlings. The experiment was carried out with a complete random design using several media treatments, including M1 (Ultisol soil media), M2 (peat soil media), M3 (sea mud soil media) and M4 (river sand media), each repeated four times. The observed parameters included propagule survival percentage, height gain, diameter increase, number of leaf blades and longest root length. The results showed that the planting medium provided 100% live propagule, significantly affecting the parameters of increase in height, number of leaf strands, and longest root length, but not significantly affecting the parameters of increase in propagule diameter. The best planting medium is M3 (Sea mud soil media). These findings affirm the importance of selecting appropriate planting media to improve the quality of seedlings in the seedbed phase, so that it can be a practical reference in nursery activities and mangrove rehabilitation programs, as well as making a scientific contribution to the development of sustainable mangrove silviculture.