Comparison Of Corn Production Based On Planting Distance In Bakal Julu Village, Si Empat Nempu Hulu District, Dairi Regency

Abstract

 This research aims to analyze the factors of production such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, labor, and planting distance that affect corn productivity in Bakal Julu Village, Si Empat Nempu Hulu Subdistrict, Dairi Regency. The sampling technique used was simple random sampling, involving a total of 71 respondents, determined using the Slovin formula with a 10% margin of error from a population of 250 corn farmers. The research used quantitative methods with primary data collected through surveys and open-ended questionnaires directly administered to the farmers. Data were analyzed through multiple linear regression, classical assumption tests (normality, multicollinearity, heteroskedasticity, autocorrelation), and hypothesis testing (t-test, F-test). The results showed that only the number of seeds, chemical fertilizers, and planting distance significantly influenced corn production. The recommended planting distance of 20×70 cm produced the highest corn productivity, which was 52% higher than the 20×60 cm spacing and 16 times greater than the 20×50 cm spacing. Production using the 20×60 cm distance was also 10 times higher compared to 20×50 cm. The correlation coefficient was 0.947, indicating a very strong relationship between independent variables and production. The coefficient of determination was 0.898, showing that 89.8% of production variation was explained by the studied variables. The research recommends that corn farmers in Bakal Julu adopt the 20×70 cm planting distance to maximize productivity, and suggests that local government provide input subsidies for farmers applying recommended spacing