Journal of Tropical Soils
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The Influence of Compost and Biochar on the Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil and the Growth of Tomatoes in Sub-Optimal Land
Full text linkThis study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of coconut shell biochar (CB) and/or Leucaena compost (LC) as ameliorants in improving soil chemical and physical properties, as well as enhancing tomato yields. The goal is to identify the most effective combination of ameliorant formulations that can improve land quality and increase yield of tomato. The study was carried out over a 10-month period, spanning from March 2024 to December 2024. The research method used a Group Random Design, the treatments studied were: A0: no ameliorant + inorganic fertilizer as recommended;  A1 : CB 15 Mg ha-1;  A2 : LC 15 Mg ha-1;  A3 : LC 5 Mg ha-1 + CB 10 Mg ha-1;  A4 : LC 10 Mg ha-1 + CB 5 Mg ha-1. All treatments were repeated 5 times. The data obtained from this study were subjected to statistical analysis and further evaluated using the Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT). The findings reveal that applying coconut shell biochar and Leucaena compost, whether individually or in combination, markedly enhances the physical properties of the soil. These improvements include reduced bulk density (BD), increased soil organic matter SOM), total porosity (TP), and hydraulic conductivity (HC), as well as better pore distribution and water retention. Furthermore, these treatments resulted in an increase in both the tomato weight per plant and the fresh tomato weight per plot. The most effective combination for maximizing tomato yield was determined to be 10 Mg ha-1 of LC combined with 5 Mg ha-1 of CB
The Effect of Planting Media on Several Chemical Properties of Soil and Growth of Moringa Stem Cuttings (Moringa oleifera Lam.)
No full textThis research was conducted to determine the effect of planting media on the growth of Moringa stem cuttings and determine the best planting media for growing Moringa stem cuttings. The research was carried out in July-October 2023. Located on the Wasaka III Student Dormitory grounds, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan. The research was carried out using a one-factor Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method with four treatments and five replications to obtain 20 experimental units. The treatments given: m0: 6 kg peat soil, m1: 5 kg peat soil + 1 kg husk charcoal, m2: 5 kg peat soil + 1 kg laying chicken manure, m3: 5 kg peat soil + 0.5 kg husk charcoal + 0.5 kg laying chicken manure. The results showed that the planting had a significant effect on soil pH, shoot length, number of leaf stalks, root length and root volume of Moringa stem cuttings. However, it had no real effect on the number of shoots on Moringa stem cuttings. Based on research that has been carried out, it shows that planting media given husk charcoal and manure increases the available P content by 241.34 ppm, N-dd 1.70 me/100 g, and K-dd 1.65 me/100 g in the soil. Peat can increase the pH of peat soil from acid to neutral. The treatment also had a very significant effect to all parameters
Spatial Analysis of Available and Suitable Land for Oil Palm in Ketapang Regency
No full textOil palm plantations are a primary sub-sector of Indonesia’s agricultural economy and continue to expand rapidly. Ketapang Regency, which has the largest oil palm plantation area in West Kalimantan, holds significant potential for further development. This study assessed land suitability for oil palm expansion using a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making approach integrated with Geographic Information Systems. The Analytical Hierarchy Process was applied to assign weights to the following criteria: slope, land cover, spatial pattern, soil texture, adequate depth, drainage, temperature, rainfall, and road accessibility. The results show that 79.56% of the total area is classified as suitable (S1 and S2), comprising 3.17% as highly suitable (S1) and 67.11% as suitable (S2). Meanwhile, 7.62% was moderately suitable (S3) and 20.44% was not suitable (N). Overlay analysis revealed that the most suitable lands overlap with Other Use Areas and Conversion Production Forests, while some intersect with existing agricultural and plantation uses. Validation with existing plantation data confirmed that 98.34% of plantations are located in S1 and S2 zones, demonstrating the robustness of the model. Overall, Ketapang Regency has substantial land availability for oil palm expansion. However, the limited extent of highly suitable land (S1) and the predominance of suitable (S2) highlight the need for cautious interpretation of expansion opportunities. Sustainable development must align with spatial regulations, land conversion policies, and environmental safeguards. Future research should integrate socio-economic, ecological, and climate change considerations to support sustainable and resilient oil palm development
Influence of Land Use and Land Cover Variations on Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential in the Northern Madhupur Tract, Bangladesh
No full textThis study examines the effects of diverse land use and land cover (LULC) types on soil physico-chemical properties and carbon sequestration potential in the northern Madhupur Tract, Bangladesh. Soil samples were collected from seven LULC types – sal forest, social forest, orchard, bare land, agricultural land, protected area, and built-up area across three depths (0–15 cm, 16–40 cm, and 41–70 cm) between April and September 2022. Key parameters analyzed included texture, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, available sulfur, organic carbon (OC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil texture ranged from clay loam to clay. Bulk density was the lowest in built-up areas (1.57–1.62 g cm-³) and the highest in protected areas (1.97–2.20 g cm-³). Orchard soils had the highest surface moisture (23.26%). Surface soils showed the highest EC (0.82 dSm-1), total N (0.11%), available P (118.6 ppm), and OC (1.07%), while pH increased with depth, peaking at 6.15. SOC stock differed significantly among land uses (F = 6.56, p < 0.05), highest in social forests (138.67 Mg ha-¹) and built-up areas (134.04 Mg ha-¹). Corresponding CO‚ mitigation potentials were 508.93 Mg C ha-¹ and 491.34 Mg C ha-¹. Agricultural land had the lowest SOC stock (85.31 Mg ha-¹). Enhancing carbon storage through better land management is vital for sustainability and climate resilience
Water Table Control Model for Maize Cultivation of C Typology Land on Tidal Lowland Reclaimed Area of South Sumatra, Indonesia
Full text linkTidal lowland productivity in type C is still low. Most of them have only been able to cultivate rice twice a year. The third cultivation of corn often fails due to a lack of water. The research objective is to determine an operational model for water management in the field for maize cultivation at several planting times. Model area is conducted at a tertiary block of reclaimed tidal lowland, Telang Jaya Village Primer 8 Delta Telang I, of Banyuasin District. There are three planting times treatments: the fourth week of April, the second week of June, and the first week of July, 2021. A water management model was applied to control the drainage system, in which the water level in the tertiary channel is maintained at a depth of 50 cm. When groundwater drops below 70 cm, and there is no rain, pump irrigation is provided. Results of the field experiment showed that the maize crop showed similar growth quality at each phase. Land with a planting period of June and July still requires water addition using pump irrigation. It was applied on 14th and 18th August. Moreover, the maize cultivated at the end of April did not require pump irrigation. All treatments have generally similar production with an average magnitude of 8.0 Mg ha-1. The highest production is 8.73 Mg ha-1, which is planted in the first week of July
Effect Application of Cellulolytic Bacteria Consortium And Palm Kernel Ash on Red Chili Plants in Peat Soil
Full text linkLimited agricultural land in Indonesia makes peatland an alternative land for agricultural intensification. Peat soil has a low fertility, so applying cellulolytic bacteria and palm oil shoot ash is recommended. This study aimed to determine the effect of cellulolytic bacteria consortium and oil palm shoot ash on the growth and yield of red chilies on peat soils. The research was conducted in Empat Balai Village, Kampar. The study used a factorial in a completely randomized design (3x3) and three replications. The first factor was the cellulolytic bacteria consortium (0, 20, and 30 mL polybag-1), and the second factor was palm ash (0, 3, and 6 Mg ha-1 equivalent to 0.126 and 252 g polybag-1). The application of cellulolytic bacteria consortium and its interaction with oil palm shoot ash had no significant effect on all observed variables. While, the application of palm ashes significantly affected plant height, stem diameter, number of fruits, and fruits weight
From Rice to Oil Palm: the Historical Evolution of Peatland Reclamation in the Berbak Delta, Indonesia
No full textThe Berbak Delta in Jambi Province, Indonesia, underwent large-scale peatland reclamation in the 1970s as part of a transmigration program to develop rice fields. Initially, rice production averaged 3–4 tons/ha but declined to less than 1 Mg ha-1 due to the conversion of peat soils into acid sulfate soils. This decline was attributed to soil acidification from pyrite oxidation, which lowered soil pH. Currently, rice cultivation persists in areas near rivers influenced by tidal brackish water. In response to declining yields, a technological package for acid sulfate soil management was introduced, including canal water management, pH improvement, and fertilizer application. It increased rice yields to over 5 Mg ha-1 in a 100-ha pilot project in 2005. However, by 2008, farmers began shifting to oil palm plantations due to higher income potential. This study examines land-use change from rice fields to oil palm plantations and its impact on the livelihoods of communities in the Berbak Delta. Land cover change analysis from 2013 to 2023 revealed a decrease in rice fields from 58.30% to 25.79% and an increase in oil palm plantations from 15.37% to 55.70%. Oil palm cultivation has demonstrated sustainability on reclaimed acid sulfate soils, leading to economic prosperity through improved infrastructure and housing, as well as increased private vehicle ownership
Study of the Quality of Biogeotextile Materials as Semi-Organic Mulch on Saline Land
Full text linkDegraded land affects almost all ecosystems and can harm the progress and quality of human life, so it needs attention. Saline soil is a land degradation with high salt content that causes toxic effects, increases root osmotic pressure, and inhibits plant growth. One solution is using organic mulch processed into biogeotextiles because it can provide solutions for erosion control and soil stabilization while minimizing negative impacts on the ecosystem. This research was conducted from May to August 2023 in the experimental garden of the Faculty of Agriculture UPN ‘Veteran’ East Java. This study used a group randomized design with one factor, the type of geotextile material consisting of reed grass (RG), straw (ST), pandanus odorifer (PO), and sugarcane bagasse (SB). This research was conducted with a litterbox of 20x20 cm filled with 100 g of biogeotextile material. The results obtained show that pandanus odorifer biogeotextile material is the best biogeotextile material because it can last a long time on the soil surface, but can still be adequately mineralized, according to the results obtained, reducing the C/N ratio and C-Organic but increasing total nitrogen. Decomposition is closely related to the materials’ quality rather than external factors. The quality of the material, namely lignin, organic carbon, C/N ratio, and nitrogen, influences the decomposition process. Furthermore, this technology can be applied to improve soil productivity and to keep soil healthy
The Dynamics of Soil Organic Matter Fractions in Cacao-Based Agroforestry Systems
Full text linkSoil degradation is an important problem affecting crop production, especially in cocoa agroforestry systems, where soil health is crucial for optimal results. However, the effect of land management on changes in soil organic matter (SOM) content is often not visible through measurements of total soil organic carbon (SOC) content. This study investigates the distribution of soil organic matter fractions across various land-use gradients and soil depths in cacao-based agroforestry landscapes in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Soil samples were collected from three villages representing different parts of a watershed and subjected to density fractionation to separate light (LF), intermediate (IF), and heavy (HF) fractions. Our results indicate that remnant forests (RF) maintain higher total SOM fractions, followed by cacao-based complex and simple agroforestry (CAF, SAF), particularly in the 0-10 cm soil depth. In contrast, annual crops (CR), exhibit the lowest SOM fractions. Standing litter and decomposition rates significantly influence the LF, while HF shows minimal variation across land-use systems, suggesting long-term stability. The LF also strongly correlates with SOC content, highlighting its responsiveness to recent organic inputs. The findings underscore the importance of diverse litter inputs and tree diversity in enhancing SOM fractions and SOC content in agroforestry systems. The study concludes that complex cacao-based agroforestry systems can effectively mimic natural forest conditions, promoting soil health. These insights provide valuable knowledge for sustainable land management practices to mitigate soil degradation and improve soil quality in cacao production systems
Assessing the Impact of Terra Preta from Rice Husk on Soil, Rice Plant Growth, and Yield in the System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
No full textThe practice of intensive rice field cultivation and excessive chemical fertilizer use often leads to gradual declines in soil quality and fertility, as well as environmental pollution. By employing Tetadi as an ameliorant technology and adopting SRI cultivation techniques, we can mitigate the adverse effects on rice fields. This study aimed to examine the effects of Tetadi soil ameliorant on the physical properties of paddy soil, growth, and rice yield using the SRI method. The experiments were conducted in paddy fields in Pasar Ambacang, Kuranji, Padang city. Tetadi soil ameliorant was applied at A=0, B=5, C=10, D=15, and E=20 t ha-1. Data on soil physical properties and plants were statistically analysed using ANOVA. The results showed that the change has an insignificant impact on soil physical properties, yet decreases BD (Bulk Density) by 28.2%; increases SOM (Soil Organic Matter) by 18.55%; TPS (Total Pore Space) by 13.7%, moisture content by 5.6%, permeability by 34.2%, and Available Water Pores (AWT) by 20%—application of 20 Mg ha-1. Tetadi increased the number of productive saplings by 52.65% and yield by 69.46% compared to the treatment without Tetadi application