Towards Sustainable Management of Pineapple Residues

Studies were conducted to: (i) Investigate the effect of the modification of the existing N, P, and K programme and residue management practice on pineapple fruit yield, (ii) Compare the economic viability of in situ decomposition of pineapple residues untouched (lDPR), i.e. stacking of pineapple residue (leaves, crowns, and peduncles) slashed and raked from 0.60 m x 10 m rows into 0.90 m x 10 m rows (ZBT-zero burn technique), and in situ burning pineapple residues (IBPR) (iii) Quantify the amount of humic acid (HA) that could be extracted from composted pineapple leaves using 0.10M potassium hydroxide (KOH) produced from pineapple leaves and that of analytical grade (0. 10M KOH), (iv) Compare the elemental composition (C, H, N, 0, and S), functional groups (carboxylic, phenolic OH, and total acidity), and spectral characteristics of HA extracted from composted pineapple leaves using KOH from pineapple leaves and that of analytical grade, and (v) Investigate the potential value added agricultural products that could be produced from pineapple leaves

Nutrients Uptake and Cycling of Pineapple Planted on Tropical Peat

The obectives of the study were: (i) To quantify the dry matter production and nutrients uptake under burnt and unburnt pineapple residue management practices, (ii) To determine the nutrients capacity and intensity of tropical peat under pineapple cultivation, (iii) To quantify the movement of nutrients in pineapple production system, and (iv) To conduct economic valuation of the burnt and unburnt pineapple residue management practices. Treatments used were: (i) Leaves residue removed and no fertilization, (ii) Leaves residue burnt and no fertilization, (iii) Leaves residue removed and fertilization, and (iv) Leaves residue burnt and fertilization. The experimental unit was individual plant planted in 4 m x 12 m plot. Altogether 300 pineapple plants were planted in this plot having a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. Phosphorus and K were applied in the fonns of China phosphate rock and muriate of potash at the rates of35.56 P and 556.56 K kglha. At maturity, 3 plants were sampled from each treatment and partitioned into roots, stem, leaves, fruit, crown and peduncle and their dry weight, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations determined. Soil sampling at the depths of 0-5, 5-25 and > 25 cm was done before, during and after fertilization stages. Soil solution P, Ie, Ca and M

Potassium dynamics of a forest soil developed on a weathered schist regolith

Soils of the humid tropics are poor in available potassium due to intensive weathering and leaching of nutrients. A study was conducted to investigate the mineralogy and potassium supplying capacity of a forest soil developed on a weathered schist regolith. The quantity–intensity (Q/I) approach was used in thisstudy. The schist regolith showed deep weathering and intense leaching throughout the profile, resulting in low cation exchange capacity (CEC) and available K in soil and saprolite layers. The mineralogy of the regolith was dominanted by kaolinite, gibbsite and goethite. Feldspar, mica and mica–smectite minerals were observed in the lower saprolite layers. The Q/I parameters showed that the soils and saprolites were low in K supply power. This observation was attributed to weathering and intense leaching. The free energy values of K replacement (ΔG r°) also suggest that soils and saprolites of the schist regolith were deficient in K. The Q/I parameters significantly correlated with organic carbon and clay content, CEC, pH and exchangeable K

Effect of K-N-humates on dry matter production and nutrient use efficiency of maize in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Agricultural waste, such as sago waste (SW), is one of the sources of pollution to streams and rivers in Sarawak, particularly those situated near sago processing plants. In addition, unbalanced and excessive use of chemical fertilizers can cause soil and water pollution. Humic substances can be used as organic fertilizers, which reduce pollution. The objectives of this study were to produce K- and ammonium-based organic fertilizer from composted SW and to determine the efficiency of the organic-based fertilizer produced. Humic substances were isolated using standard procedures. Liquid fertilizers were formulated except for T2 (NPK fertilizer), which was in solid form. There were six treatments with three replications. Organic fertilizers were applied to soil in pots on the 10th day after sowing (DAS), but on the 28th DAS, only plants of T2 were fertilized. The plant samples were harvested on the 57th DAS during the tassel stage. The dry matter of plant parts (leaves, stems, and roots) were determined and analyzed for N, P, and K using standard procedures. Soil of every treatment was also analyzed for exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, and Na, organic matter, organic carbon, available P, pH, total N, P, nitrate and ammonium contents using standard procedures. Treatments with humin (T5 and T6) showed remarkable results on dry matter production; N, P, and K contents; their uptake; as well as their use efficiency by maize. The inclusion of humin might have loosened the soil and increased the soil porosity, hence the better growth of the plants. Humin plus inorganic fertilizer provided additional nutrients for the plants. The addition of inorganic fertilizer into compost is a combination of quick and slow release sources, which supplies N throughout the crop growth period. Common fertilization by surface application of T2 without any additives (acidic and high CEC materials) causes N and K to be easily lost. High Ca in the soil may have reacted with phosphate from fertilizer to form Ca phosphate, an insoluble compound of phosphate that is generally not available to plants, especially roots. Mixing soil with humin produced from composted SW before application of fertilizers (T5 and T6) significantly increased maize dry matter production and nutrient use efficiency. Additionally, this practice does not only improve N, P, and K use efficiency, but it also helps to reduce the use of N-, P-, and K-based fertilizers by 50%

Effect of cultivation in different age’s oil palm plantation on selected chemical properties of peat swamp soils

Large-scale land conversion of peat for agricultural purposes requires clearance, drainage, fertilizer application, and liming to increase the pH and boost microbial activity. The objective of this present study was to compare the soil chemical properties of oil palm plantation one-three years oil palm planted and mature oil palm that were previously a secondary tropical peat swamp forest. Soil samples were collected randomly at difference age’s oil palm plantation from a Young Oil Palm Plantation (YOPP) in one year period of time at same place and Mature Oil Palm Plantation (MOPP) another place from oil palm plantation in Batang Igan, Sibu Sarawak, Malaysia. Approach: Forty eight soil samples were taken using a peat soil auger at 0-15 cm depths in every area. The samples were air dried and then sieved to pass 2 mm sieve. Soil pH in water and KCl, soil CEC, Organic Matter (OM), Organic Carbon (OC), Total Nitrogen (TN), Total Phosphorous (TP), Total Potassium (TK), carbon to nitrogen ratio and carbon to phosphorous ratio were determined using standard procedures. Statistical analysis showed that CEC, TC and OM content were statistically similar. Results: The soil pHwater, TN and C/N ration shows highly significant for all difference age's oil palm plantation. Difference with pHKCl and TK content shows no significantly difference between YOPP 2 years and 3 years but both areas significantly higher with MOPP. For TP and C/P ratio content has no significant difference for YOPP (2 years) and MOPP but significantly difference with YOPP (3 years). Conclusion: Regardless of difference age's oil palm plantation, total carbon, organic matter and CEC was statistically similar to different ages of oil palm plantation, but soil acidity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, C/N and C/P ratio was significantly higher between three areas weather YOPP (2 years), YOPP (3 years) and MOPP

Using biochar and urea to improve rice production on tropical acid soils

This book demonstrates how chicken litter biochar can be uses as an organic amendment to condition acid soils to unlock phosphorus and potassium such that only mnimum amount of nitrogen fertilizers such as urea is used in rice cultivation. It also discusses how this approach can be used to increase nutrient use efficiency and rice grain yield. The book also highlights how soil nutrients conductivity and permittivity are related rice grain yield. This book will be a significant interest to those in the agricultural and environmental sciences, students, research scientist, farmers and others

Effect of drainage and land clearing on selected peat soil physical properties of secondary peat swamp forest.

A study was carried out to determine the effect of drainage and land clearing on selected peat soil physical properties of secondary peat swamp forest. This study was conducted in a drained secondary peat swamp forest and a cleared site of drained secondary peat swamp forest at Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. A 300 m2 experimental plot was prepared at both sites. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, bearing capacity and surface soil temperature were determined in-situ, while fiber content, soil bulk density, gravimetric water content, volumetric water content, loss on ignition, ash content and soil total porosity were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Unpaired t-test was used to compare the variables for the two sites using statistical analysis system software. The percentage of fibre content, volumetric water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity were not significantly different between the two sites. Gravimetric water content, loss on ignition and total porosity were significantly higher in the drained secondary peat swamp forest, while ash content, bulk density, surface soil temperature and bearing capacity were significantly higher in the cleared site of drained secondary peat swamp forest. After clearing the drained secondary peat swamp forest, gravimetric water content, loss on ignition and total porosity continuously decreased while surface soil temperature increased as well as ash content, bulk density and soil bearing capacity. The changes of peat soil physical properties in the drained secondary peat swamp forest after the land clearing are the important indicators that indicate some continuous processes of peat soil degradation after the draining. However, fiber content, volumetric water content and saturated hydraulic conductivity of the drained secondary peat swamp forest were not affected by the land clearing

Effect of organic amendment derived from co-composting of chicken slurry and rice straw on reducing nitrogen loss from urea

Co-composting of chicken slurry and rice straw with clinoptilolite zeolite and urea as additives was conducted to determine the characteristics of a compost and their effects on controlling ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) losses from urea. Quality of the compost was assessed based on temperature, moisture content, ash, pH, electrical conductivity, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, NH4+, NO3−, macronutrients, heavy metals, humic acid, microbial population, germination index, and phytotoxicity test. Moisture content and C/N ratio of the compost were 43.83% and 15, respectively. Total N, humic acid, ash, NH4+, NO3−, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and sodium (Na) increased after co-composting rice straw and chicken slurry. Copper, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and microbial biomass of the compost were low. The germination rate of Zea mays on distilled water and Spinacia oleracea growth on peat-based growing medium (PBGM) and compost were not significantly different. Urea amended with compost reduced N loss by retaining NH4+ and NO3− in the soil