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

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

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

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 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

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

Utilization of activated carbon produced from Sago hampas (Metroxylon sagu) to reduce ammonia loss from urea.

Surface-applied urea contributes to NH3 loss of N through ammonia volatilization, especially in warm and humid regions. Ammonia loss has been a major problem confronting farmers because additional urea is applied to compensate for the loss which increases cost of fertilization. Activated carbon (AC) produced from Sago hampas (SH) could be capable of absorbing N in the form of NH4+ to minimize ammonia volatilization. The objective of this study was to determine if AC produced from SH could be used to retain ammonium as well as minimizing ammonia loss from urea. Activated carbon was produced from SH by using concentrated H2SO4 and (NH4)2S2O8. There were three types of AC produced using different volumes of H2SO4 (AC30, AC40 and AC50). The charred product was used as a treatment together with the raw material in order to observe the reduction of ammonia loss using closed-dynamic air flow system for 7 days. The daily loss of NH3was observed and the NH4+ and NO3- retention in the soil were determined using standard procedures. Activated carbon produced from SH had a higher CEC and it increased from AC30 to AC50. The treatments did not contribute to the reduction of ammonia loss; however, there was a significant increase in the retention of NH4+ in the soil compared to urea alone. The AC was observed to be a better absorbent than SH. AC50 was a better absorbent compared to other treatments due to high acidity and CEC. However, the treatment did not contribute to reduction of ammonia loss, but there was a significant increase of NH4 + retention in the soil