Hassan, Aminuddin

Ishak, Che Fauziah

Zakaria, Zin Zawawi

Universiti Putra Malaysia Institutional Repository

UPM Research Report 1997-2000. Vol II. Section 2-Extended AbstractsCadmium content in soils and leaves of oil palm from continuous application ofphosphate rock fertilisersAmlnuddln. H••ZZ 21M'and LCel: Fau7.lahDepartment of Land ManagementUniversiti Putra Malaysia43400 UPM, Serdang, SelangorMalaysiaMalaysian Palm Oil BoardE-mailolCorrespondingAulhoramin@agri.upm.edu.myKey words:Cadmium, fertiliser, phosphate rock, oil palm, soilIntroductionConcern about the entry of heavy metals into the human food chain is of much interest lately due to high amounts of fertilisersusage in crop production and their contaminants being accumulated in soils. Cadmium (Cd) has been singled out as one of themore dangerous pollutants for the possibility of its transfer from the soil to the human food chain and its association withdiseases (Schroeder, et al. 1967). Among the fertiliser used in agriculture that contains Cd contaminant is phosphate(P).Depending on source, Cd concentration in P fertiliser can reach 90mg kg" (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias,1992). Theaccumulation of Cd in soil from long term application of P fertiliser has been well documented in many countries (Andersonand Simon, 1991).ln a perennial crop such as oil palm, continuous application of'P rock fertiliser is practiced and there is thepossibility of Cd accumulation in the soil and its uptake by plant in the long run. This study aims to look into the effects ofcontinuous use of several sources and levels of P rocks fertilisers on the soil and leaf Cd content of oil palm.Materials and MethodsThis study was made possible with the help of MPOB, FELDA Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd. and Golden Hope Plantations.This study was carried out at three locations namely, Golden Hope Plantations, Carey Island, Selangor, Tabung HajiPlantations, Bukit Lawiang, Kluang, Johor and at Felda Plantation, Lepar Utara 10, Sungai Tekam, Pahang. The soil types areJawa, Rengam and Segamat series respectively. The P fertiliser treatments were first applied in 1992 in the three plantations onan 8 years old palms and were continually applied annually since then. When samples were taken in 1992, the palms have beenfertilised for 8 years. The P rocks used were Christmas Island phosphate rock, Tunisian phosphate rock, Jordanian phosphaterock, North Carolina phosphate rock and China phosphate rock. These rocks were compared to the soluble P form, triplesuperphosphate. Phosphate rates used were 1.5, 3 and 4.5 kg CIPR equivalent P per palm per year. A RCBD design was usedfor the experiment consisting of 4 blocks, with each replicate in a block. Each replicate consisted of 12 palms. Nitrogen andpotash fertilisers were given to the palms according to recomrr.ended rates. Soil samples were taken from the 3 plantations inlQ98. Samples were taken to a depth of IS cm within the canopy area,. Leaves samples were taken from frond number 17randomly from each replicate plot of the treatments. Soils and leaf samples were prepared accordingly and analysed for Cdcontent using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.Results and DiscussionThere was no difference in the levels of extractable Cd within the three soils due to the different sources and rates ofphosphate rocks used. However among the soils, Segamat series had the highest Cd content followed by Jawa and Rengamseries respectively. The soils' parent material could be a factor in determining the the Cd content of the soil. The parentmaterial for Jawa series is marine alluvium, andesite for Segamat soil and granite for Rengam soil. The Segamat soil is fine intexture whilst Rengam has a coarser texture. The soil extractable Cd values for all the soil were below I Ilgg'· and were belowthe trashhold value of Cd polluted soil (McLaughin et al., 1996). When the soil samples were collected in 1999, eight annual Ptreatments have been applied to the soils. The highest P treatment rate of 4.5 kg CIPR equivalent per tree would haveaccumulated about 2 g Cd in the soil within the broadcast lone. This amount of accumulated Cd in the soil was however notdetected by the 0.0 tM HCI extractant.Cadmium content in oil palm leaves was higher compared to that in the soils. The different sources and levels of Ptreatments applied to the soils did not affect Cd content in leaf of plants within the soil, however different soils gave differentCd content in leaves. Highest Cd content in leaves was from the Jawa soil followed by Segamat then Rengam. The low pH ofthe Jawa series could result in more Cd present in the soil solution and being taken-up by the plants.ConclusionsThe different sources and levels of phosphate rocks applied annually for 8 years to 3 different soil series did not significantlyincreased the Cd levels within each soil, however the 3 soils have different Cd content due the different parent materials of thesoils. Cadmium content in leaves of palms treated with the different sources and levels of P rocks was not significantlydifferent within each soil series, however different soil series resulted in different Cd content The highest Cd content was from328Agricultural SCiencesthe Jawa series followed by Segamat then Rengam. Leaves of palm grown on Jawa soil on the average has 0.48 ppm Cdcontent.Benefits from the studyLong term applications of phosphate rocks at rates of up to 4.5 kg ClPR equivalent per palm per year did not influenced theextractable Cd content of the soil as compared to the control. Cadmium content in the leaves of palms was also not affected bythe continuous applications of phosphate rock fertiliser. Work on Cd content in fruit of oil palm in ongoing.Literature cited in the textI. Anderson,A and Siman,G. 1991. Levelsof cadmium and some other trace elements in soils and crops as influenced by lime and fertiliserlevel.Acta. Agric, Scand. 41, 3·11.2. Kabata-Pendias, A and Pendias, H. 1992. Trace elements in soils and plants.CRC Press, Baton Raton, FI,USA.3. Me Laughlin, MJ.,Tiller, K.G., Naidu,R and Steven, D.P. 1996. Review: the behavior and environmental impact of contaminants infertilisers.Aust. J. Soil Res. 34: 1·544. Shroeder, H.A., Nason,A.P. Tipton, I.H. and Balassa, JJ. 1967. Essential trace elements in man: Zinc relation to environmental cadmium. J.Chronic Dis. 20: 179·210Project Publications in Refereed Journals:Nil.Project Publications in Conference ProceedingsI. Aminuddin,H, S.F. Foong, Z.Z. Zin and Cek Fauziah 1. 2000. Cadmium contaminant in phosphate rock fertilizers- its content in soils andleaves of oil palm. In:Abstract Soil Science Conferenceof Malaysia2000, Johor Baharu.Susilawati KassimDegree AwardedM.S. Agric.Field of Expertise Graduation YearFertiliser development & Use 2002Expertise DevelopmentName of GraduateIRPA Project number: 01·02·04·0307UPM Research Cluster: AFFProject Leader Dr. Aminuddin Bin Hussin329

Cadmium content in soils and leaves of oil palm from continuous application of phosphate rock fertilisers

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Cadmium content in soils and leaves of oil palm from continuous application of phosphate rock fertilisers

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