The effectiveness of aglime ameliorant to improve soil pH and maize (Zea mays L.) growth and production in Langkat Regency

Tropical climatic conditions accompanied by high rainfall are supporting factors for soil acidification in Indonesia's drylands. One of the conventional management technologies that are most widely used to improve soil acidity is liming. This study observed the effectiveness of various doses of Aglime ameliorant for improving acid soil and its effect on the growth of maize (Zea mays L.). The study was conducted in Pasar VI Kwala Mencirim Village, Sei Bingai District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra from June to October 2020. The experimental design of this study was a non-factorial randomized bock design consisted of 7 treatments of Aglime ameliorant dosage with four replications. The results showed that the application of various doses of Aglime ameliorant was able to increase soil pH, height, and maize production which the highest pH value, height, and production were obtained at Aglime dose of 5 tons Ha-1 (AL 5). The effectiveness of Aglime ameliorant to increase soil pH is reflected in the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) which is overall > 95% (101,7 – 274,5%) for the tested Aglime dose of 1 to 5 tons per hectare (AL1-AL5).

Effectiveness of MZ2000 Mycorrhizal Biofertilizer on The Growth of Sengon Seedlings

Mycorrhizal biofertilizers contain fungi that are capable of entering and symbiotic mutualism into plant roots and increasing the ability of plants to absorb nutrients. Fertilizer effectiveness testing is needed to protect consumers from the adverse effects of using biofertilizers. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of MZ2000 mycorrhizal biofertilizers and to know mycorrhizal root infections in sengon seedlings in nurseries. The combination treatment of 30 g MZ2000 mycorrhizal biofertilizer with 5 g NPK fertilizer gave the best sengon growth results although it was not significantly different in several parameters compared to the combination treatment of MZ2000 fertilizer dosage and other NPK fertilizers, with the value of agronomic relativity (Relative Agronomic Effectiveness / RAE) 580.80% for high growth and 288.72% for growth in stem diameter and incremental benefit cost ratio (IBCR) analysis of farming by 2.48. So that the dosage of the combination treatment of mycorrhizal biofertilizers and NPK fertilizer is most agronomically and economically effective. With the effectiveness of the fertilizer, the MZ2000 mycorrhizal biofertilizer can be declared to have passed the field effectiveness test.

UJI EFEKTIVITAS PUPUK ORGANONITROFOS DAN KOMBINASINYA DENGAN PUPUK ANORGANIK TERHADAP SERAPAN HARA DAN PRODUKSI TANAMAN JAGUNG (Zea Mays L.) PADA MUSIM TANAM KE DUA DI TANAH ULTISOLS GEDONG MENENG

Pupuk Organonitrofos merupakan pupuk organik baru yang terbuat dari pencampuran kotoran sapi dengan batuan fosfat alam yang diperkaya mikroorganisme penambat N dan pelarut P. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas pupuk Organonitrofos dan kombinasinya dengan pupuk anorganik terhadap pertumbuhan, serapan hara, dan produksi tanaman jagung. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) terdiri dari 6 perlakuan yaitu A (kontrol), B (900 kg urea ha-1, 250 kg SP-36 ha-1, 250 kg KCl ha-1), C (600 kg urea ha-1, 150 kg SP-36 ha-1, 150 kg KCl ha-1, 500 kg Organonitrofos ha-1), D (150 kg urea ha-1, 50 kg SP-36 ha-1, 100 kg KCl ha-1, 1.000 kg Organonitrofos ha-1), E (100 kg urea ha-1, 50 kg SP-36 ha-1, 100 kg KCl ha-1, 2.000 kg Organonitrofos ha-1), dan F (3.000 kg Organonitrofos ha-1) dengan 3 ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pupuk Organonitrofos mampu mengurangi penggunaan pupuk anorganik. Berdasarkan perhitungan standar deviasi kombinasi antara pupuk anorganik dan Organonitrofos pada perlakuan D dengan dosis 150 kg urea ha-1, 50 kg SP36 ha-1, 100 kg KCl ha-1, 1.000 kg Organonitrofos ha-1 menunjukkan hasil pertumbuhan, produksi, serta serapan hara N, P, dan K total tertinggi. Perlakuan D juga paling efektif terhadap biomass total tanaman jagung berdasarkan perhitungan Relative Agronomic Effectiveness yaitu sebesar 125,33 %. Serapan hara N, P, dan K berkorelasi dengan tinggi tanaman, bobot pipilan kering serta bobot berangkasan tanaman, kecuali antara serapan P dengan tinggi tanaman.

The Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn Fertilized by Dairy Cattle Effluents Without Chemical Fertilizers in Inceptisols

Several research has proven the role of dairy cattle effluents in improving the growth and yield of some crops. However, its role in supporting the growth and yield of sweet corn, especialy in Inceptisols, has not been reported. The study aims to determine the effect of dairy cattle effluents on growth and yield of sweet corn in Inceptisols. The pot study was conducted in a greenhouse of the Assessment Institute for Agriculture Technology of Jakarta. The treatments were fertilization using dairy cattle effluents (without dilution, dilution with water 1:1 and 1:2), a mixtureof Urea, SP-36 and KCl (NPK), and without fertilizer. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with five replications. Compared to a without fertilizer treatment, dairy cattle effluents were significantly increased plant height (114%), leaf number (136%), cob weight (131%), cob length (124%), and cob diameters (128%). Base on cob weight, relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) of dairy cattle effluents reached 38.4% (without dilution), 47.5% (dilution with water 1:1), and 62.1% (dilution with water 1:2).Keywords: Dairy cattle effluents, fertilizer, sweet corn

Phosphorus behavior on an Oxisol fertilized by phosphate alkaline biosolid and cultivated with common bean

This study aimed to evaluate the extractable phosphorus Mehlich-1 in a distrophic Red-Yellow Latosol (Oxisol) which received alkaline sewage sludge (alkaline biosolid) along with 0, 0.436, 0.872 and 1.745 dag kg-1 of P from three different sources and cultivated with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. IPR Uirapuru) in greenhouse. It also aimed to quantify the phosphorus uptake by the plant, plant production and the relative agronomic effectiveness index. For the establishment of the treatment the recommended dose was 45.85 kg ha-1 of P from the treatments, except the control (0 dag kg-1 of P). This dose was calculated for 2.5 kg of this Oxisol from Contenda, Paraná State, Brazil, contained in recepients of 3 dm3 with 6 cultivated bean plants (cv. IPR Uirapuru). Phosphorus added in alkaline biosolid increased the extractable phosphorus (Mehlich-1) in soil and phosphorus accumulated in plants as well as the grain and total dry mass production of bean plants. The best level of phosphorus added to alkaline biosolid was 0.436 dag kg-1 of P from the partially acidulated phosphate rock Alvorada and single superphosphate.

Response of Peanut due to Application of Dolomite Plus

Most developing areal for peanut crop (Arachis hoypogeae) is upland, that is dominated by parent soil and has acidcharacteristis. Main constraints for this soil are pH and low soil productivity. Dolomite plus is a dolomite ameliorant,with phosphate nutrient. The dolomite plus beside as the ameliorant and a source of magnecium and calciumnutrients, also as a source of phosphate nutrient. The objective of the research was to study effectivity of dolomiteplus on peanut growth in Inceptisols soil. This research was conducted in the greenhouse using a randomizecompletely designed with 8 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments were control, NPK, and combinations ofNPK with six dolomite plus levels. Relative Agronomic Effectiveness (RAE) analyses was used determine to theeffectivity of dolomite plus. The result showed that application of dolomite plus 1,600 kg ha-1 with NPK fertilizerincreased dry weight of grain yield untill 27% (11.53 to 14.65 g plant-1) compared to NPK fertilizer application alone,that was showed by RAE > 100% or among 171-251%. Application of dolomite plus with NPK increased soil pH, soilavailable P (Bray 1), Ca and Mg exchangeable, and CEC as 1.9 unit; 6.2 mg kg-1; 15.87 cmol(+) kg-1; 14.27 cmol(+)kg-1; and 17.29 cmol(+) kg-1 respectively. Maximum rate of dolomite plus was 2,500 kg ha-1 with the yield was 14.2 gplant-1 grain dry weight. The rate of dolomite plus that was higher than 2,500 kg ha-1 could decrease the yield[How to Cite: Sutriadi MT and D Setyorini. 2012. Response of Peanut due to Application of Dolomite Plus. J Trop Soils 17: 143-150. Doi: 10.5400/jts.2012.17.2.143] [Permalink/DOI: www.dx.doi.org/10.5400/jts.2012.17.2.143]

Ash from the thermal gasification of pig manure—effects on ryegrass yield, element uptake, and soil properties

Effects of thermally gasified pig manure ash (GA) and lime-free gasified ash (LF-GA) on properties of an acidic soil (pH 4.5) and the growth and elemental uptake of ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) were investigated. The GA was an effective liming agent (2% addition raised soil pH from 4.5 to 7.9); both GA and LF-GA increased soil electrical conductivity and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus (P). Soil fertilised with LF-GA supported slightly higher plant dry matter (DM) yield than GA (1.5–1.7 v. 1.2–1.5 g DM/kg soil) for the first harvest, due to greater initial P availability at pH <5 than at pH >6. However, plant yields for the subsequent two harvests were similar, as soil acidity dissolved lime in untreated ash (GA) over time. Maximum yields for ash-treated soil and soil treated with mono-calcium phosphate (MCP) were similar. Relative agronomic effectiveness of P sources for three harvests, based on plant P content compared with values for MCP, were 6, 11, and 12% for GA and 19, 10, and 33% for LF-GA. Internal efficiency of P utilisation was similar for all three P sources for each harvest, indicating that differences in yield were mostly a consequence of differences in P supply. Heavy metal concentrations in plants fertilised with ash were minor and within regulatory limits. In general, application of ash did not systematically affect the concentrations of elements (Al, B, Cd, Mg, Mn, Fe, Pb, S, Se) in plants.

Potential water quality impact and agronomic effectiveness of different phosphorus fertilisers under grazed dairying in Southland

Phosphorus (P) loss from land is a central factor in poor surface water quality in Southland. Much loss of P can occur if surface runoff occurs soon after the application of highly water soluble P fertilisers (e.g. superphosphate). Three P fertilisers (superphosphate, serpentine super, and a Ca-phosphate) of different water solubilities were applied (30 kg P/ha in spring) to a grazed dairy pasture, and the relative agronomic effectiveness and P losses determined. Across all 3 years, there were no differences in annual pasture production among the different types of P fertilisers. For 2 years out of 3, significantly more P was lost via surface runoff from the superphosphate-treated plots than from plots treated with either serpentine super or the Ca-phosphate. On average, the use of low water soluble Ca-P fertiliser decreased P losses by an average of 47% over the 3 years. It is currently recommended that to decrease P losses associated with fertiliser, applications should be timed when runoff events are unlikely for at least 3 weeks following application. If this runoff cannot be avoided, or to ensure P losses are as low as possible, the use of a low water soluble P product may be of benefit. Key words: Surface runoff, phosphate fertilisers, phosphorus loss, superphosphate.

Effectiveness of phosphate fertilizers of diffrent water solubilities in relation to soil phophorus adsorption

Phosphate fertilizers should match soil attributes to enhance agronomic effectiveness and recovery by plants. The purpose of this study was to test the agronomic effectiveness of P sources varying in water solubility on two soils differing widely in P adsorption capacity (PAC). Soils selected for the study were Oxisols with very low available P and presenting low and high PAC (Ox-LPAC and Ox-HPAC, respectively). Both were limed to pH 5.4 in a greenhouse study conducted utilizing corn as the test crop. Treatments consisted of the two soils interacting with five P sources (monocalcium phosphate - MCP, low-grade single superphosphate - LG-SSP, multimagnesium phosphate - MMP, Arad phosphate rock - PR and a P impurity in triple superphosphate - H14), and four rates of P (12.5, 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0 mg kg-1). A control with no P was added for each soil. The treatments were arranged as blocks with three replicates. Plants were harvested 45 d after germination. Dry-matter yield and P uptake were measured and the relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) compared with MCP as the standard. When applied in low rates of P (12.5 and 25.0 mg kg-1) the RAE of the alternative sources was higher in the soil with high PAC (45, 66, 39 and 65% in the Ox-HPAC for the LG-SSP, MMP, PR and H14, respectively, as opposed to 24, 40, 14 and 47% in the Ox-LPAC). Results suggest that sources of P with low water solubility can be agronomically more effective in soils with high PAC.