The Effect of Soil Chemicals on Cocoa Productivity in West Sulawesi

As Indonesia is one of the largest cocoa producing countries in the world, cocoa plays an important role in the Indonesian economy. However, cocoa bean production has continued to decline since 2012 in several cocoa producing regions in Indonesia, including West Sulawesi. The main problem for cocoa in Indonesia is the low productivity of the plants. The average productivity of cacao cocoa plants in West Sulawesi in 2019 was only 797 kg/ha/year. The productivity of the cocoa plants can reach 2,000-3,000 kg/ha/year. One of the causes of the low cocoa plant productivity of their cocoa plant is the mismatch between plant needs of and with soil chemical properties. This study uses quantitative methods with a deductive approach. Theis research took place in four districts in West Sulawesi, namely : Polewali Mandar, Majene, Mamasa and Mamuju Regencies. The determination of the 30 sampling point stations to provide representative profiles was based on cocoa productivity data. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between cation exchange capacity (CEC) and cocoa productivity. The amount abundance of exchangeable bases cations (Ca+, Ma+ and K+) hads a significant effect on cocoa plants in the high productivity category . There was a negative correlation between salinity for and cocoa plant productivity in the high (1500-2500 kg/ha/year) and low (<800kg/ha/year) productivity categories productivity category (1500-2500 kg / ha / year. Higher salinity causes lower productivity of cocoa plants. Likewise in the low productivity category (<800kg/ha/year). There was no correlation between pH H2OH2O pH with and cocoa productivity at all the representative profile points stations. There was a positive correlation between pH H2O pH and four other soil chemical characteristics, namely: C-Organic carbon, salinity, base saturation and the abundance of the number of exchangeable base cations can be exchanged.

Diversity Is Not Everything

Since the passage of legislation in 1977, Appalachian mineland reclamation is typically completed using non-native C3 grasses and forbs. Alternatively, reclamation with native prairie (C4) grasses and forbs offers a more ecologically friendly alternative that can contribute to native plant conservation and potentially improve soil properties more quickly than shallower rooted C3 cool-season grasses. We assessed the establishment of native prairie after reclamation, evaluating three treatments for six years after planting—traditional cool season planting, native prairie planted at light density, and native prairie planted at heavy density. All treatments reached the objectives of reclamation—percentage of ground covered by vegetation—within 2 years after planting. All treatments at all sites, except for one site by treatment combination near a forest, showed an increase in plant species richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity in the first four years of reclamation, a peak around 5 years, and subsequent decrease. Little difference in plant richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity among treatments was observed. However, the two native seed mixes quickly diverged from the traditional mix in terms of community structure and diverged further over time, with both native treatments heading towards a more desirable native prairie grassland state, while the traditional mix remained dominated by non-native cool season grasses. The native treatments also exhibited greater increase in microbial biomass and fungi:bacteria ratio over time compared to the traditional mix. Soil organic carbon increased over time regardless of seed mix treatment. Exchangeable base cations and phosphorus generally decreased over time, as expected, regardless of seed mix treatment, likely due to uptake from established plants. Native grassland species were able to establish despite inclusion of some traditional species in the native mix. Native plant establishment likely resulted in benefits including pollinator resources, bird and wildlife habitat, and increased soil health, and we recommend that native prairie mixes be used directly in reclamation moving forward, as they are able to meet reclamation goals while establishing a successful native prairie plant community.

Bulk deposition of base cations in a subalpine natural forest landscape estimated by canopy budget model: A focus on the forest edge canopy

Calculations of base cation inputs of loads in forest edge canopies are rare, although forest edge canopies play a paradoxical role in the effective capture of atmospheric deposition. Throughfall deposition and canopy exchange of base cations were studied with a continuous throughfall investigation under a natural forest edge and a closed canopy in a subalpine forest over a period of 2 years. Compared with precipitation, the concentration of base cations in the throughfall of both canopies was enriched as expected, but the enrichment level in the forest edge was less than that in the closed canopy. Moreover, the throughfall deposition of base cation fluxes in the closed canopy (35.19 kg ha-1 y-1) was slightly higher than that in the forest edge canopy (33.50 kg ha-1 y-1). Seasonally, the base cation input in the rainy season was 2.32–2.70 times higher than that in the snowy season in throughfall in forest edge canopy and the closed canopy. Furthermore, the canopy budget model suggested that the direction and magnitude of canopy exchange and dry deposition controlled the net throughfall fluxes (NTF) of base cations, and obvious differences could be observed between the canopy and seasonal scales. Compared with other elements, K and Mg leached from the main canopy exchange process, while Ca was absorbed by both canopy types in the annual NTF. These results highlight the spatial variability of base cation chemical characteristics, enhance cognitive the deposition of nutrients and regulatory factors in different forest landscapes, preferably guide the formulation forest ecological management strategies.

Assessing soil fertility status and land suitability for patchouli plants (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) in Lamala District, Banggai Regency

Besides influenced by genotype, the quality and quantity of patchouli essential oil were controlled by soil as a growing medium. The development of patchouli plantation in Lamala District is still hampered by negative stigma from the community. It is believed, the strong absorption rate from patchouli could lead to soil nutrient deficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine soil fertility status and evaluate its suitability for patchouli plant in 3 land units (e.g., uncultivated, cultivated with fertilization, and cultivated without fertilization). The method used is an Exploratory-Descriptive Survey. The determination of soil properties was based on physical properties such as texture, and chemical properties such as pH, organic-C and nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O, base cations and cation exchange capacity/CEC, and Fe. The data then matched to Soil Fertility and Land Suitability Criteria for the patchouli plant. The result showed that the chemical properties in 3 land units had slightly acidic, high CEC, medium base saturation, moderate P2O5 content, and moderate organic-C content. Meanwhile, the K2O content of the land without patchouli was very low and the patchouli with and without fertilizer was low. Soil fertility status in 3 land units was classified as marginally suitable (S3-rc,na), this is due to the limiting factors; soil texture (rc) and P2O5 (na).

Long-Term Projection of Species-Specific Responses to Chronic Additions of Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Lime

Elevated acid deposition has been a concern in the central Appalachian region for decades. A long-term acidification experiment on the Fernow Experimental Forest in central West Virginia was initiated in 1996 and continues to this day. Ammonium sulfate was used to simulate elevated acid deposition. A concurrent lime treatment with an ammonium sulfate treatment was also implemented to assess the ameliorative effects of base cations to offset acidification. We show that the forest vegetation simulator growth model can be locally calibrated and used to project stand growth and development over 40 years to assess the impacts of acid deposition and liming. Modeled projections showed that pin cherry (initially) and sweet birch responded positively to nitrogen and sulfur additions, while black cherry, red maple, and cucumbertree responded positively to nitrogen, sulfur, and lime. Yellow-poplar negatively responded to both treatments. Despite these differences, our projections show a maximum of 5% difference in total stand volume among treatments after 40 years.

Net Geochemical Release of Base Cations From 25 Forested Watersheds in the Catskill Region of New York

Chemical weathering of minerals is the principal mechanism by which base cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+) are released and acidity is neutralized in soils, bedrock, and drainage waters. Quantifying the release of base cations from watershed soils is therefore crucial for the calculation of “critical loads” of atmospheric acidity to forest ecosystems. We used a mass-balance approach to estimate the rate of release of base cations in 25 headwater catchments in the Catskill region of New York, an area historically subject to high inputs of acid deposition. In 2010–2013, total net base cation release via geochemical processes averaged 1,704 eq ha–1 yr–1 (range: 928–2,622). Calcium accounted for 58% of this total, averaging 498 mol ha–1 yr–1 (range: 209–815). Mass balance estimates of net geochemical release of base cations were most strongly driven by stream export and biomass uptake fluxes, with only minor contributions from precipitation. Documented rates of base cation depletion from soil exchange sites in the region were also small relative to the net geochemical release rates. We observed a significant influence of bedrock type on net base cation release rates (P = 0.002), and a weak but significant negative correlation with watershed elevation (r = −0.51). Relationships with other geographic factors such as aspect and watershed size were not significant. Net base cation release was 4.5 times higher than precipitation inputs of SO42– and NO3–, suggesting that sources of acidity internal to the watershed are now more important drivers of weathering than acid deposition. Our data suggest that release of base cations from most Catskill forest soils is sufficient to neutralize existing inputs of acidity.

Increased Iron-Carbon Interactions Under Long-Term Acid Deposition Enhance Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration in A Tropical Forest in Southern China

Atmospheric acid deposition remains a widespread problem that may influence the protection of carbon (C) in soil by altering organo-mineral interactions. However, the impacts of additional acidity on organo-mineral interactions and soil C sequestration in naturally acidic tropical soils with a high content of reactive iron (Fe) phases have not been well studied. Here we sampled a nearly 10-yr field experiment with a gradient of acidity treatments (0, 9.6, 32, 96 mol H+ ha− 1 yr− 1 as nitric acid + sulfuric acid) to examine how acidification alters organo-mineral interactions and soil organic carbon (SOC) pools in a tropical forest in southern China. As expected, soil acidification significantly enhanced the leaching of base cations (e.g., Ca2+), and it also altered the solubility and composition of Fe and Al phases. The acidity treatments converted more crystalline Fe (oxyhydr)oxides to short-range-ordered phases, resulting in a large increase in Fe-bound C vs. a relatively small decrease in Ca-bound C. Overall, the acidity treatments increased the mineral-associated C stock to 32.5–36.4 Mg C ha− 1 vs. 28.8 Mg C ha− 1 in the control, accounting for 71–83% of the observed increase in total SOC stock. These findings highlight the importance of pH-sensitive geochemical changes and the key roles of Fe in regulating the response of SOC to further inputs of acid deposition even in highly weathered and naturally acidic soils. The magnitude of SOC changes observed here indicates the importance of including pH-sensitive geochemistry in Earth system models to predict ecosystem C budgets under future acid deposition scenarios.

The earthworm’s diversity and their relationship to the soil physicochemical properties under the stands of perennial plant at the Mount Merapi forest, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Minarsih S, Hanudin E, Nurudin M. 2021. The earthworm’s diversity and their relationship to the soil physicochemical properties under the stands of perennial plant at the Mount Merapi forest, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 3237-3244. The study was to propose earthworm as bioindicator and its correlation to the soil physicochemical properties underneath some perennial plants. Soil samples and earthworm observation was taken out at a depth of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm under the stands of Acacia decurrens, coffee, Albizia chinensis, bamboo, snake fruit, and Acacia mangium. Soil moisture, temperature and Physico-chemical properties were measured, such as texture, pH, organic C, mineralized C, total N, mineralized N, available P, and base cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na). The results revealed that the earthworms density underneath of the stands of coffee was 105.4 ind.m-2 > snake fruit 92.6 ind.m-2 > Albizia chinensis 66.7 ind.m-2 > A. decurrens ? bamboo 40.7 ind.m-2 > A. mangium 37.0 ind.m-2. The dominant species of the earthworms found at a depth of 0-10 cm consisted of four species, namely: Pheretima hamayana, Pheretima californica, Eudrillus eugeniae, and Eiseniella tetraeda. Meanwhile, the earthworms diversity underneath the stands of coffee was H’=1.26 > A. mangium H’=1.03 > Albizia chinensis H'=0.69 > ?H'=0.69 > bamboo H'=0.59. The soil physicochemical properties was positively correlated to the earthworms density was C-mineralized (r = 0.823) ? soil moisture (r = 0.585) ? available K (r = 0.529) ? available Ca (r = 0.505) ? available Mg (0.494). The results could be concluded that labile organic carbon, water, and alkaline cations were the important factors in improving soil biological fertility in the active volcano area.

Contrasting Litter Nutrient and Metal Inputs and Soil Chemistry among Five Common Eastern North American Tree Species

Forest composition has been altered throughout Eastern North America, and changes in species dominance may alter nutrient cycling patterns, influencing nutrient availability and distribution in soils. To assess whether nutrients and metals in litterfall and soil differed among sites influenced by five common Ontario tree species (balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.), white pine (Pinus strobus L.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.)), litterfall and soil chemistry were measured at a managed forest in Central Ontario, Canada. Carbon (C) and macronutrient (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)) inputs in litterfall varied significantly among sites, primarily due to differences in litterfall mass, which was greatest in deciduous-dominated sites, while differences in elemental concentrations played relatively minor roles. Trace metal inputs in litterfall also varied, with much higher zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) in litterfall within yellow birch dominated stands. Mineral soil oxide composition was very similar among sites, suggesting that differences in soil chemistry were influenced by forest composition rather than parent material. Litter in deciduous-dominated stands had lower C/N, and soils were less acidic than conifer-dominated sites. Deciduous stands also had much shorter elemental residence times in the organic horizons, especially for base cations (Ca, Mg, K) compared with conifer-dominated sites, although total soil nutrient pools were relatively consistent among sites. A change from stands with greater conifer abundance to mixed hardwoods has likely led to more rapid cycling of elements in forests, particularly for base cations. These differences are apparent at small scales (100 m2) in mixed forests that characterize many forested regions in Eastern North America and elsewhere.