155x Filetype PDF File size 0.20 MB Source: media.neliti.com
Characterizing the soil for improved nutrient management ...Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Science 12(1), 2011: 17-32 17 CHARACTERIZING THE SOIL FOR IMPROVED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SELECTED MAIZE GROWING AREAS OF INDONESIA Achmad I. Fauzi, Fahmuddin Agus*), Sukarman, and Kusumo Nugroho Indonesian Centre for Agricultural Land Resources Research and Development Jalan Tentara Pelajar No. 12, Bogor 16114, Indonesia. Phone +62 251 8323012, Fax +62 251 8311256 E-mail: bbsdlp@litbang.deptan.go.id *)Corresponding author: fahmuddin_agus@yahoo.com Submitted 30 November 2009; Accepted 25 February 2011 -1 ABSTRACT ha in the respective time scale (BPS 2011; Ministry of Agriculture 2011). However, until 2010 Indonesia The demand for maize, the second most important food crop still imported around one million ton of maize. The in Indonesia, is steadily increasing. Knowledge of soil properties soil and climate of Indonesia is capable of supporting is a key element in developing nutrient management system. -1 The aims of this study were to characterize and classify the a much higher yield to more than 6 t ha and this soils at the family level of Soil Taxonomy and linking the taxa could be achieved among others, by improved with nutrient management systems. The study was conducted at nutrient management. In the dryland of China, maize the Site Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) for maize in -1 yield ranged from 3 to 10 t ha depending on the Indonesia from June to October 2005. Eight soil profiles were management of nutrient, organic matter, and water taken from Karo (North Sumatra), Sidomulyo (Lampung), (Wang et al. 2010). Wonogiri and Grobogan (Central Java), Wonokerto, Mojoayu, North Sumatra, Lampung, Central Java, East Java, and Tuban (East Java), and Jeneponto (South Sulawesi). The and South Sulawesi make up a large part of maize soil samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics. Soil profile description followed production areas of Indonesia. These areas differ in the Standard Guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organiza- physical environments and soil characteristics and tion. Results showed that the sites for the SSNM represented a hence influence maize productivity. To support the wide range of soils and climate characteristics from Entisols nutrient management in particular and soil manage- with 1,050 mm annual rainfall in Jeneponto to Oxisols with ment in general, information on soil characteristics 2,200 mm annual rainfall in Lampung. Most soils had a fine and its environmental conditions become very impor- texture class (clay and clay loam), but in places like Lampung and Wonogiri, the clay had a low activity leading to a low cation tant. exchange capacity (CEC) and low exchangeable cations, Key physical environments and soil characteristics especially K. The relatively high-K status soils were found in should be considered to determine soil and fertilizer Karo, Grobogan, and Tuban sites. Organic matter and, in management strategies. In general, maize can grow consequence, total N were relatively low for all SSNM sites. optimally in areas with mean temperature between Available P status ranged from low to high. The low available P in Grobogan, Wonokerto, and Mojoayu soils seemed to be 18°C and 32°C and annual precipitation between 500 related to high pH, while in Lampung it was due to low pH. and 5,000 mm. The optimal annual rainfall is 1,000- Exchangeable Ca and Mg were high in Grobogan, Mojoayu, 1,500 mm, 500-1,200 mm of which should be within in Karo, and Tuban due to the presence of weatherable minerals the growing period under rainfed condition. Maize such as hypersthene, augite, and hornblende. In general, this can grow on many types of soils. Well drained, well study suggests that organic matter, N, and P will be needed aerated, deep loam, and silt loam soils with adequate across the sites. K addition will be necessary for Karo, Lampung and Wonogiri, while in other SSNM areas, maintenance rates organic matter are most suited for maize cropping. On for K will be needed unless plant residues are recycled. soils with a low moisture retention capacity, or in [Keywords: Soil characteristics, classification, nutrient areas of low rainfall, a low plant density should be management, fertilizer recommendations, maize] used. Maize yield increases with planting density on irrigated plot, but the reverse may occur on rainfed plots. Soil fertility characteristics which are suitable INTRODUCTION for maize, have a range of pH 5.8-7.8, apparent cation -1 exchange capacity (CEC) > 16 cmol(+) kg clay, base Maize production in Indonesia has dramatically in- saturation > 20%, sum of basic cations > 2 cmol(+) creased from 9.7 million t in 2000 to 17.8 million t in kg-1 soil, and organic carbon >0.5% (Sys et al. 1993; 2010, while the yield has increased from 2.8 to 4.3 t Djaenudin et al. 2003). 18 Achmad I. Fauzi et al. Although there are large areas suitable for maize fieldwork was conducted. During the fieldwork, that growing in Indonesia, based on their intrinsic soil and was conducted in 2005, soils at the research sites climate conditions, the management level is a key to were intensively observed using the techniques of increase productivity of these potential areas, espe- augering, mini-pit, and soil profile. cially under intensive systems. Adjusting the man- Soil augering was done up to 120 cm depth. Ob- agement level with the soil characteristics is therefore servation by mini-pit was done from 50 cm deep pit the key to farming efficiency and sustainability. and then continued by augering to 170 cm depth. A Soil characteristic data are crucial in guiding representative soil pit (profile) of 150-200 cm depth nutrient management and in determining nutrient was made at each experimental site. Morphological recommendation domain. In an effort to improve maize characteristics of soil profiles were described using production, the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural the Standard Guidelines for Soil Profile Description Research and Development (IAARD) in collaboration (FAO 1990; Soil Survey Division Staff 1993) and with the Potash and Phosphate Institute (PPI) was classified according to Soil Taxonomy System (Soil conducting research on Site Specific Nutrient Survey Staff 2003). Management (SSNM) for maize. In this endeavour, Each soil profile (consisted of 5-7 horizons) was characterization of soils is an important element in observed and sampled for the determination of color, determining fertilizer recommendation domains. texture, structure, rock fragments, and the chemical, This research is part of a larger framework of the physical, and mineralogical properties required for SSNM project in Asia (Dobermann et al. 2002). The classifying the soil at family level of the Soil Taxono- commodities covered by the project were rice and my System. Undisturbed ring samples at 0-20 cm and maize. The overall goal of the project was to improve 20-40 cm depth were taken to determine soil bulk nutrient management for maize in key production density. areas for higher crop yield and production sustain- The analyses of chemical characteristics consisted ability. This is in line with Indonesian target of maize of particle size, pH (H O and KCl), organic C, total N, 2 self-sufficiency by 2010 as outlined in the Agricul- potential P O and K O (25% HCl extraction), available 2 5 2 ture, Fisheries, and Forestry Revitalization strategy P2O5 (Olsen or Bray-l extractions), P retention, ex- launched in 2005. changeable cations, CEC (1N NH4-OAc, pH 7.0), and This study aimed at characterizing the soils at the exchangeable acidity (Al and H, with 1 M KCl). SSNM research sites and relating the characteristics Physical characteristics included bulk density, total with nutrient management for leveraging maize yield. pores, drainage pores, available water, and perme- ability. Mineralogical analyses were conducted by microscopic method for the sand fraction to deter- MATERIALS AND METHODS mine the soil parent material and reserved minerals. The procedure for the analyses followed the standard Eight soil profiles were chosen in the vicinity of the methods described in the Soil Survey Laboratory SSNM research sites in five provinces as shown in Methods Manual (Soil Survey Laboratory Staff 1992). Table 1. The sites were chosen based on the major Mineralogical types of the clay fraction were deter- distribution of maize planting area in Indonesia. mined by X-Ray Diffraction instrument to distinguish Physical environment of all the sites, such as loca- families of the soils in Soil Taxonomy. tion, topography, parent material, and soil had been All the soil characteristic data were processed and studied from available research reports before the interpreted according to the Soil Taxonomy to deter- Table 1. Soil profile observation sites of the Site Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) for Maize in Indonesia. Profile code Altitude, coordinate Site, district Province AF1 730 m asl, 98°23' E and 99°48' S Simpang Perbesi, Karo North Sumatra AF2 116 m asl, 105°06' E and 5°15' S Sidomulyo, Lampung Lampung KM1 120 m asl, 110°59' E and 7°45' S Ngadirejo Kidul, Wonogiri Central Java KM2 43 m asl, 110°50' E and 7°23' S Krangganhardjo, Grobogan Central Java KM3 158 m asl, 112°12'30" E and 7°35'25" S Wonokerto, Kediri East Java KM4 160 m asl, 112°12'35" E and 7°35'27" S Mojoayu, Kediri East Java KN2 10 m asl, 112°04"50' E and 6°57"08' S Prunggahan, Tuban East Java KN1 10 m asl, 119°48"10' E and 5°41"12' S Tolo Utara, Jeneponto South Sulawesi Characterizing the soil for improved nutrient management ... 19 -1 mine their soil families (Soil Survey Staff 2003). Soil high available P2O5 (34-63 mg kg ) and exchangeable -1 properties that may affect maize growth were evalu- K (2.1 cmol(+) kg ) may be related to the soil’s high ated and possible nutrient management options for weatherable mineral content, such as hornblende, each site of the SSNM for maize were assessed. glass, augite, hypersthene, sanidine, and biotite. These minerals indicate good indigenous nutrient supply, especially for Ca, Mg, and K. The bulk density was moderate (1.05-1.15 g cm-3) and the soil had lots of RESULTS AND DISCUSSION fast drainage pores (18.4-22.4%), and rapid to medium -1 permeability (4.32-7.94 cm hour ) indicating porous Soil Characteristics at SSNM Experimental structure which is good for rooting environment. The Site in North Sumatra (AF1) chemical, physical, and mineralogical characteristics of this soil are presented in Table 2. The SSNM experimental site for maize was located at According to the Keys to Soil Taxonomy (Soil Tiga Binanga Subdistrict, about 35 km west of Survey Staff 2003), the thin surface horizon (Ap) Kabanjahe, Karo District, North Sumatra. A represen- meets the requirements for an ochric epipedon and tative soil profile AF1 was taken at the first plot of the sub-subsurface horizons (Bw1-4) fulfil the re- maize in Simpang Perbesi Village with a geographic quirements for a cambic diagnostic horizon. The -3 position of 98°23' East and 99°48' South. The studied relatively high bulk density (>0.9 g cm ), low P area, according to climatic data of Seribu Dolok retention (13.7-30.7%), and slightly high Al plus 1/2 Station, had an annual rainfall of 1,904 mm and a Fe oxalate (1.1-2.1%) are reflections of weak andic mean air temperature of 21.7°C. In the agro-climatic properties. The amorphic mineral content of this soil map of Sumatra (Oldeman et al. 1979), this area is shown by the sum of 8 times the Si plus 2 times the belongs to the D2 zone consisting of 3-4 wet months Fe that is more than 5. Therefore, the soil is classified and 2-3 dry months. Soil temperature and moisture as belonging to the Andic Eutrodept subgroup and regimes according to Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey to the fine, amorphic, isohyperthermic Andic Eutru- Staff 2003) were classified as Isohyperthermic and dept family level (Soil Survey Staff 2003). Udic, respectively. In general, the physical, chemical and mineralogical Soil in the research site developed on undulating properties of this soil are favorable for root develop- (1-3%) landform of Quaternary Toba Acid Tuff at the ment. The soil consists of high weatherable minerals, elevation of 730 m above sea level (asl). The soil high in available P2O5, high exchangeable Ca, Mg and profile AF1 had a horizon sequence of Ap - Bw1 - Bw2 K, but low in organic C and total N. These charac- - Bw3 - Bw4 - BC - C. All the soil horizons were teristics are implying that for satisfactory maize yield characterized by homogeneous dark greyish-brown it needs high amount of N fertilizer and organic (10YR4/4) color, clay loam texture, sub-angular matter (Abdurachman and Agus 2001; Cooperland blocky structure, and gradual horizon boundaries. 2002). Moderate to maintenance rates of P and K The bottom horizons, BC and C, had a light bright- fertilizers will be needed. K application may be grey (10YR6/2) color and sandy loam texture. The exempted if plant residues are recycled. darker color and very friable consistency in the thin surface horizon (Ap) may relate to the high organic matter content. The homogenous color, texture, and Soil Characteristics at SSNM Experimental consistency of the Bw horizons indicated that the soil Site in Lampung (AF2) developed in a well-drained condition. The coarser texture and lighter color at the bottom horizons (BC The site in Lampung was located in Sidomulyo Village and C) were related to the parent material properties. at a geographic position of 105°06' East and 5°15' The texture was clay loam to sandy clay loam. The South. Climatic condition of this location was based soil had a neutral reaction (pH H O: 6.6-7.6), low in on Tegineneng (69 m asl) and Metro (57 m asl) 2 organic-C (0.15-1.41%) and total N (0.02-0.11%), stations, with the annual rainfall of 2,497 and 2,205 -1 slightly low CEC (10.6-16.4 cmol(+) kg ), and high mm, respectively. Air temperature data from Tanjung base saturation (>90%) with dominant Ca and Mg Karang station ranged between 24.7°C and 26.0°C. cations. The relative low values of NH OAc extract- The climate zone belongs to C1 (Oldeman et al. 1979). 4 able CEC could be related to crystalline minerals, such Soil moisture and temperature regimes in the studied as halloysite and illite. The high potential P O (320- soil according to Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff 2003) 2 5 -1 -1 620 mg kg ) and K O (990-2,450 mg kg K O), and can be classified as Udic and Isohyperthermic regimes. 2 2 20 Achmad I. Fauzi et al. Table 2. Chemical and physical soil characteristics and sand mineral of the profile AF1 at Karo site, North Sumatra. Property and unit Soil horizon Ap Bw1 Bw2 Bw3 Bw4 Depth (cm) 0-16 16-40 40-70 70-96 96-130 Texture class CL C CL CL C pH (H2O) 7.60 6.90 6.80 6.80 6.60 Organic-C (%) 1.41 0.48 0.39 0.31 0.15 Organic-N (%) 0.11 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02 HCl 25% extractable -1 P2O5 (mg kg ) 580 580 620 620 320 -1 K2O (mg kg ) 2,320 1,110 990 1,580 2,450 -1 Olsen P2O5 (mg kg )6338405134 -1 Exchangeable cation (cmol(+) kg ) Ca 16.50 9.90 10.40 8.60 6.60 Mg 10.00 3.50 3.90 4.00 3.20 K 2.10 0.90 0.60 1.80 2.20 Na 0.10 0.10 0.50 0.30 0.20 Sum 28.70 14.40 15.40 14.70 12.20 CEC pH 7 16.40 16.00 14.20 13.60 10.60 Base saturation (%) 100.00 90.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 P retention (%) 18.50 30.70 28.70 25.30 13.70 Oxalate Al+1/2 Fe (%) 1.70 2.10 2.10 1.90 1.10 -3 Bulk density (g cm ) 1.15 1.05 Nd Nd Nd Total pores (% vol.) 56.70 60.30 Nd Nd Nd Fast drainage pores (%) 22.40 18.40 Nd Nd Nd Slow drainage pores (%) 4.10 4.60 Nd Nd Nd Available water capacity (% vol) 8.00 9.50 Nd Nd Nd -1 Permeability (cm hour ) 7.94 4.32 Nd Nd Nd Sand fraction (50-200 mm) mineral (%) Opaque 44 48 40 65 24 Zircone Sp Sp Sp 1 Sp Quartz 8 4 9 6 17 Limonate Sp Sp Sp Sp Sp Mineral fraction Sp Sp 1 1 2 Rock fragments 9 11 6 6 10 Volcanic glass - Sp Sp Sp Sp Plagioclase 1 Sp 1 Sp 2 Feldspar 2 2 4 1 2 Mica 1 1 1 1 4 Hornblende 27 25 29 15 37 Augite 3 3 2 Sp Sp Hypersthene 5 6 7 4 2 Total 100 100 100 100 100 Crystalline clay minerals (<2 mm) Ha > Il > Cr = Qz Il > Ha > Qz > Cr Texture: C = clay; CL = clay loam. Minerals: Qz = quartz; Am = amorph; Ha = haloysite; Il = illite; Cr = crystobalite. Sp = <1%; Nd = not determined. The soil was developed from Pre-Tertiary Rocks gradual to diffuse horizon boundaries. Soil morphol- covered by younger andesitic volcanic material. The ogy featured highly weathered soils with oxic hori- soil profile was taken on undulating paneplain at the zons, and so the horizon sequence was Ap - Bo1 - Bo2 elevation of 115 m asl. It had a very deep solum with - Bo - Bo - Bo - Bo . 3 4 5 6 good drainage. The surface horizon was reddish grey Chemical analysis data of the soils (Table 3) show color, clay texture, and very friable consistency. The very high (68-94%) clay contents with little differen- sub-surface horizons were characterized by homoge- ces across soil depth, acid to non-acid reaction (pH nous yellowish red (2.5YR4/6) color, clayey texture, H2O: 4.8-5.8), very low organic C (0.33-1.68%) and sub-angular blocky structure, friable consistency, and total N (0.04-0.13%). The sub-surface horizons were
no reviews yet
Please Login to review.