Soil Amelioration

ABSTRAK Permintaan karet remah dan bandela dari luar negeri terus meningkat sehingga mendorong pabrik agroindustri karet remah di Indonesia meningkatkan produksinya, namun tidak diimbangi dengan perhatian terhadap kualitas lingkungan yang harusnya Percemaran yang dihasilkan pabrik remah karet berupa perubahan warna air dan material padatan hasil pencucian remahan lateks yang menyisakan padatan anorganik. Dalam proses penanganannya, limbah cair pada kolam IPAL dapat didaur ulang sehingga bisa digunakan kembali untuk mencuci lump dan remahan lateks, namun limbah padatan berupa lumpur aktif di dasar kolam IPAL yang mengandung tatalan karet rusak dan bahan anorganik menjadi pencemar di lingkungan pabrik. Dalam penelitian ini, limbah padat tersebut dianalisis karakteristiknya agar dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan pembenah tanah dengan cara menentukan lama waktu inkubasi yang tepat, sehingga limbah tersebut ayak sebagai pembenah tanah. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada Agustus 2019 hingga Februari 2020 dengan metode membandingkan hasil dari tiga taraf perlakuan lama waktu inkubasi limbah padat dengan T1 = 60 hari setelah diangkat dari kolam IPAL; T2 = 120 hari setelah diangkat dari kolam IPAL; T3 = 180 hari setelah diangkat dari kolam IPAL, yang diulang sebanyak empat kali. Temperatur dengan termometer air raksa, Warna limbah membandingkan dengan Munsell's soil, tekstur bahan dengan metode penginderaan kulit, ukuran partikel dengan saringan 1 inci, kadar air dengan metode gravimatrik, dan bulk density dengan metode ring sampel, serta sifat kimia dari limbah padat dengan variabel pengamatan yakni pH (H2O) diukur dengan pH meter digital, Fe-total dengan metode orto-fenantrolin spektrofotometri, Timbal (Pb) dengan metode HNO3 spektrofotometri, C-organik dengan metode spektrofotometri Walkley-Black, N-total dengan metode Kjeldahl, P2O5 dengan metode Olsen spektrofotometri, K2O dengan metode Morgan spektrofotometri, dan C/N rasio dengan membagi indeks C dengan indeks N. Perlakuan terbaik didasarkan pada pendekatan yang dipersyaratkan SNI 19-7030-2004 dan Keputusan Menteri Pertanian RI No. 261/KPTS/ SR.310/M/4/2019. Dari hasil penelitian ini disimpulkan bahwa limbah padat pada perlakuan T2 merupakan perlakuan terbaik yang memiliki sifat fisik dengan karakter temperatur 28,6°C, warna abu kehitaman dengan indeks 5BG 4/1, bertekstur halus lembek menggumpal, dengan ukuran partikel <25 mm, kadar air (8,7%) dan bulk density (0,81 g.cm-3), serta sifat kimia dengan karekter pH 7,02; Fe-total (0,00104 ppm); Timbal (Pb) < 0,01 ppm; C-organik (11,21%); N-total (1,37%); P2O5 (1,33%); K2O (0,56%) dan rasio C/N 8,18.

Ameliorating the saline-sodic soil process represents an important target in the agricultural security program of Egypt. In this concern, a field trial was conducted for improving a salt-affected clay soil provided with a tile drainage system at Mehallet Mousa, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, Egypt. The main target of this work was at identifying the effective role of applied gypsum, as a soil chemical amendment, with different rates on physico-chemical and hydrological properties of such soil as well as maximizing its productivity from maize and wheat crops. The applied gypsum treatments were categorized into: i. control without applied gypsum, ii. 3.75 ton gypsum/fed ≈ 75 % of gypsum requirements (GR) for the uppermost 15 cm, iii. 5 ton gypsum/fed ≈ 100 % GR and iv. 6.25 ton gypsum/fed ≈ 125 % GR. The applied gypsum rates were uniformly spread on surface and thoroughly mixed with the soil top 15 cm, and then followed by a recycle of wetting and drying was repeated four times through a period of about two months.. A recycle of wetting and drying was repeated four times through a period of about two months. Soil samples at depths of 0-15, 15-30, 30-45 and 45-60 cm were periodically collected after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months from starting the experiment to determine soil physico-chemical, i.e., ECe, ESP, salt leaching index, bulk density, infiltration rate, aggregation index and quickly drainable pores. Moreover, the shape of water table between drains, water table depth were monitored as well as the drainage intensity factor "a" and the rate of water drawdown were calculated.
The obtained results revealed that the reduction percentages of soil salinity after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months from starting the experiment reached 30.3, 33.1, 35.4 and 45.0 % for the applied gypsum rates 75 % GR vs 34.6, 36.9, 45.6 and 53.3 % for 100 % GR and 35.0, 66.6, 69.9 and 75.7 % for 125 % GR, respectively. That was true, since additional gypsum in excess of the requirement helped speedily soil amelioration process. In general, the soil salinity reached the safe limits of soil salinity (ECe=< 4.0 dS/m) and sodicity (ESP= < 15 %) after 6 months of applying 100 and 125 % GR. Also, the values of ECe and ESP were tended to a gradual decrease with increasing the experimental time, but the reverse was true for the values of salt leaching index that showed gradual increases.
Concerning soil physical soil properties, the obtained results showed a pronounced increase in infiltration rate, where the increase percentages ranged 42.3-56.0, 43.7-60.9 and 55.4-91.5 % at 75, 100 and 125 % GR, respectively. A similar and parallel trend was also observed for the values of quickly drainable pores. Such favourable effect refers to the released Ca2+ from gypsum that leading to improve soil structure, creation of friable granules and conductive pores that enhancing water penetration, and then promote a sufficient cycle of wetting and drying. Also, a parallel increase was achieved for the aggregation index values as time elapsed and increasing gypsum rates, where the corresponding relative increase percentages ranged between 18.0-89.3, 55.0-120.0 and 108.0-140.3 % at 75, 100 and 125 % GR, respectively. Moreover, a noticeable decrease was observed for soil bulk density due to adding gypsum as an amendment comparing with the control treatment.
Regarding soil hydrological properties, it was clearly showed a marked drop in water table level differs from one day to another as well as the applied gypsum rates, probably due to the nature of the stratified layering of such Nile alluvial soil. The average rate of water table drawdown after one year of gypsum application mounted 35.2, 44.8 and 95.0 % for soils treated with 75 %, 100 % and 125 % GR as compared with the initial state, respectively. In general, lowering the water table has given the top soil a chance to dry, shrink and creating water passageways. It was also noticed that the drainage intensity factor (a) tended to increase with increasing the applied gypsum rate, where its greatest value was achieved at 125 % GR, may be due to the increase of released Ca2+ and its positive action to link clay particles, and in turn enhance soil internal drainage and water movement to drains. In addition, a parallel pronounced decrease in the total water resistance was associated with increasing the applied gypsum rate, i.e., 7.69, 23.07 and 30.77 % at 75, 100 and 125 % GR, respectively. This means that applied gypsum led to improve the soil structure which helped in creating a more permeable soil medium with less resistance to water flow towards tile drains.
The achieved amelioration in physico-chemical and hydrological properties of the studied soil positively reflected on the increases of grain yields of both summer maize and winter wheat, which were approached 27.8, 50.0 and 61.1 % for maize vs 25.7, 42.9 and 57.1 % over the control for wheat at 75, 100 and 125 % GR, respectively. Finally, the obtained results suggest that this work is considered as scientific and logic fundamental base for a successful agricultural development of such salt affected area as well as possible to increase unite area income.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the individual and synergic effects of the application of Biochar (B), Humic Substances (HS), and Gypsum (G) on the soil properties of a saline-sodic soil, and plant growth and seed quality (polyphenols, protein and yield) of quinoa. Treatments included (B) 22 t ha 1 , (HS) 5 kg ha 1 , and (G) 47.7 t ha 1. Two quinoa genotypes from Arid Zones (AZ-51 and AZ-103) were selected and established in eight treatments. The B + HS + G combined treatment resulted in increases in root biomass of 206% and 176% in AZ-51 and AZ-103, respectively. Furthermore, electrical conductivity (ECe), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) decreased significantly in all treated soils. When compared to the control, ESP decreased 11-fold in the G treatment, and 9-13-fold in the B + G; B + HS; and B + HS + G treatments. Similarly, soil microbial biomass increased 112% and 322% in the B + HS + G treatment in AZ-51 and AZ-103 genotypes, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that the application of combined amendments (B + HS + G) represents an alternative for reclaiming degraded soils, including saline-sodic soils.

Soybean is the most important food commodity besides rice and maize.  Besides from being a source of vegetable protein, soybean is used as animal feed and raw material for processing industrial of soy sauce and soymilk. Land in Palangka Raya is peat soil that mostly high level of acidity. This constraint for agriculture development because of low availability of plant nutrients. One attempt to overcome this obstacle is the application of oil palm bunch ash (OPBA).The aim of this study was to analyse the interaction between the time application and doses of OPBA on the growth and yield of soybean in peat soil. The research was conducted on peat soil in the Bereng Bengkel village, Sebangau subDistrict, Palangka Raya using randomised block design (RBD) with two factorial treatments. The first factor is the timing of OPBA application which consists of two levels i.e., two weeks before planting (WBP) and tree WBP planting. The second factor is the OPBA dosage which consists of four levels i.e., without OPBA, 250 kg/ha, 500 kg/ha and 750 kg/ha. Each treatment was repeated three times so that there were 24 experimental units. The experimental results showed the interaction time of timing and OPBA dosage on peat soil was highly significant; the number of effective root nodules on five weeks after planting (WAP) observation. The single factor of OPBA application time has very significant effect on a number of effective root nodules age five WAP, days to flowering and number of pods per plant. While single-dosage factor OPBA has very significant effect on the number of root nodules on five WAP observation, broad leaf age nine WAP, days to flowering and number of pods per plant.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the individual and synergic effects of the application of Biochar (B), Humic Substances (HS), and Gypsum (G) on the soil properties of a saline–sodic soil, and plant growth and seed quality (polyphenols, protein and yield) of quinoa. Treatments included (B) 22 t ha−1, (HS) 5 kg ha−1, and (G) 47.7 t ha−1. Two quinoa genotypes from Arid Zones (AZ-51 and AZ-103) were selected and established in eight treatments. The B + HS + G combined treatment resulted in increases in root biomass of 206% and 176% in AZ-51 and AZ-103, respectively. Furthermore, electrical conductivity (ECe), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) decreased significantly in all treated soils. When compared to the control, ESP decreased 11-fold in the G treatment, and 9–13-fold in the B + G; B + HS; and B + HS + G treatments. Similarly, soil microbial biomass increased 112% and 322% in the B + HS + G treatment in AZ-51 and AZ-103 genotypes, re...

Summary
Salt-affected soils are deficient in soil organic matter therefore, the presence and activities of exo-polysaccharides (EPS) producing bacteria are also very low. Fertility and productivity of these marginal soils can be improved by build up of EPS-producing bacteria in rhizosphere of the crop plants, since the EPS-producing bacteria are involved in root adhering soil around- and , water as well as nutrient flow across plant roots. During first phase of the study, various controlled temperature room and laboratory studies were conducted to isolate, characterize and identify the EPS-producing bacteria associated with roots of the wheat and barley plants grown in the salt-affected soils collected from different localities. BIOLOG and API systems were used for biochemical identification of the EPS-producing bacterial isolates. A low percentage of bacterial identification observed for the two system stressed the need for a more reliable technique for identification of rhizospheric bacteria. A variability in EPS-producing bacterial population was observed among the plants, cultivars of a plant, rhizoplane and rhizospheric soil fractions, and the salt-affected soils of different localities. A comparison of non-saline and saline soils grown plants indicated a very low extent of root adhering  soils (RAS) of the plants grown on the salt-affected soils. Among more than seven hundred bacterial isolates, few bacteria were found to produce appreciable quantities of EPS. Physico-chemical properties of these bacterial EPS (Phase II) showed the presence of many charged groups in the exo-polysaccharides and their variability due to the source strain. The presence of charged groups of the EPS could determine their role in formation and stabilization of the soil aggregates. Studies conducted with some of the selected EPS-producing bacterial isolates (Phase III) presented a pronounced effect of the bacterial inoculation on growth of shoot, root and RAS of the wheat plants. Very high yields observed in shoot and root growth of the wheat plants grown in a salt affected soil due to EPS-producing bacterial inoculation could be attributed to PGPR effect since at later growth stages nutrient uptake and utilization would be the limiting factor for growth and yield of the crop plants. However, by managing nutrient supply to the plants at early growth stages the beneficial effects of EPS-producing inoculation could be exploited. Thus, there is a need that using isotopic techniques these aspects of plant nutrition are studied. Moreover, build up of EPS-producing bacterial population in the rhizosphere resulted in higher uptake of K that resulted in decrease of concentration of Na and Na/K ratio in the shoot of wheat  plants. This decrease in Na concentration and Na/K ratio would help plants to withstand salinity when growing in the salt-affected soils. However, more research work is required to study the interaction of bacterial EPS with soil constituents especially the clay fraction in the presence of different soil cations so that the mechanism involved in stabilizing soil aggregates could be understood.

Soybean is the most important food commodity besides rice and maize. Besides from being a source of vegetable protein, soybean is used as animal feed and raw material for processing industrial of soy sauce and soymilk. Land in Palangka Raya is peat soil that mostly high level of acidity. This constraint for agriculture development because of low availability of plant nutrients. One attempt to overcome this obstacle is the application of oil palm bunch ash (OPBA).The aim of this study was to analyse the interaction between the time application and doses of OPBA on the growth and yield of soybean in peat soil. The research was conducted on peat soil in the Bereng Bengkel village, Sebangau subDistrict, Palangka Raya using randomised block design (RBD) with two factorial treatments. The first factor is the timing of OPBA application which consists of two levels i.e., two weeks before planting (WBP) and tree WBP planting. The second factor is the OPBA dosage which consists of four levels...

Abstract.  This study aim was to determine the effectiveness of various types of ameliorant in improving soil chemical  properties  and  rice  yields  in  actual  acid  sulfate  soils.  The  study  was conducted in Tamban Baru Tengah village, Tamban Catur Subdistrict, Kapuas, Central Kalimantan, from April-September 2019. The research design used a Randomized Block Design with treatment (A1) 5 t ha-1 of lime given once at the beginning, (A2) 3 t ha-1 lime + 2 t ha-1 lime given at the rice age of 1 month, (A3) 3 t ha-1 lime + 2 t ha-1 'Porre' organic fertilizer, (A4) 3 t ha-1 lime + 2 t ha-1  rice  husk  ask.  Each  treatment  was  replicated  4  times.  Periodic  soil  observations included pH H2O,  EC,  SO42-,  Fe2+  and  Al3+,  plant  height,  tillers  number,  and  rice  yields  were observed. The results showed that the ameliorant treatment was able to reduce concentration of Fe2+ at planting from 6400 ppm to 1000-1500 ppm, SO42- from 8000 ppm to 2100 to 4300 ppm, Al3+ from 16.31 cmol(+) kg-1 to 5.2-6.7 cmol(+) kg-1. Lime combined with “Porre” organic fertilizer (A3) gave the highest rice yield (>17% higher than A1). The use of “Porre” organic fertilizer was able to reduce the use of lime in tidal swampland.

ABSTRACT
Commercial AM fungi isolates, Rhizophagus clarus, Gigaspora gigantea, Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus etunicatum and Paraglomus occulum were tested on four seasonal ornamentals, Dianthus chinensis x barbatus, Impatiens wallerana, Petunia x hybrid and Viola x wittrockiana planted in peat-base medium. The experiment was conducted in a glasshouse with three replicates in a completely randomised design. Various vegetative (height, width, length, number of leaves, leaf area and dry biomass) and reproductive (number of flowers and buds) plant parts were measured in the course of three months. AM fungi was found to increase seedling growth and reduced seedling mortality rate of all the plants studied. Inoculated plants produced more leaves (16-33%) and grew taller (12-28%). Dry biomass of inoculated Dianthus, Impatiens and Viola plants were significantly increased by 25-53%. All plants under low colonisation rates displayed mycotrophic qualities and net growth output thereof were found to be similar to plants with equal or higher colonisation rate. Mortality were less frequent in inoculated plants and they were also less susceptible to transplant shock.

Key words: arbuscular mycorrhiza, annuals, rhizosphere, inoculation, symbiosis, extraradical mycelium, hyphae, mycorrhizal dependency, root cortices, interface.

The effect of cadmium (Cd) toxicity and its impact on histopathology, haematological, and biochemical changes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromius niloticus) were studied. Fish (35-45 grams) were exposed to Cd that resulted in significant reduction (p&lt; 0.05) of the erythrocyte count (RBCs), haemoglobin content (Hb) and haematocrit value (Hct). Significant increases in plasma aspartate aminotranseferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed in fish exposed to Cd. The obtained results indicate that Lemna gibba L weed and their extract are effective in removing Cd from water and reducing Cd bioaccumulation in fish. The addition of Lemna gibba L-extract reduced significantly (p&lt;0.05) the Cd level in water and the metal uptake as compared to fish exposed to Cd alone. The Cd concentration in water was 9.620±0.198 mg L and it decreased significantly (p&lt; 0.05). The Cd accumulation in liver and muscles of fish exposed to Cd alone was higher than that of Lemna gibba L-extra...

Peningkatan produksi tanaman padi selalu dilakukan dengan berbagai upaya diantaranya, pemanfaatan lahan marginal dengan penggunaan amandemen tanah dan penggunaan varietas unggul. Tujuan penelitian ini, mencoba memanfaatkan abu terbang dari pembakaran batubara sebagai bahan amandemen untuk tanah-tanah tergenang yang berasal dari lahan tadah hujan, lahan pasang surut dan lahan gambut untuk meningkatkan keragaan pertumbuhan dan produksi padi varietas Inpara-3. Metode penelitian menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap faktorial tersarang dengan 2 perlakuan yaitu tanah tanpa diberikan abu batubara (0 t.ha-1) dan tanah yang diberikan abu batubara (60 t.ha-1) dengan 4 ulangan pada setiap jenis tanah dan perlakuannya. Perlakuan abu batubara yang diberikan adalah 60 t.ha- 1( 309,36 g.pot tanah-1 untuk tanah tadah hujan, 374,52 g.pot tanah-1 untuk tanah rawa pasang surut dan 519,56 g.pot tanah-1 untuk tanah rawa gambut, sehingga terdapat 24 satuan percobaan. Perlakuan setiap jenis tanah sesuai kapasitas bulk densitynya. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Rumah Kaca Fakultas Pertanian ULM Banjarbaru, Kalimantan Selatan pada bulan Mei-Oktober 2018. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan tanaman padi, yang ditanam pada tanah gambut diberikan abu batubara menunjukkan hasil positif pada semua parameter pengamatan, namun hasilnya berbeda dengan tanaman padi yang ditanam pada tanah lahan pasang surut yang diberikan abu batubara, hanya menunjukkan hasil positif pada parameter tinggi tanaman, pertambahan tinggi, jumlah anakan, berat kering gabah, dan akar terpanjang tanaman padi. Analisa keragaan pertumbuhan dan produksi juga dilakukan pada tanaman padi yang ditanam pada tanah tadah hujan, terlihat berpengaruh positif hanya pada parameter berat kering gabah dan berat kering tanaman (tanpa akar, malai dan gabah).

ABSTRAK Budidaya tanaman di Kalimantan Selatan, umumnya dilakukan pada berbagai karakteristik lahan rawa dengan berbagai jenis lahan yang dipengaruhi oleh sistem hidrologi dan jenis tanah. Berbagai kendala dan permasalahan yang terjadi pada pengolahan tanah ataupun setelah tanaman berproduksi dan panen. Kendala dan permasalahan pada budidaya tanaman terjadi pada tanah di lahan rawa disebabkan munculnya karakteristik negatif dari tanah-tanah yang diberdayagunakan. Aplikasi bahan amelioransi seperti abu batubara diharapkan dapat membantu memperbaiki dan membenahi karakter negatif dari tanah-tanah yang diberdayagunakan tersebut. Potensial abu batubara yang mengandung beberapa unsur mineral pembenah tanah serta dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber hara dan mineral untuk tanaman. Pengujian terhadap abu batubara sebesar 60 t ha-1 yang diaplikasikan pada tanah gambut, tanah mineral pasang surut dan tanah mineral tadah hujan memperlihatkan pengaruh yang beragam pada semua variabel pengamatan sifat-sifat tanah. Pengujian abu batubara yang diaplikasikan pada tanah gambut berpengaruh positif terhadap semua variabel pengamatan sifat tanah. Pengujian abu batubara yang diaplikasikan pada tanah mineral pasang surut berpengaruh positif terhadap pH tanah, sedangkan bulk density, Fe-larut dan Al-larut terindikasi meningkat sehingga berdampak negatif terhadap kapabilitas tanah untuk budidaya yang optimal. Pengujian aplikasi abu batubara pada tanah mineral tadah hujan hanya berpengaruh positif terhadap pH-tanah, sedangkan bulk density, Fe-larut dan Al-larut justru memberikan pengaruh negatif terhadap kelayakan tanah untuk budidaya tanaman. Kata Kunci : abu batubara; lahan basah sub-optimal; kapabilitas tanah; bahan ameliorasi tanah.