Journal of Tropical Soils (May 2010)
Changes in Some Soil Chemical Properties of Ultisol Applied by Mulch from Empty Fruit Bunches in an Oil Palm Plantation
Abstract
Objective of this research was to study the effectof empty fruit bunches (EFB) applied as mulching on some soil chemical properties of Ultisol in an Oil Palm Plantation.This field experiment was conducted in PT. Sampoerna Agro Tbk Plantation Mesuji, Ogan Komering Ilir of SouthSumatra Province at blocks of 22/A, 23/B, 27/C, 33/, 12/A, 12/B, 24/D, 12/C, 00/C, 24/A, 24/B, 10/B, 02/C, 02/D,11/C, 11/D, 10/A, 10/C, 11/A, and 24/C. The treatment was EFB dosage which are without EFB (control), 40 Mg ha-1of EFB applied only once for a year, 80 Mg ha-1 of EFB applied twice for 2 years, 120 ton EFB/ha applied three timesfor 3 years, and 160 Mg ha-1 of EFB applied four times for 4 years. The rate of EFB application was 40 Mg ha-1 peryear. Every treatment was replicated 4 times, thus total of experiment was 20 units. Soil samples were taken in twodifferences of deepness which were 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm, respectively. Soil variables observed were soil pH,organic C, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total N, P availability, exchangeable K and Mg, Al and Fe. The resultsshowed that application of EFB had significantly effect on some soil chemical properties such as soil pH and Mgexchangeable Mg for 0-20 cm and total N for 20-40 cm deepness. Meanwhile application of EFB did not havesiginificant effects on total organic C, CEC, P-Bray I, exchangeable K, exchangeabile Al and Fe. It was also shownthat some soil chemical properties were generally higher in top soil layer than sub soil layer, except for CEC, P andexchangeable Al
