ISSN: 2339-076X (p); 2502-2458 (e), Volume 7, Number 1 (October 2019):1987-1993 DOI:10.15243/jdmlm.2019.071.1987
www.jdmlm.ub.ac.id 1987 Research Article
Improving nutrient availability in pyroclastic materials from Mount Kelud using organic and inorganic amendments
Sri Rahayu Utami
*, Retno Suntari, Christanti Agustina, Novalia Kusumarini
Soil Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran 1, Malang 65145, Indonesia
*corresponding author: [email protected]
Received 28 August 2019, Accepted 27 September 2019
Abstract: Pyroclastic materials from Mount Kelud eruption which deposited in surrounding areas has very low nutrient availability. Fertilizer efficiency is normally low due to a coarse texture. This research was an attempt to increase nutrient availability using zeolite and organic matter in combination with inorganic fertilizers. The materials was treated with three rates of inorganic fertilizers (100%, 70%; 40% of the recommended rates, i.e. Urea 400 kg/ha; SP-36 150 kg/ha, and KCl 75 kg/ha), in combination with three types of amendments (zeolite, Tithonia diversifolia leaves, and cow manure at the rate of 20 t/ha), and 100% inorganic fertilizer treated materials as control, and incubated for 60 days. Soil samples were taken every 10 days after incubation and analysed for soil pH, C-organic, available N, P, K content measurement.
The results showed that total N content increased with the rates of inorganic fertilizers. At 10-20 days after incubation the content of NH4+ is greater than NO3- but gradually changed after 30 days after incubation.
Apparently, zeolite treated materials had lower NH4+ content than organic treated samples at 10-20 days after incubation, however at 60 days after incubation its NO3- content was relatively higher than Tithonia leaves treated samples. At 60 days after incubation, the higher the fertilizer rates, the higher the content of available P and exchangeable K. The highest content of available P and exchangeable K occurred respectively in cow manure and Tithonia diversifolia leaves treated materials. Until 60 days after incubation, organic treated materials had a higher amount of available and exchangeable K than zeolite treated materials, because they originally contain considerable P and K. However, at 60 days after incubation, zeolite treated materials contained the highest amount of NO3-. This indicated that zeolite had a higher capability to retain mineral N, hindering N removal from leaching and volatilization. A higher nutrient holding capacity could be related to the increasing cation exchange capacity after the addition of amendments, and to a lesser extend to pH and % C.
Keywords: amendment, fertilizer efficiency, nutrient availability, pyroclastic materials, zeolite
To cite this article: Utami, S.R., Suntari, R., Agustina, C. and Kusumarini, N. 2019. Improving nutrient availability in pyroclastic materials from Mount Kelud using organic and inorganic amendments. J. Degrade. Min. Land Manage.
7(1): 1987-1993, DOI: 10.15243/jdmlm. 2019.071.1987.
Introduction
Mount Kelud which lies in the District of Kediri, East Java is one of the active volcanoes in Indonesia. The last eruption of Mount Kelud (occurred on 13 February 2014), produced a huge amount of pyroclastic materials to the surrounding area, 30 cm thick in the closest area, as in Pandansari village, Ngantang, Malang, which is only 8 – 10 km from the crater. According to local farmers, volcanic material covers up to 30 cm thick
is very difficult to manage and has relatively low nutrient availability; hence farmers depend entirely on inorganic fertilizers. To pursue optimum production, for example, farmers provide Urea (Urea 50 kg and 25 kg ZA to 600 m2 area), largely exceeding recommendation rate (200 kg/ha), to cope its low efficiency. Efficiency can be improved, if the amendment materials are used, as it can hold nutrients and hence minimize nutrient leaching from the soil system.
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management 1988 Soil amendment is synthetic or natural materials
that can improve the physical, chemical and biological nature of the soil (Permentan Nr 70/2011). Based on its composition, soil amendment can be distinguished in two categories namely organic and inorganic soil amendment (Simanungkalit et al., 2006). Application of organic or inorganic soil amendment reduced soil compaction and nutrient leaching, increased available water content and nutrients holding capacity in the soils (Waltz et al., 2003). Previous research by Chalhoub et al. (2013) showed that compost application provided an additional of 250- 450 kg N/ha compared to control and resulted in an increase of 9-27% total N after repeated five times applications.
At the Pandansari Village which was in the ring 1 area impacted by Mount Kelud eruption, there are several wild plants, for example, Tithonia diversifolia, as well as dairy farms potentially produce organic waste that could be utilized as a soil amendment (Anwar et al., 2017). Application of organic material on the soils derived from volcanic ash increased cation exchange capacity (CEC) and consequently available P (Utami et al., 2006; Utami et al., 2007; Valarini et al., 2009).
Whereas zeolite as a soil amendment may improve the efficient use of fertilizer. The source of the zeolite in Indonesia is relatively abundant, as reported by Mineral Resources Directorate, which showed 205,825,080 tons of zeolite deposits (Al- Jabri et al., 2011). This large number of zeolites deposits, however, is only partly utilized for various purposes. Zeolite deposit in Indonesia which is larger than 250 million tons, with production of 100-250 thousand tons/year, it will be still reserved in 1000 years (Suwardi, 2009).
Application of zeolites in the soil can improve CEC, which determines soil capacity to hold fertilizer, and enhances soil fertility. Zeolite is capable of holding N, K, Ca and Mg, but also buffering pH, hence may decrease lime use in the soil (Ahmed et al., 2010).
Considering that Mount Kelud pyroclastic materials cover a very large area, which originally very productive agricultural land, the efforts is then necessary to improve the efficiency of inorganic fertilizers. Making use of crop residue locally available and inorganic amendment (zeolite) was then attempted to increase nutrient availability in the pyroclastic materials.
Materials and Methods
This research was incubation research, using pyroclastic materials taken from Kutut village, Ngantang, Malang Regency, which located at the area most impacted by Mount Kelud eruption
(Zone 1). The materials were then subjected to 2 mm sieve, to have homogenous particle size.
Plastic pots amounted to 180 (10 treatments x 3 replications x 6-time series) were prepared, in each pot we put 400 g of pyroclastic materials. We used Tithonia diversifolia leaves and cow manure locally available in the study area, as organic amendments, and natural zeolite as an inorganic amendment. Reagents used for nutrient and soil chemical analysis were in accordance with the methods used. The materials was treated with three rates of inorganic fertilizers (100%, 70%; 40% of the recommended rates, i.e. Urea 400 kg/ha; SP-36 150 kg/ha, and KCl 75 kg/ha), in combination with three types of amendments (zeolite, Tithonia diversifolia leaves, and cow manure at the rate of 20 t/ha), and 100% inorganic fertilizer treated materials as control, which were then incubated for 60 days. Each treatment was repeated three times, which were arranged in a completely randomized design. Soil samples were taken every 10 days after incubation and analysed for available nutrients content. Total and available N were measured by macro Kjeldahl method (Hidayat, 1978); available P by Bray 2 (Bray and Kurtz, 1945), and exchangeable K by NH4OAc pH 7 extraction (Rhoades, 1982, and soil pH (1:5 soil water ratio).
C-organic content and CEC were respectively determined by the method of Walkley and Black (1934), and NH4OAc 1M pH 7 (Rhoades, 1982).
Results and Discussion
The results showed that the application of organic and inorganic amendments significantly affected nutrient availability, as reflected by increasing content of total N, available P and exchangeable K, as well as improving soil chemical properties (pH,
% C-organic and cation exchange capacity).
Total and mineral nitrogen
Total Nitrogen content in the pyroclastic materials is very low (0.02 %). Application of organic amendments increased total N and was significantly different from 100% inorganic fertilizer treatment (Figure 1). The total content of N was apparently following the rates of inorganic fertilizer. At 10 to 60 days after incubation, the total N content declined over time, suggesting the occurring of N volatilization, which normally pronounced on coarse texture soils. Application of Tithonia diversifolia leaves at different rates of inorganic fertilizer showed the highest total N content. Whereas the total N contents in the cow manure and zeolite treated materials were relatively similar. However, zeolite treated materials showed the lowest N content, since zeolite is not N bearing materials. The results
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management 1989 indicated that zeolite was able to hold N derived
from urea fertilizer. Influence of organic materials was more significant if applied with 100% rate of inorganic fertilizers. The higher the rate of
inorganic fertilizers, additions of the organic amendment were even more necessary to decrease N loss from leaching and evaporation process, and hence maintaining N total.
Figure 1. Total N content as affected by organic and inorganic amendment during the incubation period.
Note: A: 100% inorganic fertilizer, without amendments; A10: 100% inorganic fertilizer; A07: 70%
inorganic fertilizer; A04: 40% inorganic fertilizer; TD: Tithonia diversifolia leaves; CM: cow manure;
ZO: Zeolite; CEC: Cation Exchange Capacity.
The relatively low content of total N followed by the low mineral content of N, and even unmeasured in some treatments (Figure 2). A considerable amount of NH4+ at 10, 20, and 40 days after incubation corresponded to application time of
Urea (at 7, 20 and 35 days after application of zeolite). Nitrogen originated from organic or inorganic fertilizers are subjected to nitrification process, forming NH4+ which is then converted quickly to NO3-. This process was reflected by the
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management 1990 dominance of NH4+ at 10 to 30 days after
incubation which was then replaced by NO3-. But the difference in magnitude units between NH4+
and NO3- showed that N losing process probably occurred, either through leaching or evaporation.
At 40 days after incubation, NH4+ content was still measurable, although in a small amount. This
showed that the decomposition process was still on-going, particularly at the rates of 100% and 70%
inorganic fertilizers. Whereas at the rate of 40%
inorganic fertilizers, the content of NO3- was relatively high, especially in combination with Tithonia diversifolia fresh leaves and cow manure.
Figure 2. Mineral N composition as affected by organic and inorganic amendments.
Note: A: 100% inorganic fertilizer, without amendments; A10: 100% inorganic fertilizer; A07: 70%
inorganic fertilizer; A04: 40% inorganic fertilizer; TD: Tithonia diversifolia leaves; CM: cow manure;
ZO: Zeolite; CEC: Cation Exchange Capacity
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management 1991 Available phosphorus
The studied materials contained a considerable amount (45 ppm) of available P (Utami et al., 2017); however, it was potentially decreased by leaching process or plant uptake. Application of 100% inorganic fertilizers increased available P content, but tend to decrease with time (Table 1).
At 60 days after incubation, the available P content increased with the increasing rate of inorganic fertilizer. However, at the same organic material treatment, immobilization or losing process seemed to be greater at a higher rate of inorganic fertilizers. The highest content of available P was generally found in cow manure treated materials.
In amended materials, P content was very fluctuating within 50 days after incubation, then decreased at 60 days after incubation, although it was still higher than control. This data reflected the on-going mineralization process of P.
Exchangeable potassium
At 10 days after incubation, the content of exchangeable K in amended materials was insignificantly different from control, irrespective from the fertilizer rates, except in Tithonia diversifolia leaves treated materials, which was
higher than other treatments (Table 1). At 40 and 70% rate of inorganic fertilizers, Tithonia diversifolia leaves treated materials contained higher exchangeable K than any other treatments.
The content of exchangeable K in the control (100% inorganic fertilizer without amendments) decreased at 60 days after incubation, which resulted in a more significant difference with amended materials.
Soil chemical properties determining nutrient availability
The pattern of nutrient availability is normally affected by soil chemical properties, such as pH, organic carbon content, and cation exchange capacity. The pH tended to be similar at various inorganic fertilizer rates, as well as in cow manure and zeolite treated materials, compared to control (100% inorganic fertilizer). At various inorganic fertilizer rates, combination with Tithonia diversifolia leaves treatment showed the highest pH (Table 2). The pH of the treated materials increased within 10-40 days after incubation but decreased again after 50 days after incubation.
Surprisingly, available P content was following the pH pattern, i.e. higher pH resulted in higher P availability.
Table 1. Effect of organic and inorganic amendments on available P and exchangeable K content.
Treatment
P-available (ppm) K-exchangeable (cmol/kg)
10 20 30 40 50 60 10 20 30 40 50 60
--- days after incubation --- --- days after incubation --- A 112.60 84.40 72.05 71.86 43.44 52.41 0.19 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.11
A10
TD 65.63 70.75 80.70 83.50 121.05 109.39 0.27 0.26 0.24 0.25 0.25 0.36 CM 120.47 115.10 112.44 113.56 137.75 105.14 0.19 0.22 0.26 0.27 0.19 0.20 ZO 125.60 95.65 110.20 92.65 91.82 90.85 0.18 0.30 0.13 0.13 0.25 0.23
A07 TD 93.71 94.21 95.65 96.85 109.25 83.51 0.31 0.38 0.47 0.49 0.39 0.36 CM 117.99 114.02 110.99 108.67 128.84 99.41 0.17 0.20 0.22 0.24 0.24 0.20 ZO 86.68 90.46 96.14 98.22 116.05 71.38 0.14 0.31 0.22 0.19 0.25 0.23
A04 TD 96.46 92.34 87.51 89.17 126.67 78.32 0.34 0.35 0.36 0.37 0.29 0.25 CM 112.65 101.13 92.83 90.44 116.03 84.12 0.18 0.19 0.22 0.25 0.19 0.19 ZO 83.59 83.14 84.07 86.75 116.44 76.82 0.18 0.28 0.26 0.25 0.24 0.23 Note: A: 100% inorganic fertilizer, without amendments; A10: 100% inorganic fertilizer; A07: 70% inorganic fertilizer;
A04: 40% inorganic fertilizer; TD: Tithonia diversifolia leaves; CM: cow manure; ZO: Zeolite.
The content of organic C increased slightly after the addition of organic matter (20 t/ha), especially after 50 days after incubation. A higher organic carbon content, as well as organic matter in the soil, resulted in higher negative charges, which more repulsive towards phosphate (Utami et al., 2012), and hence releasing available P to the soil.
However, the organic materials applied probably decomposed quickly in the pyroclastic materials, releasing CO2 to the atmosphere, which likely to occur in such coarse materials. A significant increase of organic carbon content is only possible
if there is continuous input of organic materials such as in the agroforestry system or in the forest.
Higher P increase in organic material treated materials than in zeolite treated materials, could not solely to the increasing organic matter content in the soil because the applied organic matter not only affect P-sorption and precipitation, but they contain a significant amount of N, P and K that will be released to the soil through decomposition.
Whereas its decomposition products – the humic materials – may act as mobilizing agents for unsoluble elements, such as P or K (von
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management 1992 Wandruszka, 2006). These factors could be the
reason for the superiority effect of organic amendment, compared to inorganic amendment (zeolite) during 60 incubation days. The cation exchange capacity of the organic and inorganic amended materials are considerable higher than untreated materials, which tend to increase with
incubation time. However, there was an insignificant difference in CEC between various fertilizer rates, as well as between organic (Tithonia diversifolia and cow manure) and inorganic (zeolite) treatments. Increasing rates of fertilizers did not change the nature of the charges in the pyroclastic materials.
Table 2. Soil chemical properties as affected by organic and inorganic amendments.
Treatment
pH C Organic (%) CEC (cmol/kg)
10 20 30 40 50 60 10 20 30 40 50 60 10 60
--- days after incubation --- --- days after incubation --- days after incubation A 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.4 0.30 0.30 0.35 0.28 0.26 0.27 3 4
A10
TD 6.4 6.6 6.8 6.9 6.7 5.4 0.35 0.36 0.36 0.37 0.77 0.68 8 11 CM 5.2 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.4 5.3 0.50 0.50 0.53 0.55 0.71 0.44 7 11 ZO 5.6 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.5 5.0 0.40 0.42 0.35 0.38 0.35 0.36 7 11
A07 TD 6.1 6.0 6.0 6.2 6.4 6.1 0.49 0.45 0.38 0.41 0.86 0.66 7 11 CM 5.4 5.5 5.7 5.8 5.6 5.4 0.52 0.46 0.40 0.42 0.88 0.65 7 10 ZO 5.6 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.4 5.5 0.32 0.38 0.44 0.46 0.44 0.38 4 11
A04 TD 6.3 6.4 6.4 6.5 5.9 5.7 0.46 0.43 0.35 0.38 0.50 0.42 7 13 CM 5.2 5.4 5.7 5.8 5.4 5.5 0.52 0.48 0.44 0.46 0.53 0.35 8 11 ZO 5.5 5.4 5.5 5.7 5.6 5.4 0.35 0.40 0.44 0.46 0.35 0.26 7 12 Note: A: 100% inorganic fertilizer, without amendments; A10: 100% inorganic fertilizer; A07: 70% inorganic fertilizer;
A04: 40% inorganic fertilizer; TD: Tithonia diversifolia leaves; CM: cow manure; ZO: Zeolite; CEC: Cation Exchange Capacity.
This study showed that 60 days incubation with organic materials (Tithonia diversifolia and cow manure) and zeolite might increase negative charges, and hence resulted in higher cation exchange capacity. The increasing number of negative charges will then increase the capability to retain potassium and ammonium which have positive charges, protecting these cations from further leaching. In the case of nitrogen, the adsorption of ammonium will also delay the nitrification process, which probably hinders nitrogen from volatilization process. This reason was supported by the results that showed the considerable content of NO3- in organic and inorganic amended materials, respectively after 50 and 60 incubation days. The effect of natural zeolite on nitrogen dynamics was studied in Cambisols (Torma et al., 2014), which showed an increase of ammonium by 14-20% to 24-59% in zeolite treated soils compared to untreated soils, after 1 to 5 months application. This study was only 60 incubation days (2 months), hence further residual effect of zeolite is expected to occur.
Conclusion
The results showed that generally organic and inorganic treated materials had a higher content of total N, available P and exchangeable K. Total N content increased along with the increasing rate of
inorganic fertilizers. At the beginning of incubation, the amount of NH4+ was greater than NO3- amount, but after 30 dai the amount of NH4+
decreased and replaced by NO3-. During the incubation period, the content of available P and exchangeable K were insignificantly affected by inorganic fertilizer rates. However, at 60 days after incubation, the higher the fertilizer rates, the higher the content of available P and exchangeable K.
Highest content of available P and exchangeable K occurred respectively in cow manure and Tithonia diversifolia leaves treated materials. Until 60 days after incubation, organic matter treated materials had a higher amount of available P and exchangeable K than zeolite treated materials, because they originally contained considerable P and K. However, at 60 days after incubation, zeolite treated materials contained the highest amount of NO3-. This indicated that zeolite had higher capability to retain mineral N, hindering N removal from leaching and volatilization. which gradually release back to the soil. A higher nutrient holding capacity could be related to the increasing cation exchange capacity after the addition of amendments, and to a lesser extend to pH and % C.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the Directorate General for Higher Education of Indonesia for the research funding,
Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management 1993 entitled “Pemanfaatan Bahan Organik Lokal dan Zeolit
untuk Mengurangi Ketergantungan Aplikasi Pupuk Anorganik pada Lahan Pasca Letusan Gunung Kelud”, SK Rektor UB Nomor: 063/SP2H/LT/DPRM/IV/2017.
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