Syuhada et al. Biochar as soil amendment to a sandy Podzol. A study was conducted toinvestigate the impact of biochar amendment on chemical properties and corn nutrient uptake in a sandy Podzol soil. Four rates of biochar (0, 5, 10, and 15 g kg -1 ) and two rates of inorganic fertilizer (0, and local recommendation rate for corn) were randomly applied to a completely randomized design with four replicates. Corn was grown for 45 days in a glasshouse using sandy Podzol. The increase in pH of the soil was concomitant with decrease of exchangeable Al. The fertilized soil significantly increased total N with concomitant decrease in soil pH due to N nitrification. Positive changes did occur in the soil due to biochar application, leading to significant increase in dry matter yield and corn height. Corn N and K uptakes were significantly increased by the addition of biochar, but the same was not true for Ca and Mg. However, it was found that concentration of N, Ca and Mg in the corn tissue was still lower than their critical level. Our results demonstrate that application of biochar alone is not able to supply enough nutrients for the healthy growth of corn.
A study was conducted to characterize soil properties of a rehabilitated-degraded forestland and an adjacent natural forest in two major forest types, representing the lowland and hilldipterocarp forests at Bidor and Kinta Forest Reserves, respectively. Twelve soil profiles were dug at both sites. At Bidor site, the soil profiles were under rehabilitated secondaiy forests (B1 and B2), an abandoned Acacia mangium plantation (B3 and B4) and natural forests (B5 and B6) of lowland dipterocarp. However, at Kinta site, the soil profiles were located in differing topography: rehabilitated secondaiy forests at 450 m (K1 and K2), rehabilitated secondaiy forests at 550 m (K3 and K4) and natural forests at 650 m (K5 and K6) above sea level. The effect of rehabilitating the forests could be seen by the accumulation of organic matter in the uppermost layer, which was assumed to be at an intermediate stage of mineralization. The soil morphology in natural forests of Bidor site exhibited a thicker and darker upper horizon than that of the rehabilitated sites, whereas, those at Kinta site had pronounced soil color in the upper horizon, though to come from decomposition of organic matter. The soils were very acid (pH <5.5), having low activity clay resulting in low (<16 cmol c kg-1) Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), available P (Av. P), total nitrogen and exchangeable bases, but high in exchangeable Al. High exchangeable A1 was the main cause of soil acidity. The main source of negative charge was the organic matter which affected the CEC, Points Zero Salt Effect (PZSE) and op values. The soils were considered as strongly weathered, devoid of 2:1 type clay minerals. Kaolinite and gibbsite dominated the clay fraction of the soils at both sites. It is recommended that soil characteristics be taken into consideration prior and during the rehabilitation of degraded forestland in tropical rainforests.
Deforestation leads to the deterioration of soil fertility which occurs rapidly under tropical climates. Forest rehabilitation is one of the approaches to restore soil fertility and increase the productivity of degraded areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare soil biological properties under enrichment planting and secondary forests at Tapah Hill Forest Reserve, Perak after 42 years of planting. Both areas were excessively logged in the 1950s and left idle without any appropriate forest management until 1968 when rehabilitation program was initiated. Six subplots (20 m × 20 m) were established within each enrichment planting (F1) and secondary forest (F2) plots, after which soil was sampled at depths of 0–15 cm (topsoil) and 15–30 cm (subsoil). Results showed that total mean microbial enzymatic activity, as well as biomass C and N content, was significantly higher in F1 compared to F2. The results, despite sample variability, suggest that the rehabilitation program improves the soil biological activities where high rate of soil organic matter, organic C, N, suitable soil acidity range, and abundance of forest litter is believed to be the predisposing factor promoting higher population of microbial in F1 as compared to F2. In conclusion total microbial enzymatic activity, biomass C and biomass N evaluation were higher in enrichment planting plot compared to secondary forest. After 42 years of planting, rehabilitation or enrichment planting helps to restore the productivity of planted forest in terms of biological parameters.
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