Optimizing application of biochar, compost and nitrogen fertilizer in soybean intercropping with kayu putih ( Melaleuca cajuputi )

Abstract

Waste resulted from the distillation of kayu putih leaves is a problem in almost all kayu putih refineries throughout Indonesia due to its enormous availability and un-utilization. It has potential to be used as an organic fertilizer source due to its nutrient content (macro and micro) which is higher than organic fertilizer from animals. The use of kayu putih waste is useful to complement and increase the efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer in soybean intercropping with kayu putih. This study aimed to determine the optimum values of kayu putih waste and nitrogen fertilizer based on three scenarios: economic, environmental, and eco-environmental. A two-year experiment (2018-2019) was carried out in a central composite design (CCD) with two replications as the response surface methodology (RSM) at the Menggoran Forest Resort, Playen District, Yogyakarta Forest Management, Indonesia. The treatments consist of biochar and compost levels made from kayu putih waste (0, 2.5, and 5.0 t ha-1) and nitrogen fertilizer levels supplied by ammonium sulfate (0, 50, and 100 kg ha-1) as independent variables. The observations conducted on nitrate reductase activity (NRA), total chlorophyll (TC), leaf photosynthesis rate (LPR), nitrogen loss (NL), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and seed yield (SY). The response variables were fitted in a full quadratic polynomial model. The results showed that the resource-based on the eco-environmental scenarios was the most favorable cropping strategy for the soybean production intercropping with kayu putih with the optimum value of 2.890 t ha-1 of biochar, 2.27 t ha-1 of compost, and 67.85 kg ha-1 of ammonium sulfate. This recommendation can reduce the use of ammonium sulfate by 32.

Interactions of Biochar Briquette with Ammonium Sulfate Fertilizer for Controlled Nitrogen Loss in Soybean Intercopping with Melaleuca cajuputi

“…The ZA fertilizer used in this study contained 20.93% N-NH 4 + and 23.84% S-SO 4 2-. The pH(H 2 O), C, H, N and O in the biochar briquette used in this experiment were 8.05, 738.8 g kg -1 , 23.2 g kg -1 , 1.7 g kg -1 and 22.58 g kg -1 , respectively (Alam et al 2020).…”

“…The average volume and value of soybean imports over the 6 years (2013-2018) in Indonesia were 1.9 million tons and US$ 1.09 billion, respectively and the conversion of agricultural areas to nonagricultural areas was 96,512 ha year -1 (Mulyani et al 2017, Statistics Indonesia, 2018. Alternative strategies are to intensify the areas between Melaleuca cajuputi stands and reduce nitrogen loss (NL) (Alam et al 2020.…”

“…Waste from the distillation of M. cajuputi leaves is a problem in Indonesia because of its enormous availability and unutilization. M. cajuputi has the potential to be used as biochar and compost (Alam et al 2020). Nurmalasari et al (2020) reported that M. cajuputi biochar could increase the efficiency of urea fertilization by 18.22% while reducing N loss and increasing maize yield by 46.81% and 61.78%, respectively, compared with single urea application.…”

“…The deep placement application of 10 tons ha -1 biochar made from M. cajupti waste of 100 kg ha -1 ammonium sulfate produces soybean yield by 1.42 tons ha -1 (Alam et al 2020). This value is still lower than the potential and actual yield of Grobogan varieties, which are 3.40 and 2.77 tons ha -1 , respectively (Indonesian Legumes and Tuber Crops Research Institute, 2016).…”

Optimizing Application of Biochar Amendment for Nitrogen use Efficiency in Upland Rice under Melaleuca cajuputi Stands

“…M. cajuputi waste can be used for soil amendment in the form of biochar. The pH H 2 O, C, H, O and N contents in the MCB were 8.05, 72.48%, 2.32%, 22.44% and 0.17%, respectively (Alam et al 2020b). The research study by Alam et al (2020b) informed that the applications of M. cajuputi waste (biochar and compost) and ammonium sulfate fertilizer by 2.89 and 2.27 tons ha -1 and 67.85 kg ha -1 , respectively, can increased NUE and soybean yield by 7.23% and 17.29%.…”