Column Study of Nitrate Downward Movement and Selected Soil Chemical Properties’ Changes in Mine Spoiled Soil as Influenced by Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Abstract

Open pit coal mining is common practice to extract coal from lithosphere. This system, however, will bring about soil degradation. Organic fertilization is an alternative to recover fertility of the degraded soil. The objectives of the experiment were to determine nitrate downward movement and change of selected chemical properties in the soil column and to compare the growth of lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala) as affected by local based liquid organic fertilizer. Column experiment was conducted using mine spoiled soil from Taba Penanjung Sub-District, Central of Bengkulu District, Bengkulu, Indonesia located at approximately 364.5 m above sea level. The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design with 3 treatments consisting of control, 75 and 150 ppm of local based liquid organic fertilizer (LOF). The treatment was replicated 3 times. Soil column was prepared using PVC pipe with diameter of 12.5 cm and length of 40 cm. Soil sample was put into the column and compacted by knocking the base of the column until the soil height achieved 35 cm. Lamtoro was raised in the column for 11 weeks. At the end of experiment, lamtoro shoot was cut and the PVC column was cleaved horizontally and soil was pushed out from the column. Soil sample was, then, sliced into 6 fractions, representing depth of 0-5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-25, and > 25 cm. Fresh soil sample from each depth was extracted by distillated water and analyzed for NO3- N. Remaining of soil samples was air-dried for 72 hours, grinded with 0.5 mm screen, and analyzed for available P, exchangeable K, soil pH and exchangeable Al. The experiment indicated that local based liquid fertilizer significantly increased soil NO3-N, available P, exchangeable K, soil pH and reduced exchangeable Al. Higher rates of LOF caused increase in selected soil chemical properties but exchangeable Al. However, NO3-N was potential to move downward to deeper depth of the soil profile. Change of exchangeable Al, soil pH and exchangeable K was observed until 20-25 m depth of soil profile, but change of available P was detected only to 10-15 cm depth. Better soil chemical properties were followed by enhancement of lamtoro growth.

Improvement of Selected Soil Chemical Properties and Potassium Uptake by Mung Beans After Application of Liquid Organic Fertilizer in Ultisol

“…In contrast, LOF from cattle waste has an insignificant increment of K to the soil. Muktamar et al (2015) observed similar result where exchangeable K increased significantly to 20-25 cm depth by application of 100% LOF. Another study by Zaintun (2010) also confirmed an increase in K availability and base saturation of soil after application of LOF.…”

“…Even though the nitrate-N content in LOF from rabbit waste is higher than the other animal wastes, the residual nitrate-N in soil is about the same, indicating there is a loss of nitrate-N from the soil. The previous study by Muktamar et al (2015) demonstrates that nitrate -N moves downward to the lower part of soil profile after application of LOF. Loss of nitrate-N is a weakness of LOF application directly to surface soil.…”

“…Application of LOF from dairy cattle wastes as a com-TERRA,1(1), 1-7 (2018) plement of vermicompost significantly increases total soil nitrogen, nitrate-N, exchange-able K, and soil pH, even though does not influence available P and exchangeable Al (Muktamar et al, 2017a). Muktamar et al (2015) also observe a prominent increase in nitrate-N, exchangeable K, available P, pH of mine spoiled soil after treatment of local based liquid organic fertilizer, leading to the improvement of Leucaena growth.…”

Reduction of Synthetic Fertilizer for Sustainable Agriculture: Influence of Organic and Nitrogen Fertilizer Combination on Growth and Yield of Green Mustard

“…Organic matter from organic fertilizer increased soil organic C, total N, available P, available K, CEC, water holding capacity, and water infiltration rate, improved soil structure due to formation of micro-aggregates as well as reduced bulk density [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Improvement of soil quality due to application of liquid organic fertilizer was detected up to 25 cm from soil surface as reported by [15]. Study by [16] also showed that organic fertilizer was able to substitute nitrogen from synthetic fertilizer.…”

Sweet Corn Performance and Its Major Nutrient Uptake Following Application of Vermicompost Supplemented with Liquid Organic Fertilizer

“…Application of liquid organic fertilizer is reported to improve soil quality. Column study conducted by [20] pointed out that liquid organic fertilizer increased N-NO 3 , available P, exchangeable K, soil pH and decreased exchangeable Al up to the depth of 20-25 cm but available P which is only to the depth of 10-15 cm from the soil surface. The similar result reported by [15] that nitrate moved downward to a much lower depth (150-180 cm).…”