UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

ALLEVIATION OF SOIL ACIDITY BY APPLICATION OF COMPOST FOR GRAIN MAIZE PRODUCTION

ENITA

FP 2002 10

ALLE VIATION OF SOIL ACIDITY BY APPLICATION OF COMPOST FOR GRAIN MAIZE PRODUCTION

By E NITA

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, In Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of AgricultureScience

April 2002

my beloved husband

and my wonderful childrens

DEDICATION

To

YURIZAL

Persy Laseria Rizki

Rahmad Tridio Syahputra

Olivia Gemala Ranty,

my mother's Rosmalinar, my father's Sahar Yusuf and my uncle

Jurnalis Kamil and Adonis Noer Whose sacrifice and understanding has

enabled me to complete this study successfully

11

Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate ofUniversiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science

ALLE VIATION OF SOIL ACIDITY BY APPLICATION OF COMPOST FOR GRAIN MAIZE PRODUCTION

By

E NIT A

April 2002

Chairman : Prof. Dr. J. Shamshuddin

Faculty : Agriculture

Returning organic materials in the form of compost can be an alternative

method of alleviating soil acidity. This is because decomposted organic

materials help chelate AI, thereby reducing its toxicity to crop. A set of three

experiments was conducted in a glasshouse at UPM. The first experiment was

the used of inoculant and activator in composting. This experiment was to

evaluate the effectiveness of different type of inoculants as decomposters. The

second experiment was a pot experiment using grain maize variety PJ-58 as a

test crop to determine the best compost. The soil type was the Bungor series

soil (Typic Paleudult). The third experiment (also pot experiment) was to grow

grain maize on the Bungor and Kuantan series soils in order to evaluate the

effectiveness of compost as a soil ameliorant.

iii

The results indicated that during compo sting the temperature of the compost

increased up to > 60 0 C. This showed that effective microorganisms (EM) is a

good inoculant to decompose palm oil mill effiuent. It was found that compost

application had alleviated soil acidity. Applying compost at the rate of 20 t1ha

plus 2 t GML/ha increased soil pH from 4.6 to 5.7. The exchangeable K, Ca

and Mg had also increased. This treatment gave the best result.

For the Bungor series soil, the critical Ca concentration in the tissue was 0.65

%, while the critical Mg concentration it was 0.42 %. The critical

exchangeable Ca concentration was 2.7 cmoLlkg soil. The best compost was

compost type 2 (CT2) where EM as an inoculant while urea and rice branch as

an activator was applied. Its application to the soil gave the high exchangeable

Ca and Mg, soil cation exchange capacity and the lowest exchangeable AI. It

also gave the highest maize dry weight. It was noted that compost application

had improved soil fertility leading to increase in grain maize yield.

IV

Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia se bagai memenuhi syarat keperluan untukmendapatkan Ijazah Master Sains Pertanian

PERBAIKAN T ANAH ASID DENGAN PEMBERIAN KOMPOS UNTUK PRODUKSI T ANAMAN JAGUNG BIJIRIN

Oleh

E NIT A

April 2002

Pengerusi : PROF. DR. J. SHAMSHUDDIN

Fakulti : Pertanian

Pengembalian bahan organik dalam bentuk kompos merupakan sebagai salah

satu altematif untuk pembaikan tanah asid. Disebabkan oleh pengomposan

bahan organik boleh menolong mengkelat aluminium dan seterusnya akan

menurunkan keracunan pada tanaman.

Suatu rangkaian eksperimen yang terdiri dari tiga langkah percubaan telah

dilaksanakan di rumah kaca Universiti Putra Malaysia. Eksperimen I ialah

penggunaan inokulan dan aktivator dalam proses pembuatan kompos.

Eksperimen ini bertujuan untuk menguji keefektifan beberapa jenis inokulan

dan aktivator dalam proses pembuatan kompos. Sementara eksperimen yang ke

dua iaitu eksperimen berpasu menggunakan tanaman jagung (Zea mays L.)

v

variati PJ-58 sebagai tanaman ujian untuk mendapatkan jenis kompos yang

terbaik, ditanam pada tanah siri Bungor (Tipik Paleudult). Selanjutnya

eksperimen ke tiga menanam tanaman jagung sebagai tanaman penguji pada

tanah siri Bungor dan siri Kuantan. Eksperimen ini bertujuan untuk

mengetahui keberkesanan kompos sebagai bahan pembaik tanah.

Hasil percubaan ini menunjukkan bahawa selama proses pembuatan kompos

suhu meningkat hingga >60 °C. Ini memperlihatkan bahawa mikroorganisma

efektif (EM) ialah inoculant yang baik digunakan dalam proses pengomposan

POME dan habuk gergaji kayu. Didapati bahawa penggunaan kompos telah

memberikan hasil yang menguntungkan sebagai pembaik tanah asid dengan

kadar 20 tJha ditambah dengan 2 GML/ha di mana dianya dapat menaikkan pH

tanah dari 4.6 ke 5.7 serta meningkatkan kandungan nutrien tanah termasuk K,

Ca dan Mg bertukarganti. Pemberian kompos pada kadar 20 tJha telah

memberikan hasil yang terbaik dalam hal kualiti dan jumlah hasil yng didapati.

Pada tanah siri Bungor, tahap kritikal kepekatan kalsium di dalam tisu tanaman

ialah 0.65%, sementara tahap kritikal kepekatan Mg ialah 0.42%. Tahap

kritikal kepekatan kalsium tukarganti ialah 2.7 cmolc/kg tanah. Kompos yang

terbaik ialah jenis 2 kerana ia boleh menjadikan Ca dan Mg bertukarganti

menjadi tinggi, serta aluminium bertukarganti menjadi rendah. Janya juga

membolehkan berat kering tanaman paling tinggi. Maka dalam hal ini

dicatatkan bahawa penggunaan kompos dapat memperbaiki kesuburan tanah

dan meningkatkan hasil tanaman jagung bijirin.

VI

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah The Beneficent and The Compassionate. Praise be

to Allah SWT, upon His permission I could complete this thesis smoothly.

Contributions of individuals and institutions for the successful completion of

this thesis are also deeply acknowledged.

I wish to extend my most SIncere gratitude to my Chairman of

Supervisory Committee , Prof. Dr. Shamshuddin Jusop, for his patience,

discussion, constant and invaluable guidance, supervision, motivation and

encouragement extended throughout the period of this study and in the

preparation of this thesis, most importantly for the financial support .

I am also indebted to my other members of the Supervisory Committee

especially Dr. Syed Omar Syed Rastan for his kind advice, criticism

suggestions and invaluable discussion in preparation of compost and guidance

in the conduct of the experiments, and also for financial support. I would like

to thank Dr. Hamdan Jol , member of the Supervisory Committee also, for those

valuable consultation hours, criticisms and suggestions in preparation of this

thesis.

vii

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the technical staff of

the Department of Land Management, UPM particularly Mr. Azali and Mr.

Sahruddin at Mineralogy Laboratory.

Thanks also go to Mrs. Fauziah Sulaiman, Mr. Rahim Utar, Mr.

Jamil, Mrs. Sarimah, Mr. Junaidi, Mr. Alias, Mr. Ghazali Satar , Mr. Lingam

for their help to get soil samples in the field.

My friend, Mr. Muhrizal Sarwani, whose drive for excellence helped me

a lot. Would like thank Maria Viva Rini who helped in the analyses of data,

preparation of graphs and tables, Renato Bonio, Somjate Pratummintra, Dian

Fiantis, Prihasto, Fauzi Ahmad Isa , Bambang Djadmo Kertonegoro , Lusi

Maira, and W anza Wan Sambok for being a good company since our study and

so kind in helping me in the laboratory analyses and operating of computer

during my study.

The financial support from Malaysia through the Intensification of

Research in Priority Areas (IRP A) funding; Southeast Asia Regional

Cooperation Agency (SEARCA); Indonesia especially Jambi and West Sumatra

Governor.

Finally, I would like to record my appreciation to my mother and father,

my husband and children's, my brothers and sister, my uncles whose love and

trust carried me through this far. And so with my family in their prayers.

Vlll

I certify that an Examination Committee met on 4th April 2002 to conduct the final examination of Enita on her Master of Agricultural Science thesis entitled "Alleviation of Soil Acidity By Application of Compost for Grain Maize Production" in accordance with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Act 1980 and Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Regulations 1981. The committee recommended that the candidate be awarded the relevant degree. Members of the Examination Committee are follows:

Ahmad Husni Mohd. Hanif, Ph.D. Associate Professor Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia (Chairman)

Shamshuddin Jusop, Prof. Dr. Professor Faculty of Agriculture

Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member)

Syed Omar Syed Rastan, Ph.D. Faculty of Agriculture Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member)

Hamdan Jol, Ph.D. Faculty of Agriculture Universiti Putra Malaysia (Member)

__ �----f �-------------------------

SHAMSHER MOHAMAD RAMADILI, Ph.D ProfessorlDeputy Dean, School of Graduate studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date: -1 7 MAY - 2002

ix

This thesis submitted to the Senate ofUniversiti Putra Malaysia has been accepted as fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science.

x

AINI IDERIS, Ph.D, Profesor / Dean School of Graduate Studies,

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date: 1 3 JUN 2002

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the thesis is based on my original work except for quotations and citations, which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted for any other degree at UPM or other institutions.

Name: ENITA Date: 17 Me.i cZ.DOl.

Xl

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION ABSTRACT ABSTRAK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT APPROVAL SHEET DECLARATION FORM LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES

CHAPTER

I

II

INTRODUCTION Objectives

LITERATURE REVIEW Acidic Soils Acid Soil Infertility Soil In Malaysia Soil Properties

Soil pH Exchangeable AI, Ca and Mg Soil Solution

Organic Matter Organic Material Decomposition and Nutrient Release The Role of Microorganisms in the Decomposition of Organic Materials

The Used of Compost What is Compost? Compost as a Soil Ameliorant Compost as a Source of Nutrients, and Its Effect on Soil and Crop Yield

Principle of Composting Environmental Requirements Compost Materials

Grain Maize Production of Maize in Malaysia Putra J- 58 Variety General Growth Requirements

xii

Page

11 III v

YIll x

Xl XIV xv

1 3

4 4 5 7

lO lO 11 1 2 13

1 6

1 7 1 9 19 20

24 25 27 32 33 33 34 35

III THE USE OF INOCULANT AND ACTIVATOR IN COMPOSTING 36

Introduction 36 Materials and Methods 37

Location of The experiment 37 Experimental Design 38 Chicken Dung Extract Preparation 38 Compost Preparation 39 Data Collection 39 Statistical Analysis 41

Results 4 1 Temperature 4 1 The Change o f Color and Odor 43 The Change of pH and Moisture Content 43 The Macronutrients Content Before and After Composting 47

Discussion 50 The Change of Temperature 50 pH and Moisture Content 53 Macronutrients Content of The Compost 54 Compost at Maturity 55

Conclusion 56

IV DETERMINATION OF THE BEST COMPOST FOR SOIL AMELIORATION 57 Introduction 57 Materials and Methods 58

Location of the Experiment 58 Experimental Design 58 Soils 58 Planting 59 Data Collection 59 Tissue Analysis 59 Soil Analysis 60 Statistical Analysis 62

Results 62 Maize Dry Weight 62 Nutrient Concentration in the Plant Tissue 62 Chemical Properties of Soils at Harvest 65

Discussion 73 Effect Compost on a Soil pH 73 Effect Compost Application on the Maize Dry Weight 74 Effect Compost Application on Nutrient Contents 74 Effect Compost on Nutrient Content in the Plant 76

Conclusion 77

V THE USE OF COMPOST TYPE II FOR GRAIN MAIZE

xiii

PRODUCTION 78 Introduction 78 Materials and Methods 79

Location Experiment 79 The Soils 79 Experimental Design 79 Four Rates of Compost 80 Soils 80 Planting 80 Data Collection 80 Tissue Analysis 8 1 Soil Analysis 8 1 Statistical Analysis 82

Results 82 Bungor Soil 82

Effect of Compost on the Exchangeable Cations on pH 82 Effect of Compost on Grain Maize 85

Kuantan Soil 89 Effect of Compost Application on the Exchangeable Basic Cations 89 Effect of Compost Application on the pH and Exchangeable Al 89

Effect of Compost Application on the Date of Flowering 95 Effect of Compost Application on Grain Maize Top and Cob Weight 95

The Effect of Compost and GML Application on the Plant Tissue 101

Discussion 1 02 The Difference Between Bungor and Kuantan Soils 1 02 Effect Compost Application on the Soil 1 02 Effect Compost Application on Grain Maize 1 04

Conclusion 1 06

VI SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 1 07 REFERENCES 1 10 APPENDICES 1 1 8 BIODATA OF AUTHOR 120

xiv

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 . 1 Selected Chemical Properties ofthe Ultisols and Oxisols 13

3 . 1 The Moisture Content Before and After Compo sting (35th day) 47

3 .2 The Macronutrient Content Before and After Compo sting 48

4. 1 Fresh and Dry Weight of Maize Top 63

4.2 Chemical Properties ofthe Treated Soil at Harvest 66

5. 1 The Effects of Compost and/or GML Application on Available P and Exchangeable K, Ca and Mg in the Bungor Soil 83

5.2 The Effects of Compost and/or GML Application on Maize Tissue Composition and Cob Dry Weight 88

5.3 Effect of Compost Application on Available P, Exchangeable (K, Ca, Mg, Na, AI), CEC, pH, Flowering Date and Cob Dry Weight 91

5.4 The Effect of Compost and/or GML Application on Grain Maize Tissue Composition 1 0 1

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 . 1 The Composting Process 28

3 . 1 The Change of Temperature With Time 42

3.2 The Change in pH Before and After Composting 46

3 .3 The C:N Ratio Before and After Composting 49

4. 1 Relationship Between Relative Dry Weight and Ca and Mg in the Tissue 64

4.2 Relationship Between Relative Dry Weight and exchangeable Ca 67

4.3 Relationship Between Relative Dry Weight and exchangeable Mg 68

4.4 Relationship Between Relative Dry Weight and Available P 69

4.5 Relationship Between exchangeable Al and Relative Dry Weight 70

4.6 The Exchangeable Al in the Soil at Harvest 7 1

4.7 The pH Value of the Various Composts 72

5. 1 Relationship Between pH and Exchangeable Al 84

5.2 The Effect of Compost on Flowering Date of Grain Maize 86

5.3 Relationship Between Relative Cob Dry Weight and Exchangeable K 87

5.4 Effect of Compost Application on the Exchangeable K, Ca and Mg 90

5.5 Effect of both compost and GML Application on the Exchangeable K, Ca and Mg 92

5.6 The Effect of Compost Application on pH and Exchangeable Al 93

5.7 The Effect of both Compost and GML Application on pH and Exchangeable Al 94

XVI

5.8 The Effect of Compost and/or GML Application on Grain Maize Flowering Date 96

5.9 Relationship Between Relative Cob Dry Weight and pH 97

5. 1 0 Relationship Between Relative Cob Dry Weight and Exchangeable K 98

5. 1 1 Relationship Between Relative Cob Dry Weight and Exchangeable Mg 99

5.1 2 Relationship Between Relative Cob Dry Weight and CEC 1 00

xvii

Plate

3 . 1

3 .2

LIST OF PLATES

The Raw Materials Before Composting

The Change in Colour of the Mature Compost

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Page

44

45

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

The world is using about 40 % of the potential land sources for agricultural

purpose. The areas that have high potential for agricultural development are partly

located in tropical region where the soils are acidic and have low fertility status. These

highly weathered soils are taxonomically classified as Ultisols and Oxisols.

Ultisols and Oxisols are very widespread in Malaysia, constituting

approximately 72 % of the total land area (mSRAM, 1 985). As a result of weathering,

bases are leached. These soils are characterized by low pH, low cation exchange

capacity (CEC) , high soil solution Al concentration and Ca and/or Mg deficiencies,

which are limiting to crop growth. It is important to overcome these problems so that

the soils can be useful for crop production.

Currently, the main agricultural crops of Malaysia are rubber, oil palm and

cocoa. These plantation crops are, to a large extent, grown on Ultisols and Oxisols.

These soils have occasionally been used for intercroping with com and groundnut

during immature period of rubber and oil palm replanting, but yields were reported to

be low due to poor soils fertility, including Al toxicity and subsoils Ca and/or Mg

deficiencies (Shamshuddin et aI., 1991).

Com is the world's third most important food crop after wheat and rice. Com is

mainly used for animal feed, human food and many unique industrials and commercial

products in many parts of the world. In Malaysia, it is mainly used as animal feed. The

country imports grain com for feed amounting to millions of Ringgit. To meet the food

requirement of chicken, grain maize production should be increased. Instead of looking

to increased production through new cultivated areas, emphasis should be on the

intensification of agriculture on the present land by the use of proper fertilizers and

other inputs.

Malaysia produces a large amount of agricultural wastes. It is estimated that

more than 2 1 million tones of palm oil mill effluents (POME) are generated annually as

processing wastewater (Chan et aI., 1983). About 353,000 tones sawdust are available

every year (Tan, 1999). This organic matter if not properly managed may result in

environmental pollution. POME is currently being utilized in agriculture as an organic

fertilizer. However, direct application of such effluent is affecting the growth of oil

palm seedlings. Application of undecomposed POME to sandy tailings reduced the

growth of mustard greens (Radziah et aI., 1997). The inhibition of plant growth has

been closely associated with the presence of phenolic substance.

Lime and organic matter can be used to ameliorate acid soils. Liming material in

Malaysia is ground magnesium limestone (GML). The organic matter for land

application is in the form of compost, which can be made from POME and/or sawdust.

2

Compost will supply extra nutrients and will improve soils organic matter as well as the

soils chemical and physical properties.

Haug ( 1980) defined compo sting as the biological decomposition and

stabilization of organIc substrates under conditions that allow development of

thermophilic temperatures as a result of biologically produced heat, with a final product

sufficiently stable for storage and application to land without adverse environmental

effects. The conditions needed for a diverse mixture of soil life are a warm soil,

adequate moisture and drainage, and a soil pH above 6. These conditions that enhance

soil life usually produce maximum plant growth, although exceptions do occur

Objectives of the study

The objective of this study were:

1. To determine the suitable inoculant and activator as composter and its

possibility to produce compost;

2. To evaluate different types of compost as soil ameliorant and grain maize

growth; and

3. To determine the effective dosage of compost to soil acidity alleviation and

grain maize production.

3

CHAPTER 11

LITERATURE REVIEW

Acidic Soils

Acid soils are most common where high precipitation and free drainage favor

leaching and biological production of acids. Acid related factors limiting plant growth

include acidity itself, Al toxicity, Mn toxicity and Ca deficiency. These tend to occur

together, and they interact (Singer and Munn, 1999).

Soil becomes acidic in high rainfall areas by leaching of considerable portions

of exchangeable basic cations. Although some acidic soils develop from acidic parent

materials, most soils develop acidity by leaching. As water containing hydrogen cations

from various weak acids (such as carbonic and organic acids) moves through the soils,

some of the aluminium cations (mostly Al (OHh +) replace the adsorbed basic

exchangeable cations (Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K +, and Na +) ; then the leaching water carries the

removed cations deep into the soil profile or into the groundwater (Miller and

Donahue, 1990).

The process of aluminium replacing basic cations is known as cation exchange. The

more the leaching, the more acidic the soil becomes. Developing an acidic soil

4

requires decades and centuries. The sources of H + ions, which are the initial source of

solution acidity are (Miller and Donahue, 1990):

1 . Carbon dioxide from humus decomposition and root respiration;

2. Oxidation ofN14 + from fertilizers;

3 . Oxidation of added elemental sulfur;

4. Excreted H + ions by plant roots;

5. Acid rain (sulfur and nitrogen oxide pollutants); and

6. Crop removal of the basic cations (Ca, Mg, K, Na) and excretion of H+ by

roots.

Acid Soil Infertility

Acid soils may also be generated by long term geological processes (Kamprath,

1 984), reflecting the composition of the earth's surface materials. In addressing more

directly the impacts of cycling of nitrogen and sulfur expressed as pH changes in soil, a

description of the nature of soils and acid soils is required. Soil acidity is a major

growth-limiting factor for plants in many parts of the world. Soils are acid because

their parent materials are initially low in the basic cations (Ca 2+, Mg 2+, K+, and Na+)

or because these elements have been removed from the soil profile by normal rainfall,

leaching or the harvesting of crops.

5

Growth limiting factors that have been associated with the acid soil infertility

complex include toxicities of Ae+, Mn2+, and other metal ions, low pH (H+ toxicity),

and deficiencies or unavailability of certain essential elements, particularly Ca, Mg, P,

and Mo (Kamprath, 1984; Foy et aI., 1978). The low fertility status does not allow the

soil to be very productive agriculturally, unless the soils are amended with lime and/or

organic matter.

The development of soil acidity is essentially a removal of basic cations by

leaching, an accumulation of H+ ion concentration, and weathering of minerals

containing elements toxic to plants. Several factors are involved in the acid infertility

of a soil (Kamprath, 197 1). Aluminium is a metallic element that exhibits both ionic

and covalent bonding. It is the most plentiful of all metallic cations of the earth'S crust.

It is released from octahedral coordination with oxygen in minerals by weathering, the

release of which is quite rapid at pH 4 and below (Kamprath, 1972).

Soluble Ae+ appears to be toxic to plants in several ways. It probably has

adverse effects on the protoplasm of the cells. Roots and tops alike are stunted severely

in the presence of toxic levels of Al 3+. The effect on the roots is further characterized

by a disorganization of the root cap, the root apex, and the vascular elements (Foy et

aI., 1978).

Acidity increases as soils are more leached and the soils are lower in the basic

. C 2+ M 2+ N 2+ d K+ H dr d I

. . . . I · H catIOns, a , g , a an . y ate a utnlmum Ions III so utIOn at a p

6