Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage
Abstract Purpose Production of oil palm seedling in the nursery mainly utilises top soil as polybag medium. These soils, especially in tropical regions, are acidic and have low organic matter content. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biochar an...
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OICC Press
2017-11-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-017-0185-3 |
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| author | Rovica Radin Rosenani Abu Bakar Che Fauziah Ishak Siti Hajar Ahmad Lim Chin Tsong |
| author_facet | Rovica Radin Rosenani Abu Bakar Che Fauziah Ishak Siti Hajar Ahmad Lim Chin Tsong |
| author_sort | Rovica Radin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose Production of oil palm seedling in the nursery mainly utilises top soil as polybag medium. These soils, especially in tropical regions, are acidic and have low organic matter content. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biochar and compost incorporation as amendment in polybag medium for oil palm seedlings growth at the nursery stage. Methods A polybag experiment was conducted with four biochar rates (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% w/w C addition), two compost rates (0 and 30% v/v), and two fertiliser application rates (75 and 100% of recommended rate). The effects of biochar, compost, and biochar-compost combination on oil palm seedling growth was evaluated and the effectiveness of EFB biochar in retaining soil nutrients was determined indirectly by measuring amount of nutrient leached through the polybag medium. Results Biochar, compost, and biochar-compost amendment improved polybag media’s chemical properties (pH, total C and N, C:N ratio, CEC, Mg, and Ca). There were no significant effects of the amendments on shoot biomass. However, root growth and shoot:root ratio significantly improved with 1.5% w/w C addition and 30% (v/v) compost with 75% recommended fertiliser rates applied. Furthermore, nutrient leaching measurement indicates that, EFB biochar significantly reduced ammonium-N leaching up to 21–46%. Conclusions Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of biochar and compost co-application to improve the chemical properties of polybag medium and root development of oil palm seedlings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9817642b6eee4415826843ae67822206 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2195-3228 2251-7715 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | OICC Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj-art-9817642b6eee4415826843ae678222062025-01-02T22:58:38ZengOICC PressInternational Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture2195-32282251-77152017-11-0171112310.1007/s40093-017-0185-3Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stageRovica Radin0Rosenani Abu Bakar1Che Fauziah Ishak2Siti Hajar Ahmad3Lim Chin Tsong4Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra MalaysiaDepartment of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)Abstract Purpose Production of oil palm seedling in the nursery mainly utilises top soil as polybag medium. These soils, especially in tropical regions, are acidic and have low organic matter content. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) biochar and compost incorporation as amendment in polybag medium for oil palm seedlings growth at the nursery stage. Methods A polybag experiment was conducted with four biochar rates (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% w/w C addition), two compost rates (0 and 30% v/v), and two fertiliser application rates (75 and 100% of recommended rate). The effects of biochar, compost, and biochar-compost combination on oil palm seedling growth was evaluated and the effectiveness of EFB biochar in retaining soil nutrients was determined indirectly by measuring amount of nutrient leached through the polybag medium. Results Biochar, compost, and biochar-compost amendment improved polybag media’s chemical properties (pH, total C and N, C:N ratio, CEC, Mg, and Ca). There were no significant effects of the amendments on shoot biomass. However, root growth and shoot:root ratio significantly improved with 1.5% w/w C addition and 30% (v/v) compost with 75% recommended fertiliser rates applied. Furthermore, nutrient leaching measurement indicates that, EFB biochar significantly reduced ammonium-N leaching up to 21–46%. Conclusions Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of biochar and compost co-application to improve the chemical properties of polybag medium and root development of oil palm seedlings.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-017-0185-3Oil palm nurseryOil palm wasteBiocharCompostNutrient retention |
| spellingShingle | Rovica Radin Rosenani Abu Bakar Che Fauziah Ishak Siti Hajar Ahmad Lim Chin Tsong Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture Oil palm nursery Oil palm waste Biochar Compost Nutrient retention |
| title | Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage |
| title_full | Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage |
| title_fullStr | Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage |
| title_short | Biochar-compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag-growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage |
| title_sort | biochar compost mixture as amendment for improvement of polybag growing media and oil palm seedlings at main nursery stage |
| topic | Oil palm nursery Oil palm waste Biochar Compost Nutrient retention |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40093-017-0185-3 |
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