Application of biochar, lime, and compost on acid sulphate soil for vegetative growth of Siam Mutiara local variety (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

More than 78 thousand hectares of acid sulfate soil in Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia has been managed for agriculture purposed with the condition of high acidity, low nutrient availability and high iron poisoning in water of rice fields. Treatment combination of biochar, lime, and compost is amendment to improve the quality of acid sulfate soil for rice field to increase the rice production. The treatment of biochar as a soil enhancer with consideration of its organic-C which has good potential as a soil amendment. Meanwhile, compost as organic material will maintain soil reduce poisoning due to the solubility of metals. Lime will reduce soil acidity and dissolving soil cations thereby reducing metal toxicity in acid soils. The results showed that during vegetative period the water acidity of rice field reduces from 15th day after planting (dap) about pH 3.5, about pH 4.0 for 30th dap and continue increase about pH 4.5 on 45th dap. Continuing the increase of total of rice tiller each plot including their height to show the improvement performance of rice growth compared to control.