Applications of guano and K₂CO₃ on soil potential-P, potential-K on Andisols

Abstract

The source of phosphorus and potassium for plants, which commonly from inorganic fertilizer, can be replaced by other sources such as Guano and K2CO3. Guano is organic material rich in P and other soil nutrients, which has the function as well as rock phosphate. Furthermore, potassium carbonate (K2CO3) has 56% of K, higher than KCl, which only has 52% so it has potential as a source of K for plants. This study aimed to find out the dose of Guano and K2CO3 as an alternative of P and K fertilizer on soil potential-P, potential-K, and soil reaction (pH). The experiment was conducted at Situgede Garut – West Java with an altitude of 1,200 m above sea level with soil reaction 6.05. The experiment was conducted from April to July 2018. The method used was a Randomized Block Design with nine treatments and three replications. The experiment result showed the value of soil potential-P (P2O5 HCl 25%) and potential-K (K2O HCl 25%) due to treatment of Guano and K2CO3 statistically no difference to with treatment of NPK standard. Therefore, K2CO3 and guano have potentially been used as a fertilizer compound.