Soil morphological and chemical properties in homegardens on sandy beach ridges along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The morphological and chemical properties of homegardens in the beach ridges with interspersed swales (BRIS) soils were evaluated in order to find a clue for developing sustainable agricultural management. Field survey and soil sampling were conducted at the homegardens and secondary forests in Sungai Ular Village and in the experimental farm of Malaysian Agriculture Research Institute (MARDI), Cherating Station. Chemical fertilizers including ash, charcoal waste and plant litter were applied to the homegardens in both the inland-ward area (HG-I) and in the shoreline area (HG-S). Manure was applied in HG-I and seafood waste from fish processing was buried in the soils in HG-S. High correlation was found between total carbon (T-C) and cation exchange capacity (CEC), indicating soil organic matter was the determinant factor for CEC in the very sandy BRIS soils. The levels of T-C, total nitrogen (T-N), and CEC at 0-10 cm in HG-I in parallel with increasing ages of homegardens. The soils in 0-10 cm and 20-30 cm showed higher levels of T-C and T-N with higher C/N ratios in HG-I than in HG-S and the MARDI farm. The high levels of exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K in HG-I compared with the MARDI farm, suggesting that improved CEC with increasing soil organic matter in HG-I heighten the retention of basic cations supplied as chemical fertilizer, ash, and manure. The level of available P was higher in HG-S than HG-I, attributed by the seafood waste application in the shoreline area. Thus, on the BRIS, the levels of soil organic matter and nutrients can be sustained by the homegarden management although it cannot be regarded as a closed system compared with those in the other tropical regions because chemical fertilizer was used and a certain amounts of nutrients seemed to leach down beyond plant rooting depth.

Changes in Soil Properties with Long-Term Organic Inputs Due to Distance from Homestead and Farm Characteristics in Southern Ethiopian Farmlands

“…9). Previous studies also reported greater CEC for home garden soils of southern Ethiopia (Wolka et al, 2021), but also in Uganda and Kenya (Tittonell et al, 2013) and on the east coast of Peninsular, Malaysia (Yusoff et al, 2017). Similarly, the continuous addition of manure, compost, and ash to the soils around the homesteads contributed to greater P (>20 ppm), (Miheretu and Yimer, 2018) and K values (Ovung et al, 2021;Dori et al, 2022).…”

“…By contrast, cereal based mono-cropping farming systems with minimal addition of organic inputs and repeated ploughing dominates in farm plots located near and far from homestead areas (Negasa et al, 2017;Wolka et al, 2021). This leads to deterioration of the physical, chemical and biological condition of the soil (Lagomarsino et al, 2011;Singh et al, 2011), further reducing the accumulation of soil OC (Mganga and Kuzyakov, 2014;Yusoff et al, 2017). Similarly, other studies reported higher soil OC and nutrients in farm plots located close to homesteads compared to fields away from the dwellings (Elias et al, 1998;Samake et al, 2005).…”

Karakteristik Morfologi Dan Kimia Tanah Pada Lahan Pertanaman Padi Ladang Di Kabupaten Buton Utara

“…Selain itu, beberapa karakteristik kimia tanah juga dapat ditentukan secara cepat di lapangan seperti kadar bahan organic dan pH tanah (Wulansari et al, 2022). Lebih lanjut Yusoff et al (2017) mengungkapkan bahwa pengamatan morfologi termasuk karakteristik kimia tanah sangat memudahkan untuk memperoleh informasi dalam waktu singkat terkait produktivitas dan upaya pengelolaan tanah, termasuk untuk pertanaman padi.…”