Changes in soil properties due to different soil and water conservation practices in a sloping land oil palm estate

Goh K.J., . and Teh C.B.S., . and Law C.C., . and Seah T.S., . (2007) Changes in soil properties due to different soil and water conservation practices in a sloping land oil palm estate. [Proceedings Paper]

The main objective of this study was to compare the relative effects of four treatments control Empty Fruit Bunch Ecomat and silt pitting on several soil chemicals and physical properties over a period of six months. Soil properties from soil depth 0-150 and 150-300 mm were measured monthly for six months and they were : pH CEC exchangeable Ca Mg and K total N P and organic C C:N ratio bulk density aggregation and aggregation stability. The soil water content up to 1 m soil depth was additionally measured daily. Of the four treatments EFB followed by Ecomat gave the highest improvement in almost all the soil chemical properties. One reason why EFB is better than Ecomat is that the latter has less nutrients than EFB. Analyses revealed that only bulk density was not affected by the four treatments. Aggregate stability in all treatments increased with time of which EFB Ecomat and silt pit treatments had comparable aggregate stabilities. EFB however generally had the lowest aggregation as compared to other treatments. This could be due to high soil water content in the EFB treatment and the lack of drying and wetting cycles to encourage soil aggregation. Both EFB and Ecomat were better in conserving water in the 0-0.6 m soil depth. EFB concentrated water more in upper soil layers whereas Ecomat tended to distribute the water more uniformly throughout the profile up to 0.7 m. Silt pit plots also concentrated water in the upper soil layers but its concentration of water was restricted to a shallower depth as compared to Ecomat and EFB. The control plots only conserved water in the upper soil layers during wet weather periods. This study showed that the silt pit treatment was not better than either EFB or Ecomat in improving the soil chemical and physical properties as well as conserving soil water. The walls of the silt pits were found to be easily collapsible. This study concluded that EFB was the best overall treatment to improve soil properties and conserve soil water.

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Abstract

The main objective of this study was to compare the relative effects of four treatments control Empty Fruit Bunch Ecomat and silt pitting on several soil chemicals and physical properties over a period of six months. Soil properties from soil depth 0-150 and 150-300 mm were measured monthly for six months and they were : pH CEC exchangeable Ca Mg and K total N P and organic C C:N ratio bulk density aggregation and aggregation stability. The soil water content up to 1 m soil depth was additionally measured daily. Of the four treatments EFB followed by Ecomat gave the highest improvement in almost all the soil chemical properties. One reason why EFB is better than Ecomat is that the latter has less nutrients than EFB. Analyses revealed that only bulk density was not affected by the four treatments. Aggregate stability in all treatments increased with time of which EFB Ecomat and silt pit treatments had comparable aggregate stabilities. EFB however generally had the lowest aggregation as compared to other treatments. This could be due to high soil water content in the EFB treatment and the lack of drying and wetting cycles to encourage soil aggregation. Both EFB and Ecomat were better in conserving water in the 0-0.6 m soil depth. EFB concentrated water more in upper soil layers whereas Ecomat tended to distribute the water more uniformly throughout the profile up to 0.7 m. Silt pit plots also concentrated water in the upper soil layers but its concentration of water was restricted to a shallower depth as compared to Ecomat and EFB. The control plots only conserved water in the upper soil layers during wet weather periods. This study showed that the silt pit treatment was not better than either EFB or Ecomat in improving the soil chemical and physical properties as well as conserving soil water. The walls of the silt pits were found to be easily collapsible. This study concluded that EFB was the best overall treatment to improve soil properties and conserve soil water.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. mal S590.2 S683 2007 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	ELAEIS GUINEENSIS
AGROVOC Term:	SLOPING LAND
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES
AGROVOC Term:	WATER CONSERVATION
AGROVOC Term:	MALAYSIA
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:13
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10892

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