Ameliorant engineering to elevate soil pH, growth, and productivity of paddy on peat and tidal land

Abstract

To support the government’s program towards world food barns in 2045, the use of sub-optimal wetlands such as peatlands and tidal land is a viable alternative. The problem of acidity in both types of land can be controlled, one of which is by providing ameliorant. Thus, the purposes of this study were to examine the effect of ameliorant application in increasing soil pH, as well as its influence in increasing the growth and production of paddy plants. The study was conducted using a nested factorial completely randomized design. The factors were soil (peat soil/l1 and tidal swampland/l2) and ameliorant types (without ameliorant/p0, dolomite/p1, chicken manure/p2, paddy husk ash/p3, paddy husk charcoal/p4, and baglog oyster mushroom waste/p5) that given 10 t ha−1 each. The results showed that all ameliorants applied could increase soil pH, growth, and paddy yield. Dolomite, chicken manure, and baglog oyster mushroom waste significantly elevated the pH of peat and tidal soils. The highest paddy productivity was at chicken manure application. The application of ameliorant increased soil pH to be suitable pH for paddy growing on peat and tidal soils.