Application of ameliorant for improving soil quality and chili (Capsicum annum L.) productivity on degraded acidic upland

Abstract

Development of agricultural commodities, including for horticulture crops, must lead to suboptimal lands and often already degraded. The study aims to study the effectiveness of organic ameliorant in improving soil quality on degraded acidic upland and its impact on the productivity of chili plants. The study was conducted on acidic upland in Tamanbogo, East Lampung, using a randomized block design with six treatments and three replications. The treatment used 3 ameliorants namely compost, biochar KK-50, Biochar KK-20 with a dose of 20 t ha−1, each combined with and without mulch, the control treatment was without mulch and ameliorant. The results showed that the amelioration treatment had a significant effect on improving soil physical properties, indicated by the average BD values which was significantly lower and the soil porosity was significantly higher. The treatment of biochar also results in significantly higher aeration pores than control treatment. The average soil pH in the control treatment <5, while the average pH in the biochar treatment >5. The average potential soil K content at the biochar treatment was significantly higher. Amelioration treatment has a significant effect on the growth of chili plants. The average chili production in the amelioration treatment was relatively higher than control.