Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the efficacy of applying ground magnesium limestone (GML) or ground basalt in combination with bio-fertilizer to sustain rice production on an acid sulfate soil in Malaysia. Soils from Kelantan Plains, Malaysia, were treated with GML, ground basalt, bio-fertilizer, GML + bio-fertilizer, and ground basalt + bio-fertilizer (4 t·ha−1 each). Results showed that soil fertility was improved by applying the soil amendments. GML and basalt contain some Zn and Cu; thus, application of these amendments would increase their contents in the soil needed for the healthy growth of rice. Basalt applied in combination with bio-fertilizer appeared to be the best agronomic option to improve the fertility of acid sulfate soils for sustainable rice production in the long run. In addition to increasing Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu reserves in the soil, water pH increased and precipitated Al3+ and/or Fe2+. Ground basalt is cheaper than GML, but basalt dissolution in the acidic soil was slow. As such, its ameliorative effects could only be seen significantly from the second season onwards. The specially-formulated bio-fertilizer for alleviating the infertility of acid sulfate soil could also enhance rice growth. The use of the bio-fertilizer fortified with N2-fixing bacteria is a green technology that would help reduce NO3− and/or NO2− pollution and reduce the cost of rice production. The phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) present in the bio-fertilizer not only increased the available P, but also helped release organic acids that would inactivate Al3+ and/or Fe2+ via the process of chelation.
Highlights
The demand for rice is going up annually with the increase in human population worldwide; as it is, more than one billion people depend on rice cultivation as their main source of income [1]
The presence of yellowish jarosite within the top 50 cm of the soil profile proved that it was an acid sulfate soil that can be classified as sulfaquept [27]
The productivity of acid sulfate soils in Malaysia can be enhanced by applying Ground Magnesium Limestone (GML) and basalt with or without bio-fertilizer fortified with N2-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria
Summary
The demand for rice is going up annually with the increase in human population worldwide; as it is, more than one billion people depend on rice cultivation as their main source of income [1]. Considering the importance of rice and its economic role, rice production in the world should be increased substantially. To open up new land areas for rice cultivation in most Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries is not practical due to the scarcity of fertile land. Using the available, but less productive lands/soils in these countries is one of the options to increase rice production. Malaysia intends to raise its rice self-sufficiency level from 73% to 86% by the year 2020. It needs to expand the area for rice cultivation, improve rice productivity, or a combination of both
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