Dynamic of Chemical and Biological Properties of Inceptisols Cilembu due to Phosphate Rock Nanoparticle Amendment and Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungi Inoculation

Abstract

Cilembu's Inceptisols have great potential for agriculture. However, land management has several limiting factors: the available phosphate content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and low population of functional soil organisms. Rock phosphate is a natural material that can increase the availability of P nutrient. Application of rock phosphate as an ameliorant in nanoparticle size and inoculation of phosphate-solubilizing fungi (PSF) is a strategy that can be implemented to address the Inceptisols constraints. However, the dynamic of chemical and biological characteristics of Cilembu Inceptisols due to amendment of phosphate rock nanoparticle (PRNp) and phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) inoculation is not yet understood clearly. To know the dynamics of the chemical and biological properties of the soil due to the treatment of these materials is an essential aspect for strategy and planning in its proper application to improve the properties of Inceptisols. The completely randomized design (CRD) was used in this study, with a factorial pattern, consisting of the first factor being the amendment of rock phosphate nanoparticle and the second factor being the PSF inoculation. The observation was carried out in a month interval, with a three-month incubation. The result showed there was no interaction between phosphate rock nanoparticle amendment and PSF inoculation on pH-H2O, available P, CEC, and abundance of PSF population. The independent effect showed that a characteristic pattern of pH and available P values during two months of observation was increasing by PRNp amendment. Meanwhile, inoculation of PSF did not increase soil pH and P-available. The value of CEC and the population of PSF did not increase significantly during the three-month incubation. The dose of phosphate rock nanoparticle 2% (wt/wt) increased the highest available P.