Efficacy of solid and liquid Biolistics in improving the nutrients in latosol soil from Bali, Indonesia

Abstract

The increase in household organic waste during the COVID-19 pandemic was a source of pollution, especially in soil. The high pollution intensity in various sectors causes the soil to degrade and lose nutrients. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of solid and liquid biolistics for improving the nutritional status of latosol soil collected from Bali, Indonesia. The experimental design was a completely randomized design. Efficacy testing by providing solid and liquid biolistics to latosol soils in polybags at different concentrations was performed five times. Macro- and micronutrient testing was carried out three months after the application of the treatments. One-way ANOVA and the LSD test (p<0.05) were used to assess the results. The results revealed significant differences between the treatment groups in terms of N, P, K, the C/N ratio, water content, and pH, with a probability value of 0.000 (p<0.05). Thus, solid and liquid biolistics are efficacious at increasing the fertility of latosol soils. The contents of N, P, K, moisture content, pH, macronutrients (P2O5, K2O, C-Organic, N-Total, and C/N ratio) and micronutrients (Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn) contribute significantly to improving soil aggregates and structures; improving the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil; and improving the bioavailability of nutrients and soil quality. The presence of microorganisms is involved in accelerating the process of biodegradation and decomposition in soil. Thus, solid and liquid biolistics deserve to be developed as natural soil repairers.