Identification and Assessment of Soil Physical and Chemical Properties for Vanili Plants in North Tinangkung District, Banggai Islands Regency

Abstract

Soil physical and chemical properties are the main factors that significantly influence vanilla production. This study aimed to identify the soil’s physical and chemical properties, determine the soil fertility status, and evaluate the soil suitability for vanilla plants cultivated at three villages in Tinangkung Utara District. This research has been carried out at the long-term monoculture of the vanilla plantation. The soil fertility properties have determined based on physical properties such as texture (pipete method) and chemical properties such as pH, organic C content (Walkey and Black), P2O5 (olsen) and K2O (HCL25%), base saturation/KB dan cation exchange capacity/CEC ) NH4OAc pH7). The data then matched to PPT soil fertility and BBSDLP land evaluation criteria for the vanilla plant. The result showed that the soil in the study site has clayey texture, neutral soil reaction, moderate KB and P2O5, and moderate to high CEC. On the other hand, the soil exhibited lower content of organic C and K2O. Despite soil fertility status determined as low, the evaluation analysis resulted marginally suitable, which could be optimised to highly suitable.