Infiltration rate, soil penetration resistance, and soil aggregate stability at pineapple plantation as a consequence of in situ resistance organic matter application

Abstract

Long-term intensive land management practice has been proven to decrease soil quality due to soil compaction. Theoretically, it would be easy to overcome by applying organic matter. However, conventional organic matter application in pineapple plantation may have some problems since the growing season of pineapple is eighteen months. In contrast, conventional organic matter would decompose at less than six months. In situ resistance organic matter is one of the alternatives and at the same time, supports the zero-waste program of the industry. A set of field research has been done on the pineapple plantation site of PT Great Giant Pineapple Plantation Lampung for one year based on randomized block design. Bromelain extraction waste product and chopped bamboo trees were used as the resistance organic matter resource. The resistant organic matters were applied at the rate of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 ton ha-1 to investigate its effect on soil infiltration rate, soil penetration resistance, and soil aggregate stability. The application of resistance organic matter has a positive impact on the parameters investigated. The infiltration rate was very high at the first month of application but tended to decrease at 5th month of application and then leveling off. However, the value is constantly and significantly higher than control. Soil penetration resistance was significantly lower than control either at a soil depth of 0 – 10 cm, 10 – 20 cm, or 20 – 30 cm. Soil aggregate stability is higher than control at 5th month of application, the values slightly decreased at 11th month of application.