Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient mined from non-renewable sources. P is needed to stimulate trees growth in a forest plantation. P-fertilizer addition in the tropical forest field causes P-leaching flux to watershed and induces eutrophication. The high C contained in meranti (Shorea sp.) biochar can avoid the P-leaching process in the soil with a strategic application method. However, the biochar application method is poorly examined. This research aimed to develop a biochar application method to sequestrate P from the environment and examine its effect on the growth of sengon (Falcataria moluccana). Shorea sp. biochar pyrolyzed at 400 °C and 600 °C were added at a dosage of 0 t ha−1, 25 t ha−1, and 50 t ha−1 for six months in the field. The biochar was placed 20 cm under topsoil without soil mixing. This application method significantly increased total P in the soil without any P-fertilizer addition. The results showed that biochar pyrolyzed at 600 °C and a dosage of 25 t ha−1 increased the total P in the soil and CEC by 192.2 mg kg−1 and 25.98 me 100 g−1, respectively. Biochar with a higher pyrolysis temperature increased higher soil pH. In contrast, the higher dosage increased organic-C higher than the lower dosage application. The most significant P-uptake, height, and diameter increments on F.moluccana were achieved using Shorea sp. biochar pyrolyzed at 600 °C with a dosage of 25 t ha−1 by 0.42 mg kg−1, 222 cm, and 2.75 cm, respectively. The total P in the soil positively correlated with the P-uptake of F. moluccana. Furthermore, using the biochar application method P could be absorbed to the biochar layer and desorbed to the topsoil. Consequently, the biochar application method together with P-fertilizer addition could increase the availability of P in the soil and decrease P-leaching to the environment.
Highlights
Phosphorus (P) is a finite resource with no known alternative that becomes a significant growth-limiting factor in several sectors [1]
The interaction treatment of total P, organic-C, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH were significant by pvalue < 0.001
All Shorea sp. biochar treatments significantly affected soil pH compared to control, showing the highest value in T600D25 (Figure 3d)
Summary
Phosphorus (P) is a finite resource with no known alternative that becomes a significant growth-limiting factor in several sectors [1]. In the forestry sector, P fertilizer is commonly used at an early stage of plantations. The forest plantation industry in Indonesia generally applies fertilizer to degraded lands and poor-nutrient soils [3]. P-sequestration in low-solubility of Fe and Al-phosphate compounds and the effect of erosion and leaching mean that tropical soils lack soluble P [7]. P-deficient could inhibit plant growth [11] and increasing seedling mortality in a forest plantation. P-addition to soil caused a problem called eutrophication [12] which is a water oxygen level degradation because of algae blooming caused by nutrient excess. Eutrophication is caused by the P-leaching process [13]. Forest P-leaching from topsoil with a 0–20 cm depth was 20 mg kg−1 [14]. P-leaching from forest yield unconsciously is more dangerous because forests control watershed flux into the ocean [1]. Developing a method to conserve the nutrient cycle in forests is urgently needed
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