Nutrient Dynamics in Acid Sulfate Soil Treated with Dolomite and Micronutrient Fertilizers and Their Effects on the Growth of Lowland Rice

Abstract

The development of acid sulfate soils for agriculture is limited by high soil acidity, high soluble Fe, and low available P, base cation, and micronutrient contents. Therefore, the application of dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer is required to improve soil and rice productivity. This study aimed to determine the effect of dolomite and Cu and Zn fertilizer on the dynamics of nutrient availability in acid sulfate soils and their effect on the growth, nutrient uptake, and yield of rice. The study was conducted in a greenhouse and arranged in a completely randomized design with 13 treatments and 5 replications. The application of various doses of micronutrient fertilizer containing Cu and Zn oxide was compared with the control and dolomite application treatments. NPK as a basal fertilizer was applied according to the recommended dose for all treatments. The results showed that the application of micronutrient fertilizer and 3 tons ha-1 dolomite effectively increased the availability of P nutrient from 13.5 to 58.3 pp and decreased the potential for iron toxicity. Furthermore, applying 6 tons ha-1 dolomite, combined with 2 tons ha-1 organic fertilizer, and 6 ml l-1 micronutrient fertilizer resulted in the highest grain yield of 91.65 g pot-1 with an increase of 19%. Meanwhile, the application of 3 tons ha-1 dolomite and a combination of 3 tons ha-1 dolomite + 2 tons ha-1 organic matter could reduce 20-30% of iron uptake by plant roots. Application of dolomite and micronutrient fertilizers increases the productivity of soil and rice on acid sulfate soils.