Utilization of organic ameliorants and fertilizers to increase Entisol total N through axis system fertigation in vertical cultivation

Abstract

The high porosity and low organic matter content of Entisol are the reasons that Nitrogen (N) is easily leached and lost due to evaporation. Application of organic ameliorants and fertilization is expected to increase total N in Entisol. To find out the effect of organic ameliorants and fertilizers on increasing total N through axis fertigation in vertical cultivation, this study was conducted using a divided plot design. The organic ameliorant treatment consisted of soil (A1) as control, A2 (soil:biochar)(1:1), A3 (soil:compost)(1:1), A4 (soil: biochar:compost)(1:1:1), while the fertilizer treatment consisted of P1 (urea), P2 (liquid organic fertilizer [LOF]), P3 (urea + liquid organic fertilizer[LOF]), P4 (urea + nitrogen fixing-bacteria[NFB]), P5 (liquid organic fertilizer[LOF] + nitrogen-fixing bacteria[NFB]), and P6 (Urea + liquid organic fertilizer[LOF] + nitrogen-fixing bacteria[NFB]). The results showed that the increase in total N occurred after the addition of organic ameliorant and fertilizer. The single treatment with ameliorant ratio of 1:1:1 (soil: biochar: compost) (A4) showed the highest increase in total N, which was 1.08% and was significantly different from the other treatments. The single treatment of fertilizer type with a combination of 3 types of fertilizer namely urea + LOF + NFB (P6) produced the highest total N (0.95%).