Volcanic Soils with High P Adsorption

ANDISOLS are volcanic soil having special characteristics, especially a high capacity for P adsorption. This characteristic causes inefficient P fertilization in this kind of soil, such that P deficiency often becomes a constraint for plant growth.

Organic Matter to Increase P Availability

The effect of organic matter addition in increasing P availability in Andisol, and the P absorption by corn and its effect on plant growth were studied. The study was carried out in the greenhouse using Andisol from Salatiga, Central Java-Indonesia, and the corn variety Arjuna. The mineral fertilizer used was ESP 36, and as an organic fertilizer, dung of cow was used. The P treatments included: 100% of P from cow dung as an organic fertilizer; 100% of P from ESP as a mineral fertilizer; and a mixture of both organic and mineral fertilizer with variation of dosage of half and full. Corn was planted up to 1 month age. For organic fertilizer application, there were two variations of pH treatment namely constant and increased (pH constant and pH increased).

Effect on Corn Production

Results showed that P fertilizer as an organic and a mineral matter increased all the parameters measured, such as plant height, shoot weight, and root weight (wet and dry). Addition of organic matter increased the efficiency of P fertilization as indicated by the agronomic efficient value and recovery value. The highest efficiency of fertilization was achieved by the fertilization dosage of 50 kg P/ha in the mixture of 50% dung and 50% ESP.

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