Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland Soils
Tropical peatlands in West Kalimantan are severely constrained by extreme acidity (pH < 4.5), limiting maize productivity to 15 to 35% of genetic potential. Traditional peat burning exacerbates environmental degradation through CO₂ emissions and particulate matter release. This study evaluated re...
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Research and Development Center for Food, Nutrition and Public Health (P4GKM) LPPM Universitas Sebelas Maret
2025-07-01
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| Series: | AgriHealth |
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| Online Access: | https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/agrihealth/article/view/104807 |
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| author | Sulakhudin Sulakhudin Surachman Surachman |
| author_facet | Sulakhudin Sulakhudin Surachman Surachman |
| author_sort | Sulakhudin Sulakhudin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tropical peatlands in West Kalimantan are severely constrained by extreme acidity (pH < 4.5), limiting maize productivity to 15 to 35% of genetic potential. Traditional peat burning exacerbates environmental degradation through CO₂ emissions and particulate matter release. This study evaluated red mud-KCl fertilizer combinations on soil nutrient availability and maize growth. A randomized complete block design examined five treatments with five replications (n = 25). Four treatment levels (R1 to R4) were applied with red mud doses (0.75 to 3.0 kg plot-1) with KCl fertilizer (42.6 g) versus controls. Red mud, an alkaline bauxite waste (pH 10 to 12), maintained heavy metal concentrations below regulatory thresholds. Statistical analyses employed ANOVA (α = 0.05) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Treatments significantly elevated soil pH from 4.41 (control) to 5.45 to 5.67, transforming strongly acidic to moderately acidic conditions. Exchangeable K increased from 2.02 to 4.40 cmol(+) kg-¹, representing a 118% improvement in K availability. Available P improved by 13.4%, enhancing nutrient uptake capacity. The optimal treatment (R4: 3.0 kg red mud + KCl) demonstrated superior maize performance with significantly greater plant height, stem diameter, and maize ear weight than controls. Treatment R4 achieved the most favorable soil chemical properties, including optimal cation exchange capacity and nutrient retention, creating ideal growing conditions that maximized maize genetic potential expression in previously unproductive acidic peatland soils. Results indicate substantial potential for sustainable peatland agriculture through red mud-KCl soil amendments. Future investigations should assess long-term environmental sustainability, socio-economic viability, and farmer adoption mechanisms for implementing this amelioration strategy in tropical peatland systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4f06a2b3f4c4485aac4cf550a7f92ac0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2722-0656 2722-0648 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Research and Development Center for Food, Nutrition and Public Health (P4GKM) LPPM Universitas Sebelas Maret |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AgriHealth |
| spelling | doaj-art-4f06a2b3f4c4485aac4cf550a7f92ac02025-08-20T03:28:52ZengResearch and Development Center for Food, Nutrition and Public Health (P4GKM) LPPM Universitas Sebelas MaretAgriHealth2722-06562722-06482025-07-0161718410.20961/agrihealth.v6i1.10480746303Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland SoilsSulakhudin Sulakhudin0Surachman Surachman1Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Tanjungpura, PontianakDepartment of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Tanjungpura, PontianakTropical peatlands in West Kalimantan are severely constrained by extreme acidity (pH < 4.5), limiting maize productivity to 15 to 35% of genetic potential. Traditional peat burning exacerbates environmental degradation through CO₂ emissions and particulate matter release. This study evaluated red mud-KCl fertilizer combinations on soil nutrient availability and maize growth. A randomized complete block design examined five treatments with five replications (n = 25). Four treatment levels (R1 to R4) were applied with red mud doses (0.75 to 3.0 kg plot-1) with KCl fertilizer (42.6 g) versus controls. Red mud, an alkaline bauxite waste (pH 10 to 12), maintained heavy metal concentrations below regulatory thresholds. Statistical analyses employed ANOVA (α = 0.05) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. Treatments significantly elevated soil pH from 4.41 (control) to 5.45 to 5.67, transforming strongly acidic to moderately acidic conditions. Exchangeable K increased from 2.02 to 4.40 cmol(+) kg-¹, representing a 118% improvement in K availability. Available P improved by 13.4%, enhancing nutrient uptake capacity. The optimal treatment (R4: 3.0 kg red mud + KCl) demonstrated superior maize performance with significantly greater plant height, stem diameter, and maize ear weight than controls. Treatment R4 achieved the most favorable soil chemical properties, including optimal cation exchange capacity and nutrient retention, creating ideal growing conditions that maximized maize genetic potential expression in previously unproductive acidic peatland soils. Results indicate substantial potential for sustainable peatland agriculture through red mud-KCl soil amendments. Future investigations should assess long-term environmental sustainability, socio-economic viability, and farmer adoption mechanisms for implementing this amelioration strategy in tropical peatland systems.https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/agrihealth/article/view/104807ameliorationkcl fertilizermaize cultivationpeatlandred mud |
| spellingShingle | Sulakhudin Sulakhudin Surachman Surachman Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland Soils AgriHealth amelioration kcl fertilizer maize cultivation peatland red mud |
| title | Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland Soils |
| title_full | Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland Soils |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland Soils |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland Soils |
| title_short | Effects of Red Mud and KCl Fertilizer Combination on Nutrient Availability and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Peatland Soils |
| title_sort | effects of red mud and kcl fertilizer combination on nutrient availability and growth of maize zea mays l in peatland soils |
| topic | amelioration kcl fertilizer maize cultivation peatland red mud |
| url | https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/agrihealth/article/view/104807 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sulakhudinsulakhudin effectsofredmudandkclfertilizercombinationonnutrientavailabilityandgrowthofmaizezeamayslinpeatlandsoils AT surachmansurachman effectsofredmudandkclfertilizercombinationonnutrientavailabilityandgrowthofmaizezeamayslinpeatlandsoils |