In Indonesia, growers use the waste from palm oil extraction to fertilize their plantations, with a positive effect on production. However, what are the long-term effects on soil characteristics? Researchers from CIRAD and their peers showed that continuous applications of the organic matter resulting from that waste improve soil characteristics. This was particularly the case on sandy loam soils, which are less acid than sandy soils. Their carbon and nitrogen contents were multiplied by 1.6 and 1.8 respectively. As regards sandy soils, which are more fragile, the improvement was also clear: carbon and nitrogen contents as much as doubled and acidity was reduced. The only exception was if farmers used inorganic fertilizers, even in small quantities. If so, the beneficial effect was considerably reduced if not wiped out. Provided inorganic fertilizer applications are restricted, farmers can thus maintain the fertility of their soils, thus reducing the environmental impact of their plantations while saving money.
via CIRAD - Actualités / News http://ift.tt/1pGTWYt
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