Effect of Pleurotus ostreatus substrates compost on the chemical properties of acid sulfate soils

Abstract

The common problem of acid sulfate soils is their acidity, which affects the availability of nutrients. Soil pH is an important factor because interval pH defined the availability of nutrients in the soil. Amelioration could improved soils pH, and techniques that are often used is liming. However, Ramsar convention lime's application is not recommended because of its potential harm to the environment. Due to that reason, this study was conducted to identify the effect of Pleurotus ostreatus substrates compost on the chemical properties of acid sulfate soils. The greenhouse experiment was arranged in completely randomized design (CDR) with five treatments, i.e. 0 (b0), 5 (b1), 10 (b2), 15 (b3), and 20 (b4) ton ha-1. The highest value of pH (5.05), available N (1.70 ppm and 2.13 ppm, ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NH4-), respectively), and organic carbon (C) (3.45%) was found in the b4 treatment, compared to control, the b4 treatment improved about 40.50%, 77.50%, and 40.82% for NH4+, NH4-, and organic-C, respectively. While, the highest available phosphorus (P) (16.36 ppm) was found in the b3 treatment, which improved about 166.88% compared to control (b0). Application of Pleurotus ostreatus substrates compost was able to ameliorate the chemical properties of acid sulfate soils.