Study of pH and Magnetic Susceptibility to Fertility Rate of Agricultural Soil around Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Lampung, Indonesia

Abstract

As an agricultural country, the study of agricultural soil in Indonesia is very important. Fertile agricultural soil has a good impact on agricultural products. Lampung is one of the provinces that have extensive agricultural land in Indonesia. The purpose of this research is to know the correlation between pH and magnetic susceptibility to soil fertility level around Institut Teknologi Sumatera. The sample consists of soil from Way Hui (NN 2.1, NN 2.4 and NN 2.5), Harapan Jaya (NN 2.2), and Korpri Jaya (NN 2.3). The method used is rock magnetism method combined with pH analysis. The results of this research are soil pH between 5 to 6.5 and magnetic susceptibility value of the soil around 27.3 to 115.3 (×10-8 m3/kg). Based on the pH classified by Badan Penelitian Tanah, the level of fertility of agricultural soil around Institut Teknologi Sumatera consists of two groups, namely low (NN 2.1, NN 2.2 and NN 2.5) and medium (NN 2.3 and NN 2.4). Low samples have magnetic susceptibility value around 27.3 to 50 (×10-8 m3/kg). While, medium samples have magnetic susceptibility value around 80.5 to 115.3 (×10-8 m3/kg). Generally, magnetic susceptibility is increase by increasing pH value. This preliminary study still needs further research.