THE POTENTIAL OF PINEAPPLE ROTATIONS TO IMPROVE CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ULTISOLS

Setio Nofiantoro, Widyatmani Sih Dewi, Hery Widijanto

Abstract: Planting pineapple monoculture and continuously can decrease the nutrient availability of Ultisols. Crop rotation is potential to solve the problem of nutrient availability. The aim of the research is to study the potential of pineapple rotation with cassava and King grass in improving chemical properties of Ultisols. The study was conducted in pineapple plantation of Great Giant Pineapple Company, Lampung, Indonesia using a survey method in three types of pineapple rotation: pineapple without a rotation basis (P-P), pineapple rotation with cassava (P-C), and pineapple rotation with King grass (P-K). Soil sampling at depth 0-30 cm and each location are taken 5 points as replication. Chemical characteristic observed include carbon organic, exchangeable Al, soil pH, total nitrogen, available P and K. The result showed that P-C and P-K could increase carbon organic, soil pH, nutrient availability and also decreased exchangeable Al. P-K showed the better potential in improving chemical properties of Ultisols. It increasing carbon organic, soil pH, total nitrogen, available P and K respectively up to 1.56%; 4.92; 1.18 g kg-1; 8.18 mg kg-1; 223.2 mg kg-1 and also decreasing exchangeable Al up to 0.52 cmolc/kg. P-K is potential to increase pineapple productivity.

Keywords: crop rotation; pineapple; properties; soil chemical

Date published: 2018-03-07