UTILIZATION OF SUGARCANE FILTER PRESS MUD AS ORGANIC FERTILIZER FOR IMPROVING CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ULTISOLS AND OIL PALM SEEDLINGS

Abstract

<p>Ultisols is suboptimal soil that have many problems those are low pH, nutrient deficiency and micronutrient toxicity and inhibit for crop growth and need ameliorant for improving the soil fertility. The aim of this research were to investigate the utilization of filter press mud compost for improving chemical properties of Ultisols and growth of oil palm seedling. This research consisted of five levels of compost (A=without compost, B= 4.25 t.ha^-1,C=8.5 t.ha^-1, D=12.75 t.ha^-1 and E=17 t.ha^-1) with three replications. The treatment units were allocated based on Randomized Block Design. The addition of filter press mud compost improving chemical properties of Ultisols especially pH value, decreasing Aluminum, total N 0.45%, organic C 2.19%, available P 37.14 ppm, CEC 22.04 cmol.kg^-1.Filter press mud compost increased growth of oil palm seedling. Application of 12.75 t.ha^-1gave the optimum growth of oil palm seedlings. It showed that the crop height increased by 51.56%, leaves by 47.63%, N content by 2.26 %, P content by 0.18 % and K content by 1.44 %.</p>