Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation

A study was conducted to determine the effect of slope terracing on soil quality in some oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia. Samples from three different deep terraced-saprolitic profiles of varying depth and geology were collected and analysed for their physicochemical properties and chemi...

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Main Authors: Hamdan, J., Burnham, C. P., B., Ruhana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2000
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/3/111882.pdf
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author Hamdan, J.
Burnham, C. P.
B., Ruhana
author_facet Hamdan, J.
Burnham, C. P.
B., Ruhana
author_sort Hamdan, J.
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description A study was conducted to determine the effect of slope terracing on soil quality in some oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia. Samples from three different deep terraced-saprolitic profiles of varying depth and geology were collected and analysed for their physicochemical properties and chemical fertility characteristics. Field observations showed that saprolites lying below the soil layers were either exposed directly or exposed near to the surface as a result of slope terracing to enable oil palm planting. The fertility status of the exposed saprolites, despite being less weathered, were poorer than the soils. Comparatively, they have high phosphorus retention capacity, lower net negative charge and thus lower cation retention capacity. The Al phytotoxic effect, however, was lower in the saprolites than in the soils. The saprolites' physical properties were characterized by massiveness and lack of structural development, which enables high water retention but which may not be available to plants. The transformation of rock into saprolites showed significant depletion of base cations from the profiles, instituting poor fertility status of saprolites in comparison to the respective soil layers. The saprolite materials were also found to be unsuitable for oil palm cultivation, with shallowness, fertility and poor drainage conditions being the major constraints.
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spelling upm-1118822025-03-12T04:03:08Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/ Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation Hamdan, J. Burnham, C. P. B., Ruhana A study was conducted to determine the effect of slope terracing on soil quality in some oil palm plantations in Peninsular Malaysia. Samples from three different deep terraced-saprolitic profiles of varying depth and geology were collected and analysed for their physicochemical properties and chemical fertility characteristics. Field observations showed that saprolites lying below the soil layers were either exposed directly or exposed near to the surface as a result of slope terracing to enable oil palm planting. The fertility status of the exposed saprolites, despite being less weathered, were poorer than the soils. Comparatively, they have high phosphorus retention capacity, lower net negative charge and thus lower cation retention capacity. The Al phytotoxic effect, however, was lower in the saprolites than in the soils. The saprolites' physical properties were characterized by massiveness and lack of structural development, which enables high water retention but which may not be available to plants. The transformation of rock into saprolites showed significant depletion of base cations from the profiles, instituting poor fertility status of saprolites in comparison to the respective soil layers. The saprolite materials were also found to be unsuitable for oil palm cultivation, with shallowness, fertility and poor drainage conditions being the major constraints. Wiley 2000 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/3/111882.pdf Hamdan, J. and Burnham, C. P. and B., Ruhana (2000) Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation. Land Degradation & Development, 11 (2). pp. 181-193. ISSN 1085-3278; eISSN: 1099-145X https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1099-145X(200003/04)11:2%3C181::AID-LDR377%3E3.0.CO;2-U 10.1002/(sici)1099-145x(200003/04)11:2<181::aid-ldr377>3.0.co;2-u
spellingShingle Hamdan, J.
Burnham, C. P.
B., Ruhana
Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation
title Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation
title_full Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation
title_fullStr Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation
title_full_unstemmed Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation
title_short Degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for Elaeis guineensis Jacq. (oil palm) cultivation
title_sort degradation effect of slope terracing on soil quality for elaeis guineensis jacq. (oil palm) cultivation
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111882/3/111882.pdf