BIOCHAR AMENDMENT TO IMPROVE SOIL FERTILITY AND REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS IN TROPICAL PEATSOIL

摘要

The effect of biochar amendments on CO2 emissions in tropical peatlands has not been widely studied. Biochar is able to improve the soil characteristics, due to it ability to increase soil pH, water and nutrient retention, and improve soil biological activity also reduce pollution. Biochar has chemical and physical structure that is very complex, and the surface of biochar able to absorb several gases including CO2. Greenhouse research was conducted in June-October 2014 at ISARI, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan. Sapric peatsoil was taken from Kalampangan village, municipality Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. The experimental design was factorial randomized block design with three replications. The first factor was the type of biochar, there were biochar from rice husks, coconut shells, Galam stalks and midrib of palm oil. The second factor was the dose of biochar, there were 0, 2, 4, 8 and 16 t ha~(-1). The results showed that biochar amendment was able to reduce CO2 emissions. Biochar from coconut shell at a dose of 2-4 t ha~(-1) able to improve the soil pH and K-available and reduce CO2 emissions up to 60%.