Iron accumulation in oil palm cultivation area under flooded condition and its reduction by biochar / Mohamad Nazrin Nordin

Transport of iron (Fe) in soil is mainly occurs in forms dissolved in the soil solution, water being it main of transport when flood occur. Sources of Fe that cause a sedimentation to the soil are from ex-mining pond that exist along the cultivation area. Anaerobic condition may also causes in reduction process that transforming Fe from less soluble form into soluble form that cause increasing in Fe concentration in soil. In this context, the aim of study is to determine the effect of flood on Fe sedimentation in soil and the ability of biochar to reduce the Fe content on soil. Fe sedimentation lead to P fixation that may affect soil fertility in oil palm cultivation area. Rice husk biochar (RH) were tested in order to measure the sorption capacity. Biochar also have an ability to increase soil pH that may results in precipitation of Fe in soil which cause reducing in soil Fe concentration. There are three different rates of biochar were tested excluding control which comprised of 0, 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03 g. Overall, the sorption experiment in water soluble method showed that 0.01 g of RH can adsorb 1.665 mg/kg of Fe compared to other rate.