Physico-chemical properties of shallow and deep peat soils planted with pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) / Ahmad Azam Mohamad Zahari

The physico-chemical properties of peat soil are dynamically altered after several years of utilization. This study aims to assess the physico-chemical properties of shallow and deep peat soils at two different depths after several years of pineapple cultivation. In this study, soil samples from shallow and deep peats were collected at Pontian, Johor using a random sampling method. Samples were taken at two different depths, 0-25 cm and 25-50 cm, and were analysed for selected physical and chemical properties. Results showed that the colour of shallow peat soils is dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) whereas the colour is very dark greyish brown (10YR
3/2) for deep peat. Soil bulk density is higher (0.61 g/cm3) in deep peat compare to shallow peat (0.58 g/cm3) with a water table of 21.8 cm and 74 cm from the soil surface, respectively. Shallow peat is more acidic compare to deep peat, with higher concentration of Mg saturated in former peat. In comparison, shallow peat soils have a lesser concentration of all elements except for Mg, compared to deep peat. From this study, it is suggested that management of peat soils must consider the thickness of the peat layer as nutrient behave differently at different peat depth.