Journal of Tropical Soils
Vol. 31 No. 1: January 2026

Flux of Nutrient Leaching from Ultisol of Pineapple Plantation Ameliorated with FABA and Compost and Its Implications on Fertilizer Management

Nahdlia Putri Alayya (IPB University)
Iskandar Iskandar (IPB University)
Untung Sudadi (IPB University)



Article Info

Publish Date
07 Jan 2026

Abstract

Ultisol is a weathered tropical soil order with low fertility status. It is also prone to nutrient leaching processes. Plantation area of PT. Great Giant Pineapple (PT GGP), grown in Ultisol, has been intensively cultivated for decades in rotation with banana and cassava. This study aims to evaluate the effects of FABA+compost amendment on nutrient leaching from the Ultisol in the PT GGP area and its implications for fertilizer management. A nutrient-leaching simulation was conducted using percolation experiments. Soil samples were taken from the 0-20 cm layer from pineapple-cultivated field plots 9 months after treatment application or 1 month before the plant regenerative-phase forcing step. Percolations were performed every 7 days with 170 mL Aquadest at 0.75 kg-1 soil for a 35-day experimental period, equivalent to the monthly average rainfall during the six wet months in the study area. The amelioration significantly reduced soil nutrient leaching, as indicated by tmax, total flux, and flux proportion. The band application of 25 t ha-1 FABA + compost gave the best results. The NO3 and K leaching flux proportions, however, were still high. It is suggested that controlled-release fertilizers be considered to reduce nutrient leaching flux.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

tropicalsoil

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Environmental Science

Description

Journal of Tropical Soils (JTS) publishes all aspects in the original research of soil science (soil physic and soil conservation, soil mineralogy, soil chemistry and soil fertility, soil biology and soil biochemical, soil genesis and classification, land survey and land evaluation, land development ...