Evaluation of nitrogen status of agricultural soils in Java, Indonesia
This art icle was downloaded by: [ Junt a Yanai]
On: 03 July 2014, At : 23: 03
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
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37- 41 Mort im er St reet , London W1T 3JH, UK
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Publicat ion det ails, including inst ruct ions f or aut hors and subscript ion inf ormat ion:
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Evaluation of nitrogen status of agricultural soils in
Java, Indonesia
a
a
a
b
c
Junt a Yanai , Taichi Omot o , At sushi Nakao , Kana Koyama , Arief Hart ono & Syaif ul Anwar
c
a
Graduat e School of Lif e and Environment al Sciences, Kyot o Pref ect ural Universit y, Kyot o
606-8522, Japan
b
Facult y of Lif e and Environment al Sciences, Kyot o Pref ect ural Universit y, Kyot o 606-8522,
Japan
c
Facult y of Agricult ure, Bogor Agricult ural Universit y, Darmaga 16680, Java, Indonesia
Published online: 29 May 2014.
To cite this article: Junt a Yanai, Taichi Omot o, At sushi Nakao, Kana Koyama, Arief Hart ono & Syaif ul Anwar (2014)
Evaluat ion of nit rogen st at us of agricult ural soils in Java, Indonesia, Soil Science and Plant Nut rit ion, 60: 2, 188-195, DOI:
10. 1080/ 00380768. 2014. 891925
To link to this article: ht t p: / / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1080/ 00380768. 2014. 891925
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTI CLE
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Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (2014), 60, 188–195
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2014.891925
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Evaluation of nitrogen status of agricultural soils in Java, Indonesia
Junta YANAI1, Taichi OMOTO1, Atsushi NAKAO1, Kana KOYAMA2,
Arief HARTONO3 and Syaiful ANWAR3
1
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan, 2Faculty of Life and
Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan and 3Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural
University, Darmaga 16680, Java, Indonesia
Downloaded by [Junta Yanai] at 23:03 03 July 2014
Abstract
To evaluate the content of nitrogen (N) fractions of agricultural soils in Java, Indonesia, in relation to soil type and
land use, 46 surface soil samples, 23 from paddy and 23 from upland, were collected throughout Java to include
various types of soils. Soil N was separated into four fractions according to form and availability: inorganic
extractable nitrogen (Iex-N), fixed ammonium nitrogen (Ifix-N), organic mineralizable nitrogen (Omin-N) and
organic stable nitrogen (Osta-N). The total-N content was determined by the dry combustion method. The Iex-N
content was determined by extraction with a 2 mol L−1 potassium chloride (KCl) solution and the Ifix-N content
by extraction with an hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid (HF-HCl) solution after removal of organic-N. The
Omin-N content was evaluated as the potentially mineralizable N based on a long-term incubation method. The
Osta-N content was calculated as the difference between the contents of total-N and the three other fractions. The
total-N content was 2.06 g kg−1 on average. The contents of Iex-N, Ifix-N, Omin-N and Osta-N were 25.8, 99.1,
103 and 1,832 mg kg−1, respectively, and corresponded to 1.3, 4.8, 5.0 and 88.9% of the total-N. Hence,
available (Iex-N and Omin-N) and stable (Ifix-N and Osta-N) fractions accounted for 6.3% and 93.7% of the
total-N, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that the contents of total-N and Osta-N had positive
correlation with (Alo + 1/2Feo) as an index of amorphous minerals (p < 0.01), suggesting strong influence of
volcanic materials for the accumulation of organic matter in Java soils. The content of Ifix-N had a positive
correlation with nonexchangeable potassium (K) content (p < 0.01), suggesting the contribution of 2:1 clay
minerals which can fix both ammonium (NH4+) and K+ in their interlayer sites. On the contrary, Omin-N did not
have any significant correlation with soil properties, implying the importance of management for the improvement
of the available N level in soils, rather than intrinsic soil properties. Soil N status further showed strong
topographical trends depending on the elevation where soil developed. The contents of total N, Iex-N, Ifix-N,
Omin-N and Osta-N in Java soils were on average 80, 69, 90, 65 and 80% of those in Japanese soils, respectively,
suggesting that the soil N level in Java was lower than that in Japan, probably due to accelerated decomposition of
organic matter, especially degradable fractions, reflecting high temperature, but that the level was relatively high
for tropical soils due to the effect of volcanic materials. In conclusion, these results should be taken into account
for the sustainable management of soil N in agricultural fields in Java, Indonesia.
Key words: Availability, Java, nitrogen, soil type, tropical soil.
INTRODUCTION
Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important essential
nutrients for plants and N content in the soil significantly
Correspondence: J. YANAI, Graduate School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto
606-8522, Japan. Email: yanai@kpu.ac.jp
Received 16 July 2013.
Accepted for publication 3 February 2014.
Junta Yanai and Taichi Omoto contributed equally and are
co-first authors.
© 2014 Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
affects plant growth and crop yields (Brady and Weil,
2002). The total N content in soils is reported, on
average, to be 2.0 g kg−1 with a range of 0.2–5.0 g kg−1
(Bowen, 1979), or 1.63 g kg−1 with a range of 0.15–
2.18 g kg−1 (Batjes, 1996). It is well known that soil N
content in the tropics is generally much lower than that in
temperate areas, as a result of the accelerated decomposition of organic matter at higher temperature in the tropics.
For example, Kawaguchi and Kyuma (1977) reported
that the total N content of 410 soils from tropical Asia
was on average 0.13 g kg−1. Soil N status in the tropics is,
On: 03 July 2014, At : 23: 03
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
I nform a Lt d Regist ered in England and Wales Regist ered Num ber: 1072954 Regist ered office: Mort im er House,
37- 41 Mort im er St reet , London W1T 3JH, UK
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Publicat ion det ails, including inst ruct ions f or aut hors and subscript ion inf ormat ion:
ht t p: / / www. t andf online. com/ loi/ t ssp20
Evaluation of nitrogen status of agricultural soils in
Java, Indonesia
a
a
a
b
c
Junt a Yanai , Taichi Omot o , At sushi Nakao , Kana Koyama , Arief Hart ono & Syaif ul Anwar
c
a
Graduat e School of Lif e and Environment al Sciences, Kyot o Pref ect ural Universit y, Kyot o
606-8522, Japan
b
Facult y of Lif e and Environment al Sciences, Kyot o Pref ect ural Universit y, Kyot o 606-8522,
Japan
c
Facult y of Agricult ure, Bogor Agricult ural Universit y, Darmaga 16680, Java, Indonesia
Published online: 29 May 2014.
To cite this article: Junt a Yanai, Taichi Omot o, At sushi Nakao, Kana Koyama, Arief Hart ono & Syaif ul Anwar (2014)
Evaluat ion of nit rogen st at us of agricult ural soils in Java, Indonesia, Soil Science and Plant Nut rit ion, 60: 2, 188-195, DOI:
10. 1080/ 00380768. 2014. 891925
To link to this article: ht t p: / / dx. doi. org/ 10. 1080/ 00380768. 2014. 891925
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTI CLE
Taylor & Francis m akes every effort t o ensure t he accuracy of all t he inform at ion ( t he “ Cont ent ” ) cont ained
in t he publicat ions on our plat form . However, Taylor & Francis, our agent s, and our licensors m ake no
represent at ions or warrant ies what soever as t o t he accuracy, com plet eness, or suit abilit y for any purpose of t he
Cont ent . Any opinions and views expressed in t his publicat ion are t he opinions and views of t he aut hors, and
are not t he views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of t he Cont ent should not be relied upon and
should be independent ly verified wit h prim ary sources of inform at ion. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for
any losses, act ions, claim s, proceedings, dem ands, cost s, expenses, dam ages, and ot her liabilit ies what soever
or howsoever caused arising direct ly or indirect ly in connect ion wit h, in relat ion t o or arising out of t he use of
t he Cont ent .
This art icle m ay be used for research, t eaching, and privat e st udy purposes. Any subst ant ial or syst em at ic
reproduct ion, redist ribut ion, reselling, loan, sub- licensing, syst em at ic supply, or dist ribut ion in any
form t o anyone is expressly forbidden. Term s & Condit ions of access and use can be found at ht t p: / /
www.t andfonline.com / page/ t erm s- and- condit ions
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (2014), 60, 188–195
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2014.891925
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Evaluation of nitrogen status of agricultural soils in Java, Indonesia
Junta YANAI1, Taichi OMOTO1, Atsushi NAKAO1, Kana KOYAMA2,
Arief HARTONO3 and Syaiful ANWAR3
1
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan, 2Faculty of Life and
Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto 606-8522, Japan and 3Faculty of Agriculture, Bogor Agricultural
University, Darmaga 16680, Java, Indonesia
Downloaded by [Junta Yanai] at 23:03 03 July 2014
Abstract
To evaluate the content of nitrogen (N) fractions of agricultural soils in Java, Indonesia, in relation to soil type and
land use, 46 surface soil samples, 23 from paddy and 23 from upland, were collected throughout Java to include
various types of soils. Soil N was separated into four fractions according to form and availability: inorganic
extractable nitrogen (Iex-N), fixed ammonium nitrogen (Ifix-N), organic mineralizable nitrogen (Omin-N) and
organic stable nitrogen (Osta-N). The total-N content was determined by the dry combustion method. The Iex-N
content was determined by extraction with a 2 mol L−1 potassium chloride (KCl) solution and the Ifix-N content
by extraction with an hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acid (HF-HCl) solution after removal of organic-N. The
Omin-N content was evaluated as the potentially mineralizable N based on a long-term incubation method. The
Osta-N content was calculated as the difference between the contents of total-N and the three other fractions. The
total-N content was 2.06 g kg−1 on average. The contents of Iex-N, Ifix-N, Omin-N and Osta-N were 25.8, 99.1,
103 and 1,832 mg kg−1, respectively, and corresponded to 1.3, 4.8, 5.0 and 88.9% of the total-N. Hence,
available (Iex-N and Omin-N) and stable (Ifix-N and Osta-N) fractions accounted for 6.3% and 93.7% of the
total-N, respectively. Correlation analysis indicated that the contents of total-N and Osta-N had positive
correlation with (Alo + 1/2Feo) as an index of amorphous minerals (p < 0.01), suggesting strong influence of
volcanic materials for the accumulation of organic matter in Java soils. The content of Ifix-N had a positive
correlation with nonexchangeable potassium (K) content (p < 0.01), suggesting the contribution of 2:1 clay
minerals which can fix both ammonium (NH4+) and K+ in their interlayer sites. On the contrary, Omin-N did not
have any significant correlation with soil properties, implying the importance of management for the improvement
of the available N level in soils, rather than intrinsic soil properties. Soil N status further showed strong
topographical trends depending on the elevation where soil developed. The contents of total N, Iex-N, Ifix-N,
Omin-N and Osta-N in Java soils were on average 80, 69, 90, 65 and 80% of those in Japanese soils, respectively,
suggesting that the soil N level in Java was lower than that in Japan, probably due to accelerated decomposition of
organic matter, especially degradable fractions, reflecting high temperature, but that the level was relatively high
for tropical soils due to the effect of volcanic materials. In conclusion, these results should be taken into account
for the sustainable management of soil N in agricultural fields in Java, Indonesia.
Key words: Availability, Java, nitrogen, soil type, tropical soil.
INTRODUCTION
Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important essential
nutrients for plants and N content in the soil significantly
Correspondence: J. YANAI, Graduate School of Life and
Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto
606-8522, Japan. Email: yanai@kpu.ac.jp
Received 16 July 2013.
Accepted for publication 3 February 2014.
Junta Yanai and Taichi Omoto contributed equally and are
co-first authors.
© 2014 Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
affects plant growth and crop yields (Brady and Weil,
2002). The total N content in soils is reported, on
average, to be 2.0 g kg−1 with a range of 0.2–5.0 g kg−1
(Bowen, 1979), or 1.63 g kg−1 with a range of 0.15–
2.18 g kg−1 (Batjes, 1996). It is well known that soil N
content in the tropics is generally much lower than that in
temperate areas, as a result of the accelerated decomposition of organic matter at higher temperature in the tropics.
For example, Kawaguchi and Kyuma (1977) reported
that the total N content of 410 soils from tropical Asia
was on average 0.13 g kg−1. Soil N status in the tropics is,