Rubber bark dust-zeolite composite improved mechanic strength of soft paddy soil through improved microstructure

Muhammad Rendana, Wan Mohd Razi Idris, Sahibin Abdul Rahim, Zulfahmi Ali Rahman, Tukimat Lihan

Abstract

Soft paddy soils are not a stable soil structure that leads to the decline of rice production in Kedah, Malaysia. The soil had high compressibility and water content, and low soil strength thus the agricultural machines could not be operated above this soil. Therefore, this study was conducted to improve the mechanical strength of soft soils in paddy fields using an organic amendment. The organic amendment used in this study was made from amended materials comprising clinoptilolite, kieserite, humic acid, and rubber bark dust. The study was carried out in the paddy field area of Alor Pudak district, Kedah, Malaysia, and it was divided into five treatments of amendment dose, i.e: 0 kg (control or P0), 125 kg (P1), 250 kg (P2), 375 kg (P3) and 500 kg (P4) with each plot size about 0.20 ha. The soil samples were then analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the unconsolidated undrained triaxial compression test (UU-test) to characterize their amended properties. The XRD results clearly exhibited changes in the mineralogical composition of all treated plots with an increasing smectite content (1200 to 1300 intensity). Furthermore, the SEM results showed that clay particles in the treated plots have been flocculated to form close-knit, more stable soil structures. After the organic amendment application, the mechanical strength of the treated plots increased to an optimum level (50 kPa in P2) for resisting mechanical pressure from agricultural machinery. Overall, this study of the efficacy of organic amendment offers new insight into a soft paddy soil remediation method that is more effective and economical than the conventional method.

Keywords

Clinoptilolite; Rice production; Soil amendment; Soil physics

Full Text:

PDF

References

Ahmad, M. T., Khadzir, M. K., & Omar, M. F. Z. (2020). Performance of a Triangular Rubber Tracked Tractor in Paddy Fields. Advances in Agricultural and Food Research Journal, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.36877/aafrj.a0000132


Ahmad, M. T., Zaman, O. M. F., Fauzi, M. I. M., Khusairy, K. M., Sharu, E. H., Hashim, A. M., Azlan, O., Saifulizan, M. N., Bunyamin, A. K., & Mansor, N. (2021). Effect of Mole drain and Tracked Agricultural Prime Movers on Soft Soil Paddy Areas. Advances in Agricultural and Food Research Journal, 2(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.36877/aafrj.a0000228


Ai, C., Liang, G., Sun, J., He, P., Tang, S., Yang, S., Zhou, W., & Wang, X. (2015). The alleviation of acid soil stress in rice by inorganic or organic ameliorants is associated with changes in soil enzyme activity and microbial community composition. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 51(4), 465-477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-015-0994-3


Al-Bared, M. A., Harahap, I. S., Marto, A., Abad, S. V. A. N. K., Mustaffa, Z., & Ali, M. O. (2019). Mechanical behaviour of waste powdered tiles and Portland cement treated soft clay. Geomechanics and Engineering, 19(1), 37-47. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2019.19.1.037


Al-Bared, M. A. M., Harahap, I. S. H., & Marto, A. (2018). Sustainable strength improvement of soft clay stabilized with two sizes of recycled additive. GEOMATE Journal, 15(51), 39-46. https://geomatejournal.com/geomate/article/view/1004


Arif, M., Ilyas, M., Riaz, M., Ali, K., Shah, K., Ul Haq, I., & Fahad, S. (2017). Biochar improves phosphorus use efficiency of organic-inorganic fertilizers, maize-wheat productivity and soil quality in a low fertility alkaline soil. Field Crops Research, 214, 25-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2017.08.018


Azman, E. A., Shamshuddin, J., Ishak, C. F., & Ismail, R. (2014). Increasing rice production using different lime sources on an acid sulphate soil in Merbok, Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 37(2), 223-247. http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjtas/browse/regular-issue?article=JTAS-0494-2013


Choudhary, O. P., Ghuman, B. S., Bijay, S., Thuy, N., & Buresh, R. J. (2011). Effects of long-term use of sodic water irrigation, amendments and crop residues on soil properties and crop yields in rice–wheat cropping system in a calcareous soil. Field Crops Research, 121(3), 363-372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.01.004


Delgado, A., & Gómez, J. A. (2016). The Soil. Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties. In F. J. Villalobos & E. Fereres (Eds.), Principles of Agronomy for Sustainable Agriculture (pp. 15-26). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46116-8_2


Farahani, E., Emami, H., & Keller, T. (2018). Impact of monovalent cations on soil structure. Part II. Results of two Swiss soils. International Agrophysics, 32(1), 69-80. https://doi.org/10.1515/intag-2016-0092


Fauzi, M., Padzil, M. N., Chan, C. S., Herman, E., Taufik, M., Khusairy, M., Fitri, M., Shah, M. S., Aufa, M., & Hanif, M. (2018). Effects of five seasons in two years paddy planting programme on soil bearing capacity. Journal of Built Environment, Technology and Engineering, 4, 252-257. https://jbete.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/JBETE4_90-92.pdf


Fissore, C., Jurgensen, M. F., Pickens, J., Miller, C., Page-Dumroese, D., & Giardina, C. P. (2016). Role of soil texture, clay mineralogy, location, and temperature in coarse wood decomposition—a mesocosm experiment. Ecosphere, 7(11), e01605. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1605


Jafer, H. M., Atherton, W., Sadique, M., Ruddock, F., & Loffill, E. (2018). Development of a new ternary blended cementitious binder produced from waste materials for use in soft soil stabilisation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 516-528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.233


Khasib, I. A., & Daud, N. N. N. (2020). Physical and Mechanical Study of Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) based Geopolymer as a Stabilizer for Soft Soil. Pertanika J. Sci. Technol, 28(S2), 149-160. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.28.s2.12


Latifah, O., Ahmed, O. H., & Majid, N. M. A. (2017). Enhancing nitrogen availability from urea using clinoptilolite zeolite. Geoderma, 306, 152-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.07.012


Lemos, J., Santos-Ferreira, A., & da Silva, P. F. (2020). Geotechnical modelling to appraise the Tavira (Portugal) new fishing harbor’s soft soils compressibility. In P. D. Long & N. T. Dung (Eds.), Geotechnics for Sustainable Infrastructure Development (pp. 1353-1358). Springer Singapore. https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/geotechnical-modelling-to-appraise-the-tavira-portugal-new-fishi/17447796


Mühlbachová, G., Simon, T., & Pechová, M. (2005). The availability of Cd, Pb and Zn and their relationships with soil pH and microbial biomass in soils amended by natural clinoptilolite. Plant Soil Environ, 51(1), 26-33. https://doi.org/10.17221/3552-PSE


Nasir, R. M., Su, A., Yahya, A., Nawi, N. M., & Wagiman, N. (2019). Soil Compaction Effects of Rubber-Wheel Tractors and Half-Track Tractors in Rice Cultivation. Konvensyen Kebangsaan Kejuruteraan Pertanian dan Makanan,


Nur Aainaa, H., Haruna Ahmed, O., & Ab Majid, N. M. (2018). Effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on phosphorus dynamics and yield of Zea Mays L. cultivated on an acid soil. PLOS ONE, 13(9), e0204401. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204401


Onyelowe, K., Bui Van, D., Igboayaka, C., Orji, F., & Ugwuanyi, H. (2019). Rheology of mechanical properties of soft soil and stabilization protocols in the developing countries-Nigeria. Materials Science for Energy Technologies, 2(1), 8-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mset.2018.10.001


Pramanik, P., Safique, S., & Jahan, A. (2019). Humic substrates extracted by recycling factory tea waste improved soil properties and tea productivity: an innovative approach. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 16(7), 3761-3770. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1791-y


Rashidzadeh, A., Olad, A., & Reyhanitabar, A. (2015). Hydrogel/clinoptilolite nanocomposite-coated fertilizer: swelling, water-retention and slow-release fertilizer properties. Polymer Bulletin, 72(10), 2667-2684. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1428-y


Rendana, M., Idris, W. M. R., Rahim, S. A., Rahman, Z. A., Lihan, T., & Jamil, H. (2018). Reclamation of acid sulphate soils in paddy cultivation area with organic amendments. AIMS Agriculture and Food, 3(3), 358-371. https://doi.org/10.3934/agrfood.2018.3.358


Rendana, M., Idris, W. M. R., Rahim, S. A., Rahman, Z. A., Lihan, T., & Jamil, H. (2019). Effects of Organic Amendment on Soil Organic Carbon in Treated Soft Clay in Paddy Cultivation Area. Sains Malaysiana, 48(1), 61-68. https://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4801-07


Rodríguez-Berbel, N., Ortega, R., Lucas-Borja, M. E., Solé-Benet, A., & Miralles, I. (2020). Long-term effects of two organic amendments on bacterial communities of calcareous mediterranean soils degraded by mining. Journal of Environmental Management, 271, 110920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110920


Safaei Khorram, M., Zhang, G., Fatemi, A., Kiefer, R., Maddah, K., Baqar, M., Zakaria, M. P., & Li, G. (2019). Impact of biochar and compost amendment on soil quality, growth and yield of a replanted apple orchard in a 4-year field study. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 99(4), 1862-1869. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.9380


Secchi, M., Zanatta, M., Borovin, E., Bortolotti, M., Kumar, A., Giarola, M., Sanson, A., Orberger, B., Daldosso, N., Gialanella, S., Mariotto, G., Montagna, M., & Lutterotti, L. (2018). Mineralogical investigations using XRD, XRF, and Raman spectroscopy in a combined approach. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 49(6), 1023-1030. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jrs.5386


Shamshuddin, J., Azura, A. E., Shazana, M., Fauziah, C., Panhwar, Q., & Naher, U. (2014). Properties and management of acid sulfate soils in Southeast Asia for sustainable cultivation of rice, oil palm, and cocoa. Advances in Agronomy, 124, 91-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800138-7.00003-6


Tanaka, S., Saito, H., Kajiwara, N., Paing, T. N., Mohd Yusoff, K. H., Abe, S. S., Nakao, A., & Yanai, J. (2021). Long-term changes in paddy soil fertility in Peninsular Malaysia during 50 years after the Green Revolution with special reference to their physiographic environments. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 67(1), 80-88. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2020.1840264


Taufik, A. M., Khusairy, K. M., & Fauzi, M. I. M. (2015). Performance of a Quad-Steel Tracked Tractor on Paddy Field Malaysian Soil Science Conference. Malaysian Soil Science Society (MSSS),


Terzaghi, K., Peck, R. B., & Mesri, G. (1996). Soil mechanics in engineering practice (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.


Vaughn, S. F., Dan Dinelli, F., Jackson, M. A., Vaughan, M. M., & Peterson, S. C. (2018). Biochar-organic amendment mixtures added to simulated golf greens under reduced chemical fertilization increase creeping bentgrass growth. Industrial Crops and Products, 111, 667-672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.11.036


Wang, J.-H., Desai, C. S., & Zhang, L. (2019). Soft Soil and Related Geotechnical Engineering Practice. International Journal of Geomechanics, 19(11), 02019001. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0001494


Zainuddin, N., Mohd Yunus, N. Z., Al-Bared, M. A. M., Marto, A., Harahap, I. S. H., & Rashid, A. S. A. (2019). Measuring the engineering properties of marine clay treated with disposed granite waste. Measurement, 131, 50-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2018.08.053


Zhou, H., Meng, H., Zhao, L., Shen, Y., Hou, Y., Cheng, H., & Song, L. (2018). Effect of biochar and humic acid on the copper, lead, and cadmium passivation during composting. Bioresource Technology, 258, 279-286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.02.086

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/stjssa.v18i2.56345

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.