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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

The Priming Effect of Algal Biomass in the Process of Pineapple Crop Residue Decomposition

(Indonesia), Master of Science in Soil Science (Gadjah Mada University)

Abstract:

 

Many studies had been conducted to investigate the decomposition rate of organic matter from different litter or harvest wastes, but few had attempted to examine the priming effect as the stimulation of organic matter decomposition by the addition of fresh organic material. This study was conducted to investigate the priming effect of pineapple waste decomposition by algae biomass addition.

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to decompose pineapple waste by algae biomass addition in 14 weeks decomposition. The amount of algae biomass was giving with five degree additions: 25, 20, 15, 10, and 5 (g/kg); and in five time additions: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks of decomposition. Observation kind of algae and maintenance of algae biomass had been done before those used in decomposition process. Before and after incubation, the content of organic C, total N, lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose were determined. During incubation time (analysis was made once a week), the content of organic C and total N were determined. The priming effect was ascertained by the cumulative decline of the organic C. The highest decline made the highest priming effect. The other parameters than organic C were treated as supporting factors.

The results of this study indicated that algae biomass can accelerate the decomposition process of pineapple wastes through priming effect. After the 14-week-long decomposition, algae biomass had 28 percent of priming effect. In this experiment, it was shown that algae biomass addition at the second week of decomposition had the highest priming effect.