AZOMITE TESTING ON THE GROWTH OF COFFEE AND CACAO
By : The Indonesian Center for Coffee and Cacao Research
Report Summary
Nutrients loss in coffee and cocoa farming system is one of main problems
encountered by planters. AZOMITE as a natural mined mineral product
has shown significant increase in growth and yield of many crops, on
the other hand results on coffee and cocoa are not yet known. The objective
of this greenhouse study is to investigate the effect of AZOMITE on
the growth of coffee and cocoa. The experiment was carried out in a
greenhouse of Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, Jember,
East Java. Randomized complete block design in factorial was used to
laid the combination treatments with four replications. Both for coffee
and cocoa, there were five levels of AZOMITE factor, i.e. 0, 10, 15
and 20 g/pot/month which combined with two levels of NPK (16-16-16)
fertilizer factor, i.e. 0 and 5 g/pot/month. In every plot there were
3 plants. Parameters observed were plant growth, nutrient foliar content
and soil pH. Results of this experiment showed that addition of AZOMITE
10-15 g/pot/month significantly increased growth of coffee plants and
tended to increase cocoa growth. Application of AZOMITE significantly
increased pH of soil, on the other hand addition of NPK (16-16-16) fertilizer
reduced soil pH significantly.
Introduction
The growth of coffee and cacao plants is strongly affected by the physical,
chemical and biological characteristics of the soil. These three soil
characterstics play a role to keep the balance of nutrients required
by plants.
At present soil quality as natural resource has deteriorated. This
degradation in soil fertility is caused by the reduction in soil nutrient
content through, among others, absorption by plants which is then lost
through harvests, fixation in the soil into compounds that are difficult
to be absorbed by plants, and leaching.
One of the efforts to improve soil fertility is through addition of
nutrients required by plants through anorganic fertilization by using
chemicals that are easily dissolved in the soil and absorbed by plant
roots.
Addition of nutrients will not be effective if not followed by good
soil management since not all nutrients in the soil are readily available
and absorbable by plants, e.g.: nitrogen can be leached and volitilized,
phosporus will become unavailable if it is fixated in the soil, and
calcium can be leached away and fixated by clay.
With conditions as mentioned above, efforts are needed to reduce the
loss of nutrients in the soil by adding soil ameliorants. One such ameliorant
that can slow the loss of nutrients in the soil is AZOMITE, a mineral
of the hydrated aluminosilicate group containing alkaline cations.
AZOMITE is a mineral that works to return the balance of nutrients
required by plants in order to maximize growth potential and crop production.
AZOMITE contains complete micro-minerals and functions as an active
metabolism catalyst required for plant growth. AZOMITE contains elements
essential to plants, such as: N 0.15 %, P2O5 0.15 %, K2O 5.23 %, CaO
0.67 %, MgO 0.78 %, S 240 ppm, Cu 12 ppm, Zn 64 ppm, Fe2O3 1.37 %, Mn2O3
0.02 %, B 29 ppm, and Mo 12 ppm.
The aim of this research is to reveal the effects of AZOMITE on the
growth of coffee and cacao.
Methodology and Materials
Research was conducted in the Greenhouse of the Indonesian Coffee and
Cacao Research Centre in Jember. This experiment employed a random group
design with the following treatments:
Coffee :
A1 = control (no AZOMITE)
A2 = AZOMITE 5 g/polybag/month
A3 = AZOMITE 10 g/polybag/month
A4 = AZOMITE 15 g/polybag/month
A5 = AZOMITE 20 g/polybag/month
Cacao :
AZOMITE factor:
A1 = control (no AZOMITE)
A2 = AZOMITE 5 g/polybag/month
A3 = AZOMITE 10 g/polybag/month
A4 = AZOMITE 15 g/polybag/month
A5= AZOMITE 20 g/polybag/month
NPK Fertilizer Factor:
P1 = control (no NPK fertilizer)
P2 = fertilized with NPK 16-16-16 5 g/polybag/month
Each plot was planted with three plants, and repeated four times.
The parameter monitored is plant growth, including: plant height,
number of leaves, diameter of stem, wet and dry weights of the roots,
stems and leaves; levels of nutrients N, P and K in the leaves, as
well as soil pH levels.
Chemical and physical characteristics of the soil considered in the
experiment are as follows: C organic 1.38 % (low), N total 0.28 %
(medium), P2O5 Bray I 11 ppm (low), K exchanged 0.98 me/100 g (medium),
Ca exchanged 19.80 me/100 g (high), Mg exchanged 10.10 me/100 g (high),
SO4 12 ppm (low), Cu 26 ppm (medium), Zn 8 ppm (medium), Fe 8 ppm
(medium), Mn reduced 148 ppm (medium), KPK 33.80 me/100 g (high),
KB 92 % (high), pH (H2O) 5.9 (medium), and the silty clay texture.
Research Period
Research was conducted from September 2005 until July 2006.
Research Results
Coffee
Results of observation on the growth of leaves, plant height, stem
diameter, wet and dry weight of the roots, stems, and leaves at the
age of 8 months are seen in Table 1.
| Table 1. Coffee growth at 8 months of age with AZOMITE
treatment |
| Treatment |
Number of leaves |
Plant height (cm) |
Stem diameter (mm) |
Wet weight (g) |
Dry weight (g) |
| |
|
|
|
Root |
Stem |
Leaf |
Root |
Stem |
Leaf |
| A1 |
40.8 a |
51.2 a |
6.7 a |
8.3 a |
13.7 a |
22 a |
3.7 a |
7.8 a |
6.7 a |
| A2 |
36.2 a |
53.7 a |
6.8 a |
9.1 a |
14.4 a |
21 a |
3.8 a |
7.4 a |
7.2 a |
| A3 |
39.0 a |
56.4 a |
7.0 a |
9.6 a |
15.9 a |
23 a |
3.9 a |
7.8 a |
8.1 a |
| A4 |
39.6 a |
55.5 a |
7.1 a |
9.5 a |
16.2 a |
23 a |
4.3 a |
8.2 a |
7.1 a |
| A5 |
36.3 a |
55.0 a |
7.0 a |
7.5 a |
14.2 a |
19 a |
3.5 a |
6.8 a |
7.4 a |
| Notes : numbers in the same column when followed by
the same letter do not show a clear difference according Tukey Test
at 5% level. |
To make it easy to draw a conclusion the data in Table 1 is analyzed
using cluster observations. From these cluster observations (Dendogram
1) it can be concluded that the best growth for coffee is obtained
with AZOMITE treatment with 10-15 g/polybag/month dosage. This can
be observed from the parameters of stem diameter, plant height, wet
weight of the roots, stems and leaves, as well as the dry weight of
roots.
Gambar 1. Coffee Growth with AZOMITE Treatment
Results of observations of nutrient levels of coffee leaves are seen
in Table 2.
| Table 2. Coffee Leaves Nutrient Levels with AZOMITE
Treatment |
| Treatment |
N |
P |
K |
|
Level (5) |
% Relative to Control |
Level (%) |
% Relavite to Control |
Level (%) |
% Relavite to Control |
| A1 |
3.05 |
100 |
0.17 |
100 |
2.24 |
100 |
| A2 |
3.17 |
104 |
0.17 |
100 |
2.37 |
106 |
| A3 |
3.09 |
101 |
0.15 |
88 |
2.25 |
100 |
| A4 |
3.05 |
100 |
0.17 |
100 |
2.25 |
100 |
| A5 |
2.92 |
96 |
0.19 |
112 |
2.29 |
102 |
From Table 2 it is apparent that the application of AZOMITE 5 g/polybag/month
tends to increase the levels of N and K nutrients in leaves. Meanwhile
the levels of nutrient P only increases upon application of AZOMITE
20 g/polybag/month
Results of soil pH observations for coffee are seen in Table 3
| Table 3. pH of Soil with AZOMITE Treatment for Coffee. |
| Treatment |
pH (H2O) |
| |
pH Levels |
% Relative to Control |
| A1 |
5.5 |
100 |
| A2 |
5.6 |
102 |
| A3 |
5.6 |
102 |
| A4 |
5.9 |
107 |
| A5 |
6.2 |
113 |
From Table 3 and Figure 2 it is apparent that application of AZOMITE
can increase the pH of the soil. The higher the dosage applied the
higher the pH increase in the soil.
Figure 2. pH of Soil of Coffee due to AZOMITE Treatment
Cacao
Results of observations on the increase in the number of leaves, plant
height, stem diameter, wet weight as well as dry weight of the roots,
stems, and leaves at the age of 5 months are seen in Table 4.
| Table 4. Growth of 5-month old cacao with AZOMITE
treatment |
| Treatment |
Leaf Count |
Plant Height (cm) |
Stem Height (mm) |
Wet Weight (g) |
Dry Weight (g) |
| |
|
|
|
Root |
Stem |
Leaf |
Root |
Stem |
Leaf |
| A1 |
21.4 a |
46.3 a |
9.62 b |
7.4 b |
22.5 c |
21.8 b |
3.2 c |
7.7 a |
8.6 b |
| A2 |
22.6 a |
50.5 a |
9.74 b |
7.6 b |
23.2 bc |
22.7 ab |
3.6 bc |
8.4 a |
8.4 ab |
| A3 |
22.6 a |
54.2 a |
9.83 b |
7.6 b |
24.8 abc |
24.3 ab |
4.0 ab |
8.2 a |
8.7 ab |
| A4 |
21.3 a |
54.9 a |
10.28 a |
8.2 ab |
27.3 a |
25.7 a |
4.3 a |
9.3 a |
9.9 a |
| A5 |
23.4 a |
51.4 a |
10.29 a |
9.1 a |
26.2 ab |
24.8 ab |
4.6 a |
9.3 a |
9.4 a |
| P1 |
22.2 a |
50.1 a |
9.69 b |
8.4 a |
22.5 b |
25.4 a |
4.4 a |
7.0 b |
8.9 a |
| P2 |
22.3 a |
52.9 a |
10.21 a |
7.6 a |
27.1 a |
22.3 b |
3.5 b |
10.1 a |
8.7 a |
Notes : numbers in the same column and factor when followed by the
same letter do not indicate a clear difference according to Tukey
Test at 5% level.
To make it easy to draw a conclusion, data in Table 4 was analyzed
using cluster observations. From the results of these cluster observations
(Dendogram 2) it can be concluded that cacao growth is best obtained
with AZOMITE treatment at 20 g/polybag/month dosage. This is apparent
from the parameters of plant height, stem diameter, wet weight of
the roots and stems, as well as dry weight of the roots and leaves
(Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6). Meanwhile, NPK 16-16-16 fertilizer with dosage
of 5 g/polybag/month may accelerate the growth of the stem, wet weight
and dry weight of the cacao stem.
Figure 3. Growth of Cacao with AZOMITE Treatment,
without NPK Fertilizer
Figure 4. Growth of Cacao with AZOMITE Treatment,
Fertilized with NPK
Figure 5. Growth of Cacao Stems with AZOMITE Treatment
Figure 6. Growth of Cacao Roots with AZOMITE Treatment
Results of nutrient level observations of cacao leaves are seen in
Table 5.
| Table 5. Nutrient Levels in the Leaves of Cacao with
AZOMITE Treatment |
| Treatment |
N |
P |
K |
| |
Level (5) |
% Relative to Control |
Level (5) |
% Relative to Control |
Level (5) |
% Relative to Control |
| A1 |
2.39 |
100 |
0.14 |
100 |
1.57 |
100 |
| A2 |
2.26 |
95 |
0.10 |
71 |
1.44 |
92 |
| A3 |
2.3 |
96 |
0.11 |
79 |
1.46 |
93 |
| A4 |
2.1 |
88 |
0.13 |
93 |
1.43 |
91 |
| A5 |
2.02 |
85 |
0.12 |
86 |
1.53 |
97 |
| P1 |
1.71 |
100 |
0.14 |
100 |
1.56 |
100 |
| P2A |
2.71 |
158 |
0.10 |
71 |
1.41 |
90 |
From Table 5 it is apparent that application of AZOMITE 5-20 g/polybag/month
tends to lower the nutrient levels of N, P and K in the leaves. Fertilization
by NPK 16-16-16 5 g/polybag/month also tends to lower the nutrient
levels of P and K, but at the same time increase the level of N in
cacao leaves.
Results of soil pH observations on cacao plant are seen in Table
6.
| Table 6. pH of the Soil with AZOMITE Treatment on
Cacao Plant. |
| Treatment |
pH (H20) |
| |
Nilai pH |
% Relative to Control |
| A1 |
4.86 c |
100 |
| A2 |
5.13 b |
106 |
| A3 |
5.12 b |
105 |
| A4 |
5.29 ab |
109 |
| A5 |
5.44 a |
112 |
| P1 |
6.04 a |
100 |
| P2 |
4.30 b |
71 |
From Table 6 and Figure 7 it is apparent that the application of
AZOMITE can increase the pH of the soil. The higher the dosage applied
the higher the pH increase.
Figure 7. pH of the Soil in Cacao Plants After Treatment
of AZOMITE
Conclusion
- Application of AZOMITE at dosage of 10-15 gram/polybag/month tends
to improve the growth of coffee.
- Application of AZOMITE at doasage of 20 gram/poliyag/month clearly
improves the growth of cacao.
- Application of AZOMITE on coffee or cacao can clearly increase the
pH of soil.
- Application of NPK 16-16-16 fertilizer clearly lowers the pH of
the soil.
|
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