Investigation on Nutritional Factors Limiting Crop Growth in the Red-Yellow Podzolic Soils Distributed in the Province of Lampung, Indonesia

2. Nutritional Factors of the Soils Limiting the Growth of Cassava and Effect of Alang-Alang (Imperata cylindrica) Application

Abstract

Nutritional factors limiting the growth of cassava cultivated on the red-yellow podzolic soils distributed in the Province of Lampung, Indonesia and the effect of alang-clang (Imperata cylindrica) application were investigated. The low nitrogen supply of the soil was the most important factor limiting the growth of cassava. Cassava tolerated well the low phosphorus and low pH conditions of the soils. It was suggested that the application of alang-alang would enable to increase significantly crop yields in the red-yellow podzolic soil area where crops are cultivated without fertilizers.