Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-281
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-281
07 Jun 2022
 | 07 Jun 2022

Oil-palm management alters the spatial distribution of amorphous silica and mobile silicon in topsoils

Britta Greenshields, Barbara von der Lühe, Harold James Hughes, Christian Stiegler, Suria Tarigan, Aiyen Tjoa, and Daniela Sauer

Abstract. Effects of oil-palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) management on silicon (Si) cycling under smallholder oil-palm plantations have hardly been investigated. As oil palms are Si accumulators, we hypothesized that management practices and topsoil erosion may cause Si losses and changes in spatial Si concentration patterns in topsoils under oil-palm cultivation. To test this hypothesis, we took topsoil samples under mature oil-palm plantations in well-drained and riparian areas of Jambi Province, Indonesia. The samples were taken from four different management zones within each oil-palm plot: palm circles, oil-palm rows, interrows and below frond piles. We quantified mobile Si (SiM) and Si in amorphous silica (SiAm) by CaCl2 and NaCO3 extraction, respectively. Both fractions are important Si pools in soils and are essential for plant-soil Si cycling. We further installed sediment traps on sloping, well-drained oil-palm plantations to estimate the annual loss of soil and SiAm caused by erosion. In well-drained areas, mean topsoil SiAm concentrations were significantly higher below frond piles (3.97 ±1.54 mg g-1) compared to palm circles (1.71± 0.35 mg g-1), oil-palm rows (1.87 ± 0.51 mg g-1) and interrows (1.88 ± 0.39 mg g-1). In riparian areas, highest mean topsoil SiAm concentrations were also found below frond piles (2.96 ± 0.36 mg g-1) and in grass-covered interrows (2.71 ± 0.13 mg g-1), whereas topsoil SiAm concentrations of palm circles were much lower (1.44 ± 0.55 mg g-1). We attributed the high SiAm concentrations in topsoils under frond piles and in grass-covered interrows to phytolith release from decaying oil-palm fronds, grasses, and sedges. The significantly lower SiAm concentrations in palm circles (in both well-drained and riparian areas), oil-palm rows and unvegetated interrows (only in well-drained areas) were explained by a lack of litter return to these management zones. Mean topsoil SiM concentrations were in a range of ~10 – 20 µg g-1. They tended to be higher in riparian areas, but the differences between well-drained and riparian sites were not statistically significant. Soil-loss calculations based on erosion traps confirmed that topsoil erosion was considerable in oil-palm interrows on slopes. Erosion estimates were in a range of 4 – 6 Mg ha-1 yr-1, involving SiAm losses in a range of 5 – 9 kg-1 ha-1 yr-1. Based on the observed spatial Si patterns, we concluded that smallholders could efficiently reduce erosion and support Si cycling within the system by (1) maintaining a vegetation cover in oil-palm rows and interrows, (2) incorporating oil-palm litter into farm management and (3) preventing soil compaction and surface-crust formation.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Mar 2023
Oil-palm management alters the spatial distribution of amorphous silica and mobile silicon in topsoils
Britta Greenshields, Barbara von der Lühe, Harold J. Hughes, Christian Stiegler, Suria Tarigan, Aiyen Tjoa, and Daniela Sauer
SOIL, 9, 169–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-169-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-169-2023, 2023
Short summary

Britta Greenshields et al.

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-281', Anonymous Referee #1, 17 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Britta Greenshields, 18 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-281', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Nov 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Britta Greenshields, 18 Dec 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-281', Anonymous Referee #1, 17 Nov 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Britta Greenshields, 18 Dec 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-281', Anonymous Referee #2, 21 Nov 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Britta Greenshields, 18 Dec 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Revision (19 Dec 2022) by Ember Morrissey
AR by Britta Greenshields on behalf of the Authors (27 Jan 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (30 Jan 2023) by Ember Morrissey
ED: Publish as is (06 Feb 2023) by Engracia Madejón Rodríguez (Executive editor)
AR by Britta Greenshields on behalf of the Authors (10 Feb 2023)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Mar 2023
Oil-palm management alters the spatial distribution of amorphous silica and mobile silicon in topsoils
Britta Greenshields, Barbara von der Lühe, Harold J. Hughes, Christian Stiegler, Suria Tarigan, Aiyen Tjoa, and Daniela Sauer
SOIL, 9, 169–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-169-2023,https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-169-2023, 2023
Short summary

Britta Greenshields et al.

Britta Greenshields et al.

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Silicon (Si) research could provide complimentary measures in sustainably cultivating oil-palm monocultures. Our study shows that current oil-palm management practices and topsoil erosion on oil-palm plantations in Indonesia have caused a spatial distribution of essential soil Si pools. A lack of well-balanced Si levels in topsoil could negatively affect crop yield and soil fertility for a future replanting at the same plantation site. Potential measures are suggested to maintain Si cycling.