Influences of agricultural landuse on physicochemical properties of BRIS soil in east coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Sandy Beach ridges interspersed with swales (BRIS) distribute along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Although being regarded as a problematic lowland soil because of its very sandy texture and concomitant infertility, BRIS soils have been used for farming practices with recently expending and elevating impacts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of agricultural activities on BRIS soils with special reference to the contrasting farming practices; conventional fruit gardens with a relatively intensive managements and local people’ homegardens. The study area were located in Cherating District, Pahang state, the east coast of peninsular Malaysia. Typic Quartzipsamments distributed close to the shoreline while Typic Haplorthods and Typic Haplohumods in the inland-ward location. Soil profile description was conducted at both study area including adjacent forest. Soil samples were also collected at depth of 0-10 cm and 20-30 cm under planting area. For the whole, the A horizons of soils in the MARDI field had lower in T-C and T-N compared with those in the forest. While the levels of pH, and exchangeable Ca and Mg of the soils in the MARDI were higher than those in the forest, however, exchangeable K was occasionally under the detection limit despite of fertilizer application. In comparison with the MARDI, HG-I soils showed higher levels of soil organic matter and nutrients. Furthermore, in HG-I, the levels of T-C, T-N and CEC at the 0-10 cm depth were tended to be high with increasing ages of homegarden. Compared with HG-S, the soils in HG-I were significantly higher in T-C and T-N and CEC values. In contrast, the level of available P was higher in HG-S than HG-I. In comparison with conventional cropping systems which rely on heavy input of chemical fertilizer, homegarden practices considered more appropriate on the BRIS soil