SPATIOTEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF ERODED ORGANIC MATTER, NITROGEN, AND NITRATE IN RESPONSE TO MONSOONAL CHANGES IN A BLACK PEPPER FARM

Authors

  • Izzah Abd Hamid Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Wan Asrina Wan Yahaya Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, 97008 Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • Samsuri Abdul Wahid Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Wan Mohd Razi Idris Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jurnalteknologi.v88.21611

Keywords:

Vegetative cover, tropical monsoon climate, monsoon rainfall, coarse-textured soil, sloping terrain

Abstract

Organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (N), and nitrate (NO3) play a significant role in soil fertility and are critical for the black pepper industry. Hence, the objectives of this study were to analyse the spatiotemporal variability and inter-relationships among OM, N, and NO3 concerning fluctuations brought about by monsoonal changes. A total of 264 soil samples were collected across four monsoonal periods: Inter-April (Inter-Apr.), Southwest monsoon, Inter-October (Inter-Oct.), and Northeast monsoon. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and geostatistical techniques (Ordinary Kriging and semivariogram modelling) were employed to assess the spatial distribution and variability of these nutrients. The findings of this study revealed that the movement of OM, N, and NO3 was heavily affected by monsoonal transitions and further expedited by multifarious factors, such as steep terrain (26°), textural class (>78.49% sand), crop coverage (35.06%), and farm management. OM, N, and NO3 concentrations showed significant variations across monsoonal periods, with OM increasing by 24.3% and N by 22.1% during the Southwest monsoon, while NO3 exhibited an 86.0% rise. However, NO3 declined by 53.0% during the subsequent transition to the Northeast monsoon, coinciding with high rainfall (1,223 mm). Spatial dependence varied, with OM exhibiting moderate dependence (27.175%) and NO3 showing weak spatial dependence (<3%). Frequent rainfall and nutrient insufficiency led to distinct distribution patterns, characterised by reduced spatial dependency and variability during the Northeast monsoon. Meanwhile, the Southwest monsoon had the capacity to retain NO3 temporarily within the soil due to limited moisture availability. 

References

Izzah, A. H., W. Y. Wan Asrina, A. W. Samsuri, I. Wan Mohd Razi, and V. Jeyanny. 2022. Effects of Three Rainfall Patterns on Soil Chemical Properties in Black Pepper Cultivation in a Hilly Topography. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science. 45: 103–14. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjtas.45.1.06.

Xu, L., H. Niu, J. Xu, and X. Wang. 2013. Nitrate-Nitrogen Leaching and Modeling in Intensive Agriculture Farmland in China. The Scientific World Journal. 2013: 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/353086.

Izzah, A. H., and W. Y. Wan Asrina. 2018. Spatial Variability of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Using Geospatial Techniques on Black Pepper Farms. Azarian Journal of Agriculture. 5: 76–85.

Podlasek, A., E. Koda, and M. D. Vaverková. 2021. The Variability of Nitrogen Forms in Soils Due to Traditional and Precision Agriculture: Case Studies in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18: 1–28. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020465.

Izzah, A. H., W. Y. Wan Asrina, and I. Wan Mohd Razi. 2023. Effect of Different Black Pepper Crop Ages on the Availability of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. AGRIVITA Journal of Agricultural Science. 45: 1–10. https://doi.org/10.17503/agrivita.v45i1.2618.

Seleiman, M. F., N. Al Suhaibani, N. Ali, M. Akmal, M. Alotaibi, Y. Refay, T. Dindaroglu, H. H. Abdul-Wajid, and M. L. Battaglia. 2021. Drought Stress Impacts on Plants and Different Approaches to Alleviate Its Adverse Effects. Plants. 10: 1–25. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10020259.

Zhang, M. K., L. P. Wang, and Z. L. He. 2007. Spatial and Temporal Variation of Nitrogen Exported by Runoff from Sandy Agricultural Soils. Journal of Environmental Sciences. 19: 1086–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(07)60177-6.

Yao, Y., Q. Dai, R. Gao, Y. Gan, and X. Yi. 2021. Effects of Rainfall Intensity on Runoff and Nutrient Loss of Gently Sloping Farmland in a Karst Area of Southwest China. PLOS ONE. 16: 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246505.

Wong, M. K., P. Selliah, T. F. Ng, M. H. Amir Hassan, E. Van Ranst, and K. Inubushi. 2020. Impact of Agricultural Land Use on Physicochemical Properties of Soils Derived from Sedimentary Rocks in Malaysia. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 66: 214–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2019.1705180.

Lion, M., A. R. Kassim, S. A. Shamsuddin, and M. Mohd. 2013. Association between Soil Moisture Gradient and Tree Distribution in Lowland Dipterocarp Forest at Pasoh, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Soil Science. 16: 23–42.

Mastrocicco, M., N. Colombani, E. Soana, F. Vincenzi, and G. Castaldelli. 2019. Intense Rainfalls Trigger Nitrite Leaching in Agricultural Soils Depleted in Organic Matter. Science of the Total Environment. 665: 80–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.306.

Department of Agriculture Sarawak. 1968. Soil Map of Sarawak. Kuching, Malaysia: Department of Agriculture Sarawak.

Tan, K. H. 2011. Principles of Soil Chemistry. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis.

Food and Agriculture Organization. 2021. Standard Operating Procedure for Soil Nitrogen—Kjeldahl Method. Rome: FAO.

Tahir, S., and P. Marschner. 2016. Clay Addition to Sandy Soil: Effect of Clay Concentration and Ped Size on Microbial Biomass and Nutrient Dynamics after Addition of Low C/N Ratio Residue. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 16: 864–75. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-95162016005000061.

Azad, N., J. Behmanesh, V. Rezaverdinejad, F. Abbasi, and M. Navabian. 2020. An Analysis of Optimal Fertigation Implications in Different Soils on Reducing Environmental Impacts of Agricultural Nitrate Leaching. Scientific Reports. 10: 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64856-x.

Zhang, J., M. Zhang, S. Huang, and X. Zha. 2020. Assessing Spatial Variability of Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen in Eroded Hilly Region of Subtropical China. PLOS ONE. 15: 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244322.

Chen, X., A. Mao, Y. Zhang, L. Zhang, J. Chang, H. Gao, and M. L. Thompson. 2017. Carbon and Nitrogen Forms in Soil Organic Matter Influenced by Incorporated Wheat and Corn Residues. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 63: 377–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2017.1359797.

Colombani, N., M. Mastrocicco, F. Vincenzi, and G. Castaldelli. 2020. Modeling Soil Nitrate Accumulation and Leaching in Conventional and Conservation Agriculture Cropping Systems. Water. 12: 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12061571.

Cambardella, C. A., T. B. Moorman, T. B. Parkin, D. L. Karlen, J. M. Novak, R. F. Turco, and A. E. Konopka. 1994. Field-Scale Variability of Soil Properties in Central Iowa Soils.” Soil Science Society of America Journal. 58: 1501–11. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800050033x.

Balasundram, S. K., P. C. Robert, D. J. Mulla, and D. L. Allan. 2006. Relationship between Oil Palm Yield and Soil Fertility as Affected by Topography in an Indonesian Plantation. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 37: 1321–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103620600626817.

Awal, R., S. Khan, F. Abbas, S. Fares, S. Deb, A. Ahmad, and A. Fares. 2019. Soil Physical Properties Spatial Variability under Long-Term No-Tillage Corn. Agronomy. 9: 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy9110750

Ferreira Rodrigues, A., C. de Mello, M. Terra, V. Silva, G. Pereira, and R. Silva. 2019. Soil Water Content and Net Precipitation Spatial Variability in an Atlantic Forest Remnant. Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy. 42: 1–13. https://doi.org/10.4025/actasciagron.v42i1.43518.

Awoonor, J., and F. Dogbey. 2021. An Assessment of Soil Variability along a Toposequence in the Tropical Moist Semi-Deciduous Forest of Ghana. Open Journal of Soil Science. 11: 448–77. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojss.2021.119023.

Moundjeu, E., T. Emile, P. Azinwi Tamfuh, J. Vounang Zetekouang, J. P. Kabiwa, A. Wouatong, and D. Bitom. 2021. Characteristics, Fertility Status, and Fertility Capability Classification of Steep Slope Soils of the Dschang Cliff (Cameroon Western Highlands). Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection. 9: 164–79. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2021.97011.

Stella, T., I. Mouratiadou, T. Gaiser, M. Berg Mohnicke, E. Wallor, F. Ewert, and C. Nendel. 2019. Estimating the Contribution of Crop Residues to Soil Organic Carbon Conservation. Environmental Research Letters. 14: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab395c.

Sigler, W. A., S. A. Ewing, C. A. Jones, R. A. Payn, P. Miller, and M. Maneta. 2020. Water and Nitrate Loss from Dryland Agricultural Soils Is Controlled by Management, Soils, and Weather. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 304: 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2020.107158.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-23

Issue

Vol. 88 No. 1: January 2026

Section

Science and Engineering

License

Copyright of articles that appear in Jurnal Teknologi belongs exclusively to Penerbit Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (Penerbit UTM Press). This copyright covers the rights to reproduce the article, including reprints, electronic reproductions, or any other reproductions of similar nature.