Articles | Volume 9, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-169-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-9-169-2023
Original research article
 | 
15 Mar 2023
Original research article |  | 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

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Cited articles

Albert, R. M., Bamford, M. K., and Esteban, I.: Reconstruction of ancient palm vegetation landscapes using a phytolith approach, Quaternary Int., 369, 51–66, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.06.067, 2015. 
Alexandre, A., Meunier, J.-D., Colin, F., and Koud, J.-M.: Plant impact on the biogeochemical cycle of silicon and related weathering processes, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 61, 677–682, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7037(97)00001-X, 1997. 
Allen, K., Corre, M. D., Kurniawan, S., Utami, S. R., and Veldkamp, E.: Spatial variability surpasses land-use change effects on soil biochemical properties of converted lowland landscapes in Sumatra, Indonesia, Geoderma, 284, 42–50, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.08.010, 2016. 
Arshad, A. M.: Physical land evaluation for oil palm cultivation in district of Temerloh and Kuantan, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia, J. Biol. Agr. Health., 5, 104–112, 2015. 
Barão, L., Clymans, W., Vandevenne, F., Meire, P., Conley, D. J., and Struyf, E.: Pedogenic and biogenic alkaline-extracted silicon distributions along a temperate land-use gradient, Eur. J. Soil Sci., 65, 693–705, https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12161, 2014. 
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Short summary
Silicon (Si) research could provide complementary 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 Si pools in soil. A lack of well-balanced Si levels in topsoil could negatively affect crop yield and soil fertility for future replanting at the same plantation site. Potential measures are suggested to maintain Si cycling.
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