Research articles
ScienceAsia 48 (2022):ID 223-230 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2022.028
Magnesium fractionation in different textural groups and
commercial crop cultivations of Thai soils
Khabele Z. Ntlopo, Jumpen Onthong, Chakkrit Poonpakdee*
ABSTRACT: Thai soils are dominated by extremely weathered and developed Ultisols that are characterized by acidity,
low fertility, and high leaching of basic cations, including magnesium (Mg). In this study, the distribution of Mg
chemical fractions in Thai soils and major commercial crop fields was assessed using sequential extraction. Moreover,
the status of available soil Mg was estimated using single leaching. Similar distribution patterns of Mg fractionation in
the inorganic soils and the commercial crop cultivation soils were noticed. The mean percentage distributions of Mg
fractions spread in a decreasing magnitude: the mineral Mg > the available Mg > the carbonate Mg > the organic
complexed Mg; and the recorded values were 68.43, 22.81, 5.90, and 2.86 in the inorganic soils and 69.67, 23.60,
4.52, and 2.21 in the commercial crop cultivation soils, respectively. A distinct Mg fractionation pattern occurred within
organic soils with a spread percentage of 71.79, 14.68, 8.91, and 4.62 for available Mg, organic complexed Mg, mineral
Mg, and carbonate Mg, respectively. The available Mg concentration within organic soils was 541.21 mg/kg; while the
inorganic soils per textural group produced 510.86, 26.87, and 20.89 mg/kg in fine, medium, and coarse textured
soils, respectively. Among the commercial crop cultivation soils, rice and coconut were grown in soils with adequate
Mg; whereas oil palm, durian, longkong, and rubber were cultivated in Mg deficient soils. Mg is an essential element
in plants; therefore, medium, coarse textured soils, and the extremely weathered tropical Ultisols, regardless of their
texture, require Mg replenishment for optimum plant productivity within the tropics.
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Agricultural Innovation and Management Division, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University,
Songkhla 90110 Thailand |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: chakkrit.p@psu.ac.th
Received 16 Jun 2021, Accepted 26 Oct 2021
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