SOILS UNDER HEVEA IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: IDENTIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CLAY MINERALS

Authors

  • Noordin WD Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia
  • Shafar JM Department of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22302/ppk.procirc2017.v1i1.495

Abstract

Clay mineralogy of 23 different series of soils from different localities in Peninsular Malaysia and belonging to a wide range of parent materials are reported and discussed. Various techniques of determination were employed. It was found that several types of clays occur in Malaysia soils. The presence of a specific type of clay mineral was found to be useful tool to predict the type of parent material as well as weathering stage of the parent material. Additionally, it was shown that in the humid environment experienced in Malaysia, degeneration of 2: 1 clays was rapid. The information on clay mineralogy will be useful to predict the fertility of the soils so that proper fertiliser recommendation can be made.

Keywords: mineralogy, soil, Hevea, tropical, weathered

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Issue

Agronomy Session

Section

Agronomy