Asian Journal of Agricultural and Horticultural Research

Aims: Acacia mearnsii tree has high economic value, and it can form a symbiosis with rhizobium bacteria. As an erosion control tree that grows in various types of soil, it is necessary to investigate the adaptability of acacia plants while in the nursery. This study aimed to determine the adaptability of acacia seedling growth to various types of soil.

Study Design: The research was designed as an experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Padang West Sumatera, Lab of Biotechnology Andalas University, started from April to October 2023.

Methodology: The method used in this research is a complete randomized design with seven treatments and five replications. The treatments were humus soil, beach sand, ultisol soil, coal mine, limestone soil, oxisol soil, and sandy loam soil. Variables observed were plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of root nodules, crown wet weight, crown dry weight, root wet weight, root dry weight, and plant dry weight. Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance, and further statistical analysis was carried out using the Duncan Multiple Range Test at 5% significance level.

Results: The results of this study indicate that A. mearnsii plants can adapt well to three soil types, including coastal sandy soil, ex-coal mine soil, and sandy clay soil, in addition to humus soil (used as the control treatment). These soil types can be effectively utilized for reclaiming marginal land. The adaptability of A. mearnsii plants is evident from the observed growth and yield parameters, which include an increase in the number of leaves, shoot wet weight, shoot dry weight, root wet weight, root dry weight, shoot-to-root ratio, and overall plant dry weight. Moreover, the parameters that show a positive correlation with plant dry weight include plant height, the number of leaves, and the number of branches. Interestingly, the formation of root nodules in ex-mining soil increased significantly up to 19 times compared to humus soil.

Conclusion: In the seven types of soil used as planting media for adaptation study, the A. mearnsii could adapt well to coastal sand, former coal mines and sandy clay soil, thereby providing its promising potential as a soil conservation agent.