PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate the growth of Sesbania rostrata on sandy, sandy loam and slime components of a tin tailing area treated with inorganic fertilizer, and on the sandy component amended with an organic mixture. Inorganic fertilizer was applied at a rate of 30 kg N, 90 kg P2O5 and 120 kg K2O ha"1. The organic mixture used consisted of 50% palm oil mill cake (POMC) and 50% chicken dung at a total equivalent rate of lot ha " ; . Plants were harvested after 24, 42 and 63 days of growth. The results showed that S. rostrata grew best on the slime and poorest on the sandy tailings. Inorganic fertilization increased plant growth on the slime and sandy loam but not on the sandy tailings. Plant tops, roots and nodules in sandy soil amended with organic mixture were 29, 27 and 2.5 times better than those with the inorganic fertilizer. Plant growth on sandy tailing was equivalent to 56% of plant tops and 200% of roots from plants grown on slime supplied with inorganic fertilizers