ABSTRACT
Paddy grown on acid Sulphate soil is subjected to Fe toxicity. Water management is not only the key but also the only practical way of reclaiming acid sulphate soil with special emphasis on leaching and flushing. The purpose of this study was to examine the effective formula for improving wastewater quality in sulphate soil in an environmental friendly manner. The experiment was conducted within a factorial design with three factors, the first one being the management of acid water by mean phytoremediation using two different water plants; Eleocharis dulcis and Eleocharis reflekta. The second factor was the inoculant with carrier and involved the following: without inoculant, carrier wood charcoal without inoculant carrier charcoal husk without inoculant, inoculant with wood charcoal, and inoculant with charcoal husk. The third factor was the management of water, specifically returned and leaching. The result showed a phytoremediation plant which lowers acid levels by raising the pH (by 23%) is Eleocharis dulcis. The application of inoculant with wood charcoal into inundated acid sulphate soil increased soil and water waste pH up to 5.16 and 5.73 respectively, which was higher the option without inoculant (soil and water waste pH 3.98 and 4.38 respectively). The management of water waste with returned decreased sulphate concentration from 12.04% to 5.47%.
