Paper Title
Impact of Sugarcane Trash Burning on Soil Chemical Properties

Abstract
Thai farmers generally burn sugarcane trash and this has a negative effect on health, agriculture and the economy. This research assessed the impact of sugarcane trash burning on soil chemical properties using a 2x2 factorial four block randomised complete block design (RCBD). Soil samples were collected from Chaiyaphum, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Ratchasima Provinces as the four blocks in the design. The experiment comprised two factors as sugarcane trash management and soil depth. Soil samples were collected from each province at depths of 0-15 and 15-30 cm in sugarcane plots that had been burned and non-burned regularly for more than 10 years. Results indicated that the soil was coarse in texture. Soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P) and exchangeable potassium (K) were high in topsoil managed as non-burned sugarcane trash, while subsoil in burned sugarcane trash sample areas was high in exchangeable calcium (Ca), exchangeable magnesium (Mg) and exchangeable sodium (Na). Reducing sugarcane trash to ash increased the solubility of these nutrients. Results indicated that non-burned sugarcane trash sample areas had higher SOM than burned areas. SOM is an indicator of soil quality and managing crop residue in non-burned sugarcane trash areas had higher SOM than burned sugarcane trash areas. Keywords - Burned Sugarcane Trash, Non-burned Sugarcane Trash, Soil Properties