September 8, 2026 | 02:52 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Professor of agrogeology at the Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University, Iskandar, stated that the impact of volcanic ash on plants largely depends on the duration of exposure to the particles. "If the disturbance lasts for days or even weeks, the impact will be severe," said Iskandar in a written statement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
According to Iskandar, who is actively involved in the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources at IPB, Photosynthesis will be disrupted if plants’ leaves and stems are covered in volcanic ash. The closure of stomata can inhibit plants’ development and flowering, especially if it lasts for an extended period. Plants may fail to bear fruit as a result.
The impact of volcanic ash also depends on how far the plants are from the center of the eruption. In areas relatively close to the center of the eruption, falling ash is still hot and can damage plants. When affected, plants tend to wilt and eventually die.
Rainfall will determine how long the ash remains on the land surface. Thin layers of volcanic debris are relatively easy to wash away with rainwater. The further from the eruption center, the size of volcanic ash particles generally becomes finer and lighter. Meanwhile, around the eruption center, the materials released are not dust, but tend to be sand, gravel, and even chunks of rock.
Iskandar advises the public to cultivate the land promptly once normal activities can resume. This is because soil cultivation will be more difficult if it has been heavily exposed to thick ash.
Volcanic ash does not need to be discarded and may be suitable for mixing with the soil. However, the soil conditions need to be examined through pH and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements. In some cases, volcanic debris can replenish degraded soil.
The ash on the soil surface needs to be exposed to rainfall first. "This will release various beneficial nutrients for plants, such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and others," he said.
Read: How Banten Is Responding to Anak Krakatau's Volcanic Ashfall
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