Soils of sandy dunes or beach ridges interspersed swales (BRIS) are common in the coastal parts of the east
coast in Peninsular Malaysia. The soils have low productivity due to many physical and chemical limitations.
A planting trial of tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia), a medicinal plant sought after for its commercial value,
was carried out on a BRIS soil in Setiu, Terengganu. Three levels of nitrogen with basal phosphorus (P) and
potassium (K) were applied with and without organic mulch. Results showed significant positive effects of
fertilizer input on plant height and root biomass yield, and fertilizer use efficiency improved with organic
mulch. The optimum rate of fertilizer on this soil required by tongkat ali was 75 kg N/ha as urea with basal
applications of P and K preferably in the form of organic mulch.