Soil macrofauna in Oil palm plantation of Sei Liput

Abstract

Oil palm plantation of PT. Socfindo within area of Sei Liput has been planting oil palm since 1909, with recent status consisted of generation V (± 108 years), IV (± 92 years), III (± 49 years) and II (± 32 years). The different interval of utilization and management of plantation in each generation determine both the species, density, relative density and presence frequency of soil macrofauna. Soil macrofauna are known to maintain the balance of soil ecosystem. The study was conducted at Sei Liput oil palm plantation area on February 2017 until April 2018. Determination of sampling points used purpossive random sampling while sampling of soil macrofauna using quadratic and hand sorting methods. The study found 25 species of soil macrofauna grouped into 2 phyla, 6 classes, 12 orders, 20 families and 25 species. The highest density value in the Generation II plantation area was 217.46 ind / m2 and the lowest density value in the Generation III garden area was 125.38 ind / m2. The three most frequent species of soil macrofauna in the four generations plantations were Pontoscolex corethrurus, Odontoponera denticulata, and Vostax apicedentatus.