Characteristics of selected peatland uses and soil moisture based on TVDI

Abstract

The conversion of peatland from forest to non-forest causes environmental damage and increases high land dryness. Mapping of peatland based on dryness is very important to control and prevent fires. This study aims at characterizing peatland based on the level of temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI) and evaluating the correlation between TVDI value and soil moisture. The research was conducted in August 2018 during the dry season. The area of research located in peat hydrological unit of Sibumbung River - Batok River in Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) District of South Sumatra Province covering 63,427 ha area that consists of various land uses. The result showed that extreme wet category is found in water bodies and secondary forests that have high density, moderate wet is found in paddy fields and grass, normal area is found in the area covered by low-density trees, moderate dry is found in shrubs and oil palm plantations with good management and extreme dry areas is found in grasses and oil palm with poor cultivation management. There is a correlation between the TVDI value to the soil moisture on 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm depth.