Degree of peatland maturity over different types of land use in Kinali, West Sumatra Indonesia

Abstract

Different types of land management determine groundwater level of peatlands, which affects the degree of its maturity. A research conducted in Kinali, West Sumatra Indonesia was aimed to identify the degree of peat maturity over five land use types (oil palm plantation, mixed garden, bush land, seasonal crop land, and open land). Soil characteristics, i.e. BD, OM, fiber, ash content, soil color, and degree of maturity, were analyzed. This research showed that BD was 0.31-0.64 g/cm3, SOM content was 26.77-65.84%, fiber content was 3.33-40.67%, ash content was 17.21-70.73%, and the peat was classified into saprist with the color was 7.5 YR 2/2-10YR 3/2 (Brownish Black). It was concluded that the peatland was quite mature (saprist). Mixed garden hosted the highest degree of peat maturity as indicated by the lowest value of SOM content (26.77%), the highest BD (0.64 g/cm3) and ash content (70.73%), the lowest fiber content (3.33%), and the deepest water table (65-67 cm) among other types of peatland.