Changes in some soil chemical properties in peatland after two years of fire in Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan

Abstract

The peatland fire that occurred in 2018 is located in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan. The initial study based on samples collected in the fire period reported that there were some changes in chemical properties leading to peatland damages. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of land fires on changes in some soil chemical properties after two years of fires. Soil samples of fired and unfired peatland were subjected to soil analyses. Soil analyses covered soil pH, organic carbon (C), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and bulk density (BD). The results showed that after two years of peatland fires did not affect the changes in peat soil pH, organic C, P, Ca, Mg, K, Cu, Zn, Mn and BD. One plot of fired peatland showed that the weight of fresh frond and leaf area of oil palm grown on it was not statistically different from those of unfired peatland. The results suggested some chemical properties return to the previous equilibrium due to the high buffering capacity of peat soil.