Dr Nina Yulianti1, Dr. Fengky Florante Adji1, Dr Zafrullah Damanik1, Dr Yanetri Asi1
1University Of Palangka Raya, Palangka Raya, Indonesia
The total area of peatland in Central Kalimantan Province is the second largest in Indonesia, where is distributed in the southern part. However, the peatland had experience annual forest and peat fire. This repeated disaster could have the impact on the peat characteristics This study is a preliminary research to investigate the chemistry, physic, biology and thermal properties from several peatland sites in Central Kalimantan. Peat samples were from Pulang Pisau, Palangka Raya, Kapuas, Katingan and Kotawaringin Timur. The sample collection of had been done post 2015 and 2009 severe fire, from the end of dry to the rain season. The sampling method was simple random sampling with three replication point. The peat sample took from the depth from 0 to 50 cm below the surface. The parameters in this study were pH, organic C, macro nutrient, bases, CEC, BS, water content, bulk density, fiber content, color, fungal and bacterial populations and calorific value. The characteristics of peat fertility were interpreted using the TOR Center for Soil Research (1983). The results showed that peat had a very acidic condition (< 4) even though in some agricultural locations with calcification treatment, C-total was very high (> 50%, except in shallow peat), N-total varied from moderate to very high, K-dd was very the high, CEC was very high, and base saturation was very low. In the study location, peat color was black and blackish brown with had mature decomposition, the bulk density was lowest than 0.3 g cm-3 and the water content ranged from 148-234%. Furthermore, the fungal population is more than the bacterial population on high acidity peat. The peat from Pulang Pisau location, shows that the heating value maximum was 26 kJg-1. The result of this study is expected to be a reference in peatland management in Indonesia.
Biography:
Nina Yulianti is is an Associate Professor in University of Palangka Raya. Currently, she is a head of research group of fire and emission in Center for International Cooperation in Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatland (CIMTROP). She is a member of Objective 3 of ACIAR Project “Improving Community Fire Management and Peatland Rehabilitation in Indonesia holds a PhD from Hokkaido University in Human Environmental Systems. Her expertise is Environmental science; forest and peatland fire analysis; peatland ecology; agroclimatology. Her research and teaching span experimental, field observation and remote sensing approaches, with particular focus on sustainable ecosystems. She is interested in the conservation and management of tropical and boreal peatland through the lens of geology, biology and society.
