Effects of Land and Water Management on Bulk Density of Peat Soils in Coconut Plantations

Peatlands, which cover approximately 7% of Indonesia’s land surface, hold significant agricultural potential but require careful management for sustainability. The objective of this research is to assess the effects of land and water management on peat soil bulk density (BD) and subsidence in agricu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2024-12, Vol.1421 (1), p.12007
Main Authors: Putri, R, Suwardi, Iskandar, Sumawinata, B, Fawzi, N I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural practices
Bulk density
Cover crops
Crop management
Growth conditions
Nutrient cycles
Peat
Peat soils
Peatlands
Plantations
Soil density
Soil water
Subsidence
Sustainability management
Sustainable practices
Sustainable use
Water levels
Water management
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Summary:Peatlands, which cover approximately 7% of Indonesia’s land surface, hold significant agricultural potential but require careful management for sustainability. The objective of this research is to assess the effects of land and water management on peat soil bulk density (BD) and subsidence in agricultural practices employing integrated water management. The study was conducted in Pulau Burung District, Riau Province, which is the only Nucleus and Smallholder Estate Scheme of coconut plantation in Indonesia. The plantation applied and managed an integrated water management technique called “Water Management Trinity” to regulate water levels during rainy and dry spells, ensuring optimal growth conditions and maintaining peat soil wetness. The results show no pattern differences in BD between the nucleus estate and smallholder estate, with values ranging from 0.10–0.19 g/cm 3 . It was observed that peat soil BD decreases with increasing depth. The annual subsidence rate is -1.56 cm. However, the BD has increased by 136% relative to the initial measurements in 1986, contributing to a slowdown in the progression of subsidence rates in recent years. The adoption of cover crop management, which enhances nutrient cycling processes in peat soil on the nucleus estate, and the transformation of farmers from conventional practices to apply cover crop management, have shown positive impacts on productivity. The application of sustainable management practices in coconut plantations demonstrates the potential for the sustainable use of peatlands, particularly in mitigating the high subsidence rates that are a primary concern in peatland agriculture.
ISSN:1755-1307
1755-1315
DOI:10.1088/1755-1315/1421/1/012007