Soil Hydraulic Conductivity and Soil Water Retention of Inland Peat on Various Land Covers (Case Study: Natural Peat and Burnt Peat)

Abstract

This research aims to examine differences in the rate of saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (permeability) and unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity (infiltration) and soil water retention with various pressures in peatland with different land covers. The study was conducted from June to October 2021. The research was conducted at the LAHG-Sebangau and at the KHDTK-Tumbang Nusa, central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Based on the results of this study, at the HA site has the highest saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (permeability) rate at a depth of 0-10 cm was classified as rather fast. The lowest saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (permeability) rate of the HS site at a depth of 20-30 cm was classified as a rather slow. The highest unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity (infiltration) rate was at the HS site at a depth of 0-10 cm was classified as fast, while the lowest was at the natural forest (HA) at a depth of 10-20 cm classified as very slow. The soil physical characteristics: Soil water content ​​ranging from 474.769-631.364%, fiber content ranging from 8.00-22.67%, bulk density ranging from 0.12-0.19 g cm^-3, porosity ranging from 71.61-85.63% and the color of the soil is dark brown to very blackish red dark. Meanwhile, the ability of the soil to accommodate maximum soil water (saturated conditions) with the highest pF 0 is at the HK site at depth of 10-20 cm was 377,92 cm³ cm^-3, while the lowest is in the HR site at depth of 0-0 cm is 31.11 cm³ cm^-3. The ability of the soil in maximum soil water holding (water control conditions) at pF 4.2 is highest in the HS site at depth of 20-30 cm was 61.10 cm³ cm^-3, while the lowest is in the HR site at depth of 0-10 cm was 13.30 cm³ cm^-3. The soil porosity value in the HS site was higher than that of the HR site, which is 85,830 and 82,130%. The weight value of particle at the HS site was higher compared to other land cover ranging from 0.74-0.86 g cm^-3. The weight value of bulk density at the HS site ranging from 0.17-0.19 g cm^-3 was higher than other land cover.