Karakteristik fisik gambut transisi di Kesatuan Hidrologi Gambut (KHG) Kahayan-Sebangau, Kalimantan Tengah

Abstract

The degradation of the peatland ecosystem has been a major impact on the local environment (in situ) as well as its surroundings (ex situ) such as fires, irriversible drying and dome collapse. Transitional peatlands in Central Kalimantan since the 1980s, have been used for agricultural cultivation areas, so that the need of information on the current state of peat properties, especially after the high degradation and the intensive cultivation are essential for the reference in sustainable peatland management. This aims to study the physical condition of peat transition from the several land uses in the southern part of KHG Kahayan-Sebangau. Sampling was performed using a simple random method before the severe fires (May 2015) as well as transects and profiles after the fires (2016 and 2017). The parameters were peat thickness, weight of content, fiber content, water content and soil color. The results showed that the physical properties in West Kanamit Village, Kec. Maliku, Kab. Pulang Pisau have varying peat soil thickness from shallow to deep peat with varying degrees of maturity. The pattern relationship between physical properties shows two patterns of interconnection that is positive (directional) and negative (reverse). This illustrates the interaction between physical characteristics of peat so that it can be a guide in the utilization and management of peatland transition.