Mapping peat soil moisture under oil palm plantation and tropical forest in Sarawak
Water table conditions in drained peatlands affect peat decomposition, fluvial carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, and plant growth in oil palm plantations. This study illustrates the spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture profiles in cultivated tropical peat under oil palm plantation and unculti...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Societ
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/38577/1/Mapping%20peat%20soil%20-%20Copy.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/38577/ http://mires-and-peat.net/pages/volumes/map28/map2813.php |
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| Institution: | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Water table conditions in drained peatlands affect peat decomposition, fluvial carbon and greenhouse gas
emissions, and plant growth in oil palm plantations. This study illustrates the spatial heterogeneity of soil
moisture profiles in cultivated tropical peat under oil palm plantation and uncultivated secondary forest, using
maps. At a study plot under each land use the geographical coordinates of sampling points, tree locations and
other features were recorded. Peat soil samples were taken at depths of 0–50 cm, 50–100 cm, 100–150 cm and
150–200 cm, and their moisture contents were determined. Overall, soil moisture content was higher in
secondary forest than in oil palm plantation due to land management activities such as drainage and peat
compaction in the latter. Significant differences were observed between the topsoil (0–50 cm) and deeper soil
layers under both land uses. Soil moisture maps of the study plots interpolated using geographical information
system (GIS) software were used to visualise the spatial distributions of moisture content in soil layers at
different depths (0–50 cm, 50–100 cm, 100–150 cm, 150–200 cm). Moisture content in the 0–50 cm soil layer
appeared to be inversely related to elevation, but the correlation was not statistically significant. On the other
hand, there was a significant positive correlation between soil moisture content and the diameters of oil palm
trunks. Palm trees with negative growth of trunk diameter were mostly located in subplots which were
relatively dry and/or located near drains. The results of this study indicate that soil moisture mapping using
GIS could be a useful tool in improving the management of peatland to promote oil palm growth |
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