No abstract

Degraded peatlands can be detected laboratory analysis and field appearance. Peatlands degradation is characterized by a very reduced water holding capacity which is caused by peat fire or over drain. The capacity of peat to hold water is closely related to their functional groups. Analysis using Fourier Tansform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrocopy enable to determine the functional groups of peat. The research was aimed to study peatland degradation based on functional group changes through FTIR analysis. The samples of peat soil were taken from burned peatland, agricultural peat land and natural peat in Kalampangan, Central Kalimantan. The hydrophobic properties of the functional group are indicated as lignin, carboxylic or phenolic groups, fat, wax or lipids, while the hydrophilic functional group is indicated as protein and cellulose. Degraded peat have the hydrophobic group of 56.20%, while in natural peatlands was around 29%. Hydrophilic functional group on burned peatlands was 34.5-43%, natural peatland was 60-70% and agricultural peatland was 66%. Functional group analysis using FTIR can be used to detect the level of peatland degradation, through a significant increase in hydrophobic groups

This study aimed to investigate the biochar effect on peat soil fertility and uptake of nitrogen, phosphor, and potassium by corn plants. The experiment was conducted at a greenhouse in the Indonesian Swampland Agriculture Research Institute (ISARI), Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, from June to September 2014. The peat soil sample was collected from the village of Kalampangan, Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. The treatment consisted of four types of biochar, namely coconut shell, palm midrib, Galam stem (Melaleuca leucadendron), rice husk and five rates of biochar i.e. 0, 2, 4, 8 and 16 t/ha. Biochar was analyzed in total C, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Si, ash content, pH and CEC, also initial soil sample was analyzed pH, EC, organic C, total N, P, available P, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, H, Cu, Zn, and total acidity were measured. The application of biochar changed peat soil properties including pH, available P, exchangeable K, nutrient uptake and the dry weight (i.e root and shoot). The type of biochar significantly affect the exchangeable K in peat soil and nutrient uptake. The highest exchangeable K and NPK uptake by corn showed by the coconut shell biochar at dose 4 t/ha.

The main constraint in the management of peatlands includes: high soil acidity, very low nutrient availability especially NPK. The study aimed to determine the role of biochar to improve soil properties and paddy growth in peatlands. The study was conducted in Landasan Ulin rural, Gambut district, Banjar regency, South Kalimantan. The study was conducted from June to October 2012. Research was arranged in a randomized block design, with three replications. The treatment given was a combination of the type and dose of ameliorant i.e. the 3 types of ameliorant: F1 (50% purun tikus grass + 50% agricultural weed), F2 (16.7% chicken manure + 83.3% biochar), F3 (9% chicken manure + 91% purun tikus grass), with a dose of 2.5, 5 and 7.5 t ha -1 , and control. The results showed that treatment of biochar could increase soil pH, total N, and exchangeable P (Bray I) though it was not significant, and significant in increasing the exchangeable K compared to controls. In the growth of rice plants giving biochar can increase plant height, number of tillers and number of panicles compared to controls.

This study aim was to determine the effectiveness of various types of ameliorant in improving soil chemical properties and rice yields in actual acid sulfate soils. The study was conducted in Tamban Baru Tengah village, Tamban Catur Subdistrict, Kapuas, Central Kalimantan, from April-September 2019. The research design used a Randomized Block Design with treatment (A1) 5 t ha−1 of lime given once at the beginning, (A2) 3 t ha−1 lime + 2 t ha−1 lime given at the rice age of 1 month, (A3) 3 t ha−1 lime + 2 t ha−1 ‘Porre’ organic fertilizer, (A4) 3 t ha−1 lime + 2 t ha−1 rice husk ask. Each treatment was replicated 4 times. Periodic soil observations included pH H2O, EC, SO4 2-, Fe2+ and Al3+, plant height, tillers number, and rice yields were observed. The results showed that the ameliorant treatment was able to reduce concentration of Fe2+ at planting from 6400 ppm to 1000-1500 ppm, SO4 2- from 8000 ppm to 2100 to 4300 ppm, Al3+ from 16.31 cmol(+) kg−1 to 5.2-6.7 cmol(+) kg−1. Lime combined with “Porre” organic fertilizer (A3) gave the highest rice yield (>17% higher than A1). The use of “Porre” organic fertilizer was able to reduce the use of lime in tidal swampland.