A Study of Carbon Emission from the Digging and Burning of Topogen Peat Soil in Humbang Hasundutan Regency North Sumatra Province

Abstract

This research aimed to get carbon emission and to count the carbon potential on and under the surface of topogen peat soil area in Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatera. The research was conducted in two stages: (1) to count the carbon potential (above ground and below ground), which involved the counting of weight volume (bulk density), C content, peat soil thickness and the size of peat soil area, and (2) to count the carbon emission. The below ground biomass was covering 1,43 until 3,71 tons/ha. The biggest carbon reserve was in nonvegetation soil which reached 0,.400 tons, while the smallest carbon reserve was in vegetation soil which reached 0,333 tons. The average of below ground carbon reserve in peat soil areas in Humbang Hasundutan regency was 0,180 tons. The CO2 emission in peat soil areas in Humbang Hasundutan regency could be predicted that 7,9 tons would be emitted out of 2,07 ha of peat soil areas in Humbang Hasundutan regency for 5 years, with a burning efficiency of 25%.

Lahan gambut sangat berperan sebagai penyangga (buffer) lingkungan serta memiliki cadangan karbon yang besar. Cadangan karbon yang besar pada lahan gambut menyebabkan tingginya jumlah karbon yang dilepaskan ke atmosfer ketika lahan gambut mengalami pembakaran secara berulang yang pada akhirnya dapat memicu pemanasan global. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghitung potensi karbon yang terdapat di atas dan bawah permukaan lahan gambut topogen di Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan, Sumatera Utara dan memperoleh emisi karbon pada lahan gambut di Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan, Sumatera Utara. Penelitian dilaksanakan pada bulan Februari hingga bulan April tahun 2011 pada lahan yang terletak di Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan Provinsi Sumatera Utara. Analisis tanah dilakukan di Laboratorium Tanah Departemen Ilmu Tanah Sumberdaya Lingkungan IPB dan analisis bahan bakar dilakukan di Laboratorium Kebakaran Hutan dan Lahan IPB.