| dc.description.abstract | Peatlands are formed by decomposed plants residues, with vegetation that are submerged. The process of peat formation occurs when the rate of deposition exceeds the rate of loss of organic materials. Peatlands in the world only 3% of the entire land, but store 30% of the world terrestrial carbon. Indonesia is estimated to have the largest amount of carbon in tropical peat of 57,4 Gt. Over the past 20 years, peatlands have been converted for agriculture. Oil palm plantations in Indonesia are mostly developed on peat soil. In 1990, the area of oil palm on peat land in Sumatra was 17.985 hectares, and substantially increased up to 1.026.922 hectares in 2010. The development of oil palm on peatland involve drainage that can disturb the capacity of peatlands in storing carbon. This literature study aims to assess the effect of drainage on carbon dioxide emissions of oil palm plantations on peatlands in Sumatera. Drainage of peatlands lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Separation processes in carbon dioxide emissions shows the contribution of peat decomposition, root respiration, plant biomass and fires for land clearing. Heterotrophic respiration (decomposition of peat) contributes 73% of the total soil respiration and the remaining 27% is from autotrophic respiration (root respiration). | en |
