Application of Seed Bomb Planting Technique for Peat Forest Rehabilitation

Abstract

Indonesia's peatlands, globally significant ecosystems critical for biodiversity and climate regulation, face severe degradation from logging, land conversion, and recurrent fires. Rehabilitating these landscapes is a major challenge due to hostile soil conditions (high acidity, low fertility) and the complex accessibility of traditional planting methods. Direct seeding offers a scalable and cost-effective alternative, but its success is often limited by the failure of seeds to germinate. Seed bomb technology, which encases seeds in a protective substrate, simulates a "buried" planting technique that shields the seed and improves its microenvironment. This technology demonstrates significant potential for peatland rehabilitation; therefore, systematic research of its effects on peatland adaptive species is necessary. This research aimed to: (1) analyze the germination performance of forest tree seeds across different species, (2) analyze the effect of different seed planting techniques (buried and non-buried) on the germination performance of forest tree seeds, and (3) analyze the effect of different seed bomb formulations on the germination performance of forest tree seeds. The research was conducted through a series of sequential experiments in a controlled greenhouse environment. Six forest tree species were selected: gamal (Gliricidia sepium), gelam (Melaleuca cajuputi), merbau (Intsia bijuga), nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), swamp jelutung (Dyera polyphylla), and kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus). The study involved three main tests: (1) a germination test to establish the intrinsic viability of each species; (2) a seed planting technique test comparing buried and non-buried seeds in peat soil; and (3) a seed bomb formula test evaluating three different formulations (F1: Miko-seedcookies + adhesive solution; F2: peat soil + clay + dolomite; F3: peat soil + clay + dolomite + adhesive solution). A dropping test was also conducted to assess the physical durability of the seed bombs. Key parameters measured were germination percentage, germination capacity, mean germination time, and seedling survival rate. All data were statistically analyzed using the Aligned Rank Transform (ART) method followed by an ART-contrast post hoc test. The germination test revealed variation among species, with gelam demonstrating the highest germination performance, while nyamplung and swamp jelutung were slow to emerge but showed high resilience once established. The planting technique test found no overall significant difference between buried and non-buried seeds under greenhouse conditions, although a significant interaction between species and technique was observed. In the seed bomb formula test, all three formulations effectively supported germination. Gamal, gelam, and merbau proved to be the most compatible with the seed bomb application. In the seed bomb dropping test, the F1 formula was significantly more resistant to impact, showing the lowest destruction index after being dropped from a height of 10 meters.

Lahan gambut di Indonesia merupakan ekosistem yang penting untuk keanekaragaman hayati dan pengaturan iklim global, namun lahan gambut menghadapi degradasi yang parah akibat penebangan, konversi lahan, dan kebakaran yang berulang. Rehabilitasi lanskap ini menjadi tantangan besar karena kondisi tanah yang tidak mendukung (kemasaman tinggi, kesuburan rendah) dan kompleksitas logistik metode penanaman tradisional. Penaburan benih langsung (direct seeding) menawarkan alternatif yang lebih terukur dan hemat biaya, namun keberhasilannya terbatas oleh ketidakmampuan benih untuk berkecambah. Teknologi seed bomb (bom benih), yang melapisi benih dalam substrat pelindung, mensimulasikan teknik tanam "terkubur" yang melindungi benih dan memperbaiki iklim mikronya. Teknologi ini berpotensi untuk rehabilitasi lahan gambut sehingga perlu dilakukan penelitian sistematis mengenai pengaruhnya terhadap spesies yang adaptif di lahan gambut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: (1) menganalisis performa perkecambahan dari berbagai benih spesies pohon hutan, (2) menganalisis pengaruh teknik tanam yang berbeda (terkubur dan tidak terkubur) terhadap performa perkecambahan benih species pohon hutan, dan (3) menganalisis pengaruh berbagai formulasi seed bomb terhadap performa perkecambahan benih pohon hutan. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan melalui serangkaian percobaan yang berurutan di rumah kaca pada kondisi yang terkontrol. Enam spesies pohon hutan dipilih, yaitu gamal (Gliricidia sepium), gelam (Melaleuca cajuputi), merbau (Intsia bijuga), nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), jelutung rawa (Dyera polyphylla), dan kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus). Penelitian ini melibatkan tiga pengujian utama, yaitu: (1) uji perkecambahan untuk mengevaluasi viabilitas setiap spesies; (2) uji teknik tanam yang membandingkan benih terkubur dan tidak terkubur di tanah gambut; dan (3) uji formula seed bomb yang mengevaluasi tiga formula yang berbeda (F1: Miko-seedcookies + larutan perekat; F2: tanah gambut + tanah liat + dolomit; F3: tanah gambut + tanah liat + dolomit + larutan perekat). Uji penjatuhan juga dilakukan untuk menilai ketahanan fisik seed bomb. Parameter yang diukur adalah persentase perkecambahan, daya kecambah, waktu perkecambahan rata-rata, dan persentase hidup semai. Seluruh data dianalisis secara statistik menggunakan metode Aligned Rank Transform (ART) yang dilanjutkan dengan uji post hoc kontras-ART. Hasil uji perkecambahan menunjukkan adanya variasi antar spesies, dimana gelam menunjukkan performa perkecambahan terbaik, sementara nyamplung dan jelutung rawa berkecambah lebih lama namun menunjukkan ketahanan yang tinggi setelah berkecambah. Hasil uji teknik tanam tidak menunjukkan perbedaan yang signifikan secara keseluruhan antara benih yang terkubur dan tidak terkubur, meskipun terdapat interaksi yang signifikan antara spesies dan teknik tanam. Uji formula seed bomb menunjukkan ketiga formula secara efektif mendukung perkecambahan. Gamal, gelam, dan merbau terbukti paling sesuai dengan aplikasi seed bomb. Uji penjatuhan menunjukkan seed bomb dengan formula F1 secara signifikan lebih tahan terhadap benturan, menunjukkan indeks kerusakan terendah setelah dijatuhkan dari ketinggian 10 meter.