Relationship between Peat Soil Characteristic and Its Nutrient Status as well as Soil Microbial and Macrofauna Diversities in Sago Palm Growing Area.

Abstract

Indonesia has the largest peat land among tropical countries, about 21 million ha are scattered mainly in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua. Spread of peatlands in Indonesia's main islands, only about 6 million hectares are used for agriculture viable. It is associated with the utilization of peat which had many obstacles especially in peatlands that have not experienced further weathering. The one of the natural resources are not optimally managed sago palm (Metroxylon spp). Sago as one of the plants native to Indonesia which is a commodity that has a very good development prospects for the future, in addition to the sago plant has the ability to grow in marginal lands. One of the inputs required by the land associated with land productivity on farm land is soil organic matter and nutrients are available in a number of balanced. Soil microorganisms and organism play an important role in accelerating the supply of nutrients and also as a source of soil organic matter. Among groups of soil microbes, bacteria and fungi are the most likely group to attention. The role of bacteria in the recycling of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus are very important. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between peat soil characteristics associated with plant nutrients and microbial diversity and macrofauna in a sago plantation. The area is used as a plot observations is to consider the different types of land management, the land cover types in the area of community cultivation, sago plantations in the area PT.NSP and sago plantations in the area of PT. NSP on fire. Based on the research results revealed that the highest nutrient content of K is in sago plantations in the area of PT. NSP on fire > community cultivation > sago plantations in the area PT.NSP, while the highest calcium content contained in sago plantations in the area PT.NSP > community cultivation > is in sago plantations in the area of PT. NSP on fire. Relationship between the availability of potassium in the soil with the availability of potassium in leaves and rachis showing a positive relationship between the availability of potassium in the soil with potassium content in the rachis. While the availability of calcium and magnesium in the soil did not show a positive relationship. In this research shown that the physical condition of the environment, that is water table depth pf peat and C/N ratio contribute impact on microbial diversity and macrofauna. The highest microbial and macrofauna diversities was found in community sago cultivation area with peat water table depth of 63.33 cm and content of C/N ratio of 56.12%.