Evaluation of change in the peat soil properties affected by different fire severities

Abstract

Tropical peatland ecosystems of Indonesia provide direct economic benefits to the local communities and act to maintain the local weather patterns. The impact of burning tropical peat swamp forests of land clearing for palm oil plantations can have significant consequences on the change in the characteristics of peat soil. The aim of this study was to determine the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the peat soils by the field and laboratory testing and analysis for understanding a change in the nature and characteristics of the peatlands at four locations in the Pelalawan regency of Riau province. The results showed that the effect of burning peat swamp forests can lead to a change in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the peat soils. Soil permeability and soil microbial population can significantly decrease with increasing of the fire severity. The effect of different fire severities on the characteristics of peat soil are verified to contribute to advanced management of the tropical peatland in the future.