Peatland water conservation by agroforestry system

Abstract

Peat swamp forest have a high economic value and are potential for agricultural development. However, peatlad are fragile ecosystems because they are easily damaged and difficult to restore. The main problem of all peat soil types is their irreversible drying. In this condition the peat soil is easy burning, unable to store water, and if the groundwater is far from the surface, the plants will be stressed from lack of water. Therefore to support sustainable agricultural development on peatlands it requires careful planning, application of appropriate technology and suitable management. One of the land management systems that can be applied on peatlands is combining agricultural crop and forest plant (agroforestry). Forest plant and seasonal agriculture crops can increase CO2 absorption so that photosynthetic efficiency and oxygen production increase. These proses increase the production of biomass which can maintain soil organic matter and prevent erosion. Organic matter enhance the effectiveness of rewetting and water retention capacity. In addition, this system also affects the microclimate, such as the soil becoming more humid because it gets shade from the vegetation above it, so reduce temperature and elevated air moisture. Indirectly, agroforestry can reduce excessive evaporation and maintains the ground water level, especially during the dry season. This review aim to explain the role of intercropping system in peatland water conservation.

Agroforestry on peatland: Livelihood options for community resilience to climate change adaptation

“…Due to the need for control materials during the peat stabilization process to maintain the elemental composition, carboxyl (COOH), and OH-phenol functional groups so that the peat conditions become stable, some research findings indicate that agroforestry systems can be an effective buffer in peatlands for fire control. Moreover, Lestari et al [54] said that increased CO2 absorption could improve photosynthetic efficiency and oxygen production in forest plants and seasonal crops. These procedures boost biomass production, which helps to preserve soil organic matter and avoid erosion.…”

Agroforestry System as the Best Vegetation Management to Face Forest Degradation in Indonesia

“…Deep peat agroforestry systems (3-4m) with a combination of woody trees, non-timber trees and plantation crops contribute to a carbon stock of 3 tons ha -1 . Meanwhile, monoculture crops produce an average carbon stock of 0.8 tons ha -1 [25,26,27,28,29]. In addition, the application of agroforestry systems in dry land can increase the soil water content, overcome limited resources in dry areas while minimizing environmental damage [30,31].…”