Dwi Astiani
1Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Tanjungpura, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
4Konsorsium Keilmuan Gambut Tropis-Kalimantan University Consortium* Corresponding email: dwiastiani@fahutan.untan.ac.id1

INTRODUCTION

Tropical peatlands are complex, multi-functional natural systems
As an ombrogenous peatland, water and nutrient inputs from precipitation have importantroles in maintaining peatlands
Previous study delivered that hydrology is the most important factor influencing peatland
ecology, development, function, and processes

Peatland in Indonesia spans ~21M ha distributes in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua. In
West Kalimantan span 1,7M ha, only ~30% forest covered left
Deforestation or any disturbance and environmental changes, can transform naturalhydrological patterns and processes for peatland water movement, and thus alter bothcarbon pools and fluxes
2

OBJECTIVE
To search the scientific facts about the local wisdom and its role to peat soil
CO2 emission and fire risks accident
To distribute the traditional wisdom and scientifically proven for sustainable
future of peatlands be managed properly and accordingly
To share experience on the efforts of reducing peatland degradation involving
the local communities and their wisdoms

3

AGRICULTURE PRACTICES ON PEATLAND
Peatland development and management for
agricultural land not as easy as other lands
management

It takes some time to be able to change thepeatlands into productive land suitable land
for agricultural activities

Needs a variety of soil improvement andtreatments
Need carefull handling due to its functions
as an environmental buffer

The increased of peat organic
matter decomposition,concomitantly increasing the CO2emission to atmosphere.
4

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE
Non-developedpeatland area
inundated by water
both due to rainwater or tide.

Peatland traditional farmers in West Kalimantan alreadyhave provisions to manage peatlands.
Farmer mostly develop 'parit cacing', small trenches of30-40 cm depth are built on each farmer land margin, toreduce puddles during high water levels.

The existing practices are passed on to thenext generation through oral tradition

5

RESEARCH ACTIVITIESCase Study Site: Peatlandof Kubu Raya, West
Kalimantan Province,Indonesia❑The village communities of Kubu Raya district weredeveloped in year 2002, most of them traditional
farmers❑The land covered partially by degraded forest, shrub,and open non-cultivated areas.
❑Each family processed the land into arable land,
planting mixed crops, corn, sweet potato, cassava,
pineapple, ginger and some vegetables.
❑At the beginning of their inhabitant in the area, theyrelied on the traditional farming knowledge to cultivate
the land.
10 year later, local government program built larger canals
close to community crop farms, significant effects on crops

6CO2 Emission assessment✓ Emission was assessed weekly in along twoyears on farmer cropland and post larger canals
development, with Li-Cor 8100 Automated soil
CO2 flux✓ The result on soil CO2 respiration then converted
to soil CO2 emission following Malhi et al. (2012)by separating root respiration activity of the plantand peat decomposition process✓ Water table levels and other hydrology condition
were measured at the time of emission
assessment

7

The Effect of Water Level on Soil CO2 Emission
Soil CO2 emission on peatland increased
when water table level was deeperThe increased of water level from 20 cm to 30,40, 50, & 60cm increase peatland CO2emission proportionally. The shift of WL from
20cm to 60cm, triple soil CO2 emission❑ Other finding in peatland landscape was that some environment factors
simultaneously influencing soil CO2 emission❑ Some environment factors that significantly regulating CO2 in peatland werewater level, water content and soil temperature
8

Local Wisdom on Planting Crops on peatland:
Emission vs Water Table Levels
5050

Mean water table levels (cm)Soil CO2 emission (ton ha-1 y-1)604030201040Col 1230201000Pineapple

Fern

Pineapple

CornFern

LandcoverPeatland Landscape Cover

200150-1-1

CO2 Emission (Ton Ha Y )Results justify that the hydrology
management such as practiced by West
Kalimantan farmers on peatland resulted
lower CO2 emission, ~ mean < 22 ton ha-1
y-1 lower when compared to abandonedfern peatland cover.

Corn

100

500-50
2030

4050

60

Water table level (cm below peat surface)70

80

9Drought Impact On Peat Surface Water Contents
600
0-10cm
10-20cm
20-30cm

Water Content (%)

500

40030020010000123456789Within eight weeks drought, the first 10 cm
peat depth reduced the highest lost of %water content (198%).
The 10-20cm depth lost 178%, and 20-30cm
174%
These WC critical to fire to be started.
It is essential to set up water table level close
to soil surface, to maintain the water contents

Weeks with No Rain

When farmer set up their land with 30-40 cm water level, with similar lost of water
portion on evaporation, the water content could be higher due to capillary movementof soil water from lower peat layer. The capillary movement in peat soil may reach
20-30 cm above peat water table level
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Laboratory Scale Fire Experiment❑ Fire experiment was conducted to explore peat hydrology condition (i.e. water table levels)
impacts on peat water content and biomass loss.

1614Drought Periode (weeks)

1210

864

20-202040

Biomass Loss (%)

6080✓ Reducing water content of peat, dictating biomass loss
on peat fire event. Critical peat water content (200% ofweight based) which could start fire easily on peat
surface was reach on the ~5-6 week dry season.
✓ This critical time may be shorter on field based
measurement when other environment/weather factors
also taking part such as wind, ambient temperature andhumidity, soil temperature and humidity, air density,and aboveground fuel sources, and esp peatland watertable, which influences water content.
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Peat Biomass Loss on Fire
Weight Portion of biomass loss in fire (%)

50403020100012345678910Weeks with No Rain

❑ Before large canal development, fire events rarely occur in the site. The water tableposition close to peat surface, keep the peat surface moist, make it difficult to start fire.
❑ A fire event will start when there are available fuel sources, oxygen and heat.
Therefore, when upper peat soil is moist, the both intentional and escaped fire event israrely started.

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Hydrological Set up Reduces Peat Biomass Loss, Soil CO 2 Emission & Fire Risk

water tables
set up decrease
CO2 emission
from peatland

Peatland Respiration (Ton ha-1 year-1)

Canal andlandcovershiftedSoil CO2 Emission(Ton ha-1 year-1)

160a140
120 Col 6b100b8060c40
20030cm

40cm

50cm

Water Table Level

60cm

Water Tablelevel (cm)30405060

1st year
26.8 ± 4.3
36.6 ± 4.9
41.4 ± 5.0
51.9 ± 5.3

2nd year
18.4 ± 1.8
32.0 ± 2.3
41.4 ± 3.7
55.7 ± 2.6

13Peat Water-Level Setting in Small-holder Oilpalm Plantation

1480

60

40

20020

304050

Before water table setup, mean CO2 emission
95,5 Mg ha-1 y-1 (range
48,6−256,7 Mg ha-1 y-1),
post set up decrease
14.1% , 34.9%, 52.2%, &60.3% with WT ~60, 50,40, 30 cm consecutively

140

Mean CO2 Emission (Mg ha-1 y-1)

Mean Water Table in Oilpalm crop land (cm)

Water levelset up incanalregulate
water tablein oilpalm
land area

100

Before WL set up
After WL set up

120

100

80

60

4020030cm

40cm

50cm

60cm

Water Table

60

Water Level set up in Canal (cm)350,35aTotal Total TBS per plant

25bbbb20151050Kerapatan Massa Gambut (g cm-3)

300,30Kerapatan Massa 0-40cm
Kerapatan Massa 40-80cm

0,250,200,150,100,05

0,002030405060

Water Level (cm)Oilpalm fresh fruit bunch production
significantly higher in WT 40cm

2030405060

TMA (cm)

Peat bulk density were relatively higher
in deeper WT, show higher peat
subsidence

15Community Training on Peatland Water Treatment
Peatland Water
Treatment forCommunity Uses

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SUMMARY❑ The use of traditional wisdom on peatlands as hydrology regulators of irrigation and land boundaries
between farmers for generations provides great benefits to farmers. It is scientifically proven to provide
better environmental protection such as lower emissions, better fire prevention, and fewer biomass
losses.
❑ The management and conservation of peatlands is a central issue today. Considering that peatland isan alternative answer to the problem of lack in agricultural land in Indonesia.
❑ Non-forested peatlands are potential to be utilized by farmers to cultivate crop and vegetable farming
activities. However, the difficulty in managing peatlands has to be taken care. Therefore, the local
wisdom that greatly contributes to the sustainability of peatlands should be continually practiced byfarmers.
❑ Community based peatland include women could be empowered to manage peatland in sustainable
manners17

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