Authors:
Y. Sulistiyanto, H.Vasander, J. Jauhiainen, J.O. Rieley and S.H. Limin
Book:
After Wise Use – The Future of Peatlands, Proceedings of the 13th International Peat Congress: Tropical Peatlands
Keywords:
chemical-analysis, peat-swamp, water-sample
Documentfile:
Sulistiyanto et al. 2008: Nutrient content of rainfall, water in canal and water at different depths
Summary:
Rainfall and water in a peat swamp area in Kalampangan, Central Kalimantan, part of the former Mega Rice Project, Indonesia were sampled every four weeks from May 2004 to January 2007 and analysed for total content of Ca, Mg, K, Na, and Fe. The study area has been drained since 1997. Rainfall was collected at two sites in a deforested area. Water samples were collected at three sites in a canal and six sites in the adjacent peat area. At each peatland site water samples were obtained from depths of 50, 150 and 250 cm below the peat surface. Rainfall ranges from very acid to neutral (pH between 4.11 ± 0.01 and 6.60 ± 0.00 with average 5.12 ±0.55). Water in the canal is very acid (pH between 3.32 ± 0.04 and 4.22 ± 0.05 with average 3.71 ±0.19) with a predominance of Ca and K. pH of water sampled from the peat at 50, 150, and 250 cm depth in the deforested area has means of 3.98 ±0.60, 4.18 ± 0.36 and 4.31 ± 0.35, respectively. In contrast, pH of water sampled from the peat at 50, 150, and 250 cm depth in the forest area has means of 3.68 ±0.55, 3.70 ± 0.38 and 3.92 ± 0.46, respectively. Similarly to water in the canal, water sampled in the deforested and forest areas has a predominance of Ca and K.