| Summary: | ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is to investigate physical characteristic of peatlands at five land use types (primary peat swamp forets, secondary peat forest, shrub, oil palm and corn field), such as ground water table, depth of peat soil, thickness of pest composition and depth of organic material (humus) as effect of land use change. This study was conducted at peatland in Rasau Jaya-West Kalimantan Province. Result of the study show that at primary peat swamp forest and secondary peat forest have deeper ground water table, deeper depth peat soils, soil maturity level varies with thinner depth of peat composition, organic material on forest floor than at oil palm and corn field. The differeneces is caused the construction of drainage canals causing an excessive loss of water, prior to reclamation activites may result in the drop of depth of ground water table. This will generally to followed by an increase in the rate of peat decomposition and changes in the physical properties of peat.
Keywords: Physical characteristic of peatlands, land use change, reclamation, drainage, peat decomposition
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