Chemical Characteristics of Peat Soil on Oil Palm (Elaeis geuineensis Jacq.) Plantations in Puan Cepak Village, Muara Kaman District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency

Abstract

The use of peat soil for agricultural development faces many obstacles related to the natural properties of peat, including its relatively high acidity. Peatland is a marginal land area targeted for agricultural use, including oil palm cultivation. This study aims to assess the chemical characteristics of peat soil in oil palm plantations. This research was conducted from June to August 2024. Sampling was conducted at a 15 year old oil palm plantation owned by PT. Prima Mitrajaya Mandiri in Puan Cepak Village, Muara Kaman District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency. Soil chemical analysis was conducted at the Soil Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mulawarman. Sampling was conducted using a purposive sampling method, where the points were deliberately determined based on certain criteria. Five observation locations were selected at two different depths: 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm, resulting in 10 peat soil samples. The results of the study showed that peat soil in oil palm plantations reacted very acidic to acidic (pH 3.11 – 4.54), organic C content was classified as very high (12.64 – 25.77%), available P was classified as very low to very high (2.38 – 21,92 ppm), total N was classified as low to moderate (0.16 – 0.44%), C/N ratio was classified as very high (38.30 - 135.63), total K was classified as moderate to very high (10.92 – 101.98 ppm), soil CEC was classified as moderate to very high (20.80 – 93.20 cmol kg-1), and base saturation was classified as very low to low (8.07 – 48.67%).