TITLE:
Assessment of the Influence of Oil Palm and Rubber Plantations in Tropical Peat Swamp Soils Using Microbial Diversity and Activity Analysis
AUTHORS:
Yuana Nurulita, Eric M. Adetutu, Krishna K. Kadali, Esmaeil Shahsavari, Delita Zul, Mohamed Taha, Andrew S. Ball
KEYWORDS:
Tropical Peat Swamp Soil, Microbial Community, Soil Enzyme, Oil Palm Plantation, Rubber Plantation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment,
Vol.5 No.2,
April
29,
2016
ABSTRACT: In this study, tropical peat swamp soils from Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu Biosphere Reserve
(GSKBB) in Indonesia was evaluated to assess the impact of oil palm and rubber plantations on
this unique organic soil through comparisons with soils from a natural forest using a polyphasic
approach (chemical and molecular microbial assays). Changes in the ammonium, nitrate and
phosphate concentration were observed in soils converted to agricultural use. Soil enzyme activities
in plantation soils showed reduced β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase and acid phosphatase activities
(50% - 55% decrease). PCR-DGGE based analysis showed that the soil bacterial community
from agricultural soils exhibited the lowest similarity amongst the different microbial groups
(fungi and Archaea) evaluated (34% similarity to the natural forest soil). Shannon Diversity index
values showed that generally the conversion of tropical peatland natural forest to rubber plantation
resulted in a greater impact on microbial diversity (ANOVA p