Hydraulic conductivity and moisture characteristics of tropical peatland - preliminary investigation

Sayok A., . and Ayob K., . and Melling L., . and Goh K.J., . and Uyo L.J., . and Hatano R., . (2007) Hydraulic conductivity and moisture characteristics of tropical peatland - preliminary investigation. [Proceedings Paper]

The hydrological and its related moisture characteristics of the soil are important factors contributing to forest and plant growth in peatland ecosystems. These hydrological characteristics would also provide an indirect view point of the current management practices in the case of land cover other than natural forest. This paper reports our recent research findings on the behavior of field hydraulic conductivity K and moisture characteristics of peatlands typically found in Sarawak. The field hydraulic conductivity measurements were carried out on different forest types namely mixed peat swamp Alan forest and Pahang Alan forest in the virgin peat swamp forest at Loagan Bunut National Park using auger hole and pumping method. The moisture characteristics of peat materials were obtained from samples taken from different areas in Sarawak representing different degrees of peat decomposition under various agronomic practices. The moisture of sand/kaolin box for suction pressure less than 500 cm pF less than 2.7; less than 0.5 bar and pressure membrane apparatus for 500-15000 cm pF 2.7-4.2 or 0.5-15 bar. Peat materials from different ecosystems behaved differently in term of its hydraulic conductivity. The hydraulic conductivity values depended on the hydraulic gradient and the degree of decomposition of peat. Generally the higher the hydraulic gradient the greater the K value. This implies that under shallower water table the drainage process would occur slower thus more favorable to plant growth through maintaining the soil moisture status. However it would also imply the higher likelihood of flooding. The K value was directly proportional to the degree of decomposition.

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Abstract

The hydrological and its related moisture characteristics of the soil are important factors contributing to forest and plant growth in peatland ecosystems. These hydrological characteristics would also provide an indirect view point of the current management practices in the case of land cover other than natural forest. This paper reports our recent research findings on the behavior of field hydraulic conductivity K and moisture characteristics of peatlands typically found in Sarawak. The field hydraulic conductivity measurements were carried out on different forest types namely mixed peat swamp Alan forest and Pahang Alan forest in the virgin peat swamp forest at Loagan Bunut National Park using auger hole and pumping method. The moisture characteristics of peat materials were obtained from samples taken from different areas in Sarawak representing different degrees of peat decomposition under various agronomic practices. The moisture of sand/kaolin box for suction pressure less than 500 cm pF less than 2.7; less than 0.5 bar and pressure membrane apparatus for 500-15000 cm pF 2.7-4.2 or 0.5-15 bar. Peat materials from different ecosystems behaved differently in term of its hydraulic conductivity. The hydraulic conductivity values depended on the hydraulic gradient and the degree of decomposition of peat. Generally the higher the hydraulic gradient the greater the K value. This implies that under shallower water table the drainage process would occur slower thus more favorable to plant growth through maintaining the soil moisture status. However it would also imply the higher likelihood of flooding. The K value was directly proportional to the degree of decomposition.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. mal S590.2 S683 2007 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	PEATLANDS
AGROVOC Term:	PEAT SOILS
AGROVOC Term:	PERMEABILITY
AGROVOC Term:	MOISTURE CONTENT
AGROVOC Term:	WATER HOLDING CAPACITY
AGROVOC Term:	SOIL WATER CONTENT
AGROVOC Term:	MALAYSIA
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:13
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10862

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