Survival and Growth Performance of Calophyllum inophyllum L. Seedlings in Peat Soil and at Different Levels of Groundwater

Azzah Maulidya, Rujito Agus Suwignyo (), Dwi Putro Priadi, Himlal Baral, Eunho Choi, Fikri Adriansyah and Hyunyoung Yang ()
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Azzah Maulidya: Plant Science Master Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, Palembang 30139, Indonesia
Rujito Agus Suwignyo: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, Palembang 30662, Indonesia
Dwi Putro Priadi: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, Palembang 30662, Indonesia
Himlal Baral: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Bogor Barat 16115, Indonesia
Eunho Choi: Global Forestry Division, Future Forest Strategy Department, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Republic of Korea
Fikri Adriansyah: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sriwijaya University, Palembang 30662, Indonesia
Hyunyoung Yang: Global Forestry Division, Future Forest Strategy Department, National Institute of Forest Science, Seoul 02455, Republic of Korea

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Selecting proper tree species for revegetation is important for restoring tropical peatland. Tamanu ( Calophyllum inophyllum L.) has been suggested one of the promising native species in Indonesia for the revegetation of tropical peatland; however, there is a lack of understanding of its growth in peat soil with different groundwater levels. We investigated the survival rate, plant height, number of leaves, root collar diameter, and dry biomass of tamanu seedlings grown in peat soil with different groundwater levels using a randomized block design in a water tank. The study involved five groundwater level treatments and 12 tree-level replicates each: M0 (non-groundwater level, control); M1 (−15 cm below the soil surface); M2 (−10 cm); M3 (−5 cm); and M4 (0 cm, soil surface level). The results showed that all tamanu seedlings survived in every treatment. However, their plant height, number of leaves, and root collar diameter growth were significantly inhibited in the highest groundwater level condition (M4, 0 cm) at 81 days after sowing, while their growth in −15 cm of groundwater level (M1) was as good as the growth in the fully drained conditions in M0 (control). This result indicates that the groundwater level should not be higher than −15 cm for the growth of tamanu. Considering that peatlands in Indonesia are assessed to be degraded when the groundwater level is lower than −40 cm, this study suggests that maintaining groundwater levels between −40 cm and −15 cm in peatland is the best condition for rapid growth of early tamanu seedlings while protecting peatlands. Further studies are needed to extend the range of water levels and water treatment duration.

Keywords: tamanu; relative growth rate; biomass; survival; growth; groundwater level; peat soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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