AeroHydro Culture: An Integrated Approach to Improve Crop Yield and Ecological Restoration Through Root–Microbe Symbiosis in Tropical Peatlands

Eric Verchius, Kae Miyazawa (), Rahmawati Ihsani Wetadewi, Maman Turjaman, Sarjiya Antonius, Hendrik Segah, Tirta Kumala Dewi, Entis Sutisna, Tien Wahyuni, Didiek Hadjar Goenadi, Niken Andika Putri, Sisva Silsigia, Tsuyoshi Kato, Alue Dohong, Hidenori Takahashi, Dedi Nursyamsi, Hideyuki Kubo, Nobuyuki Tsuji and Mitsuru Osaki
Additional contact information
Eric Verchius: Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
Kae Miyazawa: Department of Global Agricultural Sciences, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
Rahmawati Ihsani Wetadewi: Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG), Jakarta 10350, Indonesia
Maman Turjaman: Research Centre for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jalan Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km 46, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
Sarjiya Antonius: Research Centre for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jalan Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km 46, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
Hendrik Segah: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Palangka Raya (UPR), Palangka Raya 73112, Indonesia
Tirta Kumala Dewi: Research Centre for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jalan Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km 46, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
Entis Sutisna: Research Centre for Applied Microbiology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jalan Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km 46, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
Tien Wahyuni: Research Centre for Behavioral and Circular Economics, BRIN, Jalan Gatot Subroto 10, Jakarta 12710, Indonesia
Didiek Hadjar Goenadi: Indonesian Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioindustry, Bogor 16128, Indonesia
Niken Andika Putri: Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., Tokyo 100-8270, Japan
Sisva Silsigia: Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., Tokyo 100-8270, Japan
Tsuyoshi Kato: Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd., Tokyo 100-8270, Japan
Alue Dohong: Ministry of Environment/National Environmental Control Agency (BPLH), Jakarta 10110, Indonesia
Hidenori Takahashi: NPO Hokkaido Institute of Hydro-Climate, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan
Dedi Nursyamsi: Bogor Agriculture Development Polytechnique, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
Hideyuki Kubo: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Kanagawa 240-0115, Japan
Nobuyuki Tsuji: Japan Peatland Society, Yanagawa 832-0012, Japan
Mitsuru Osaki: Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-19

Abstract: Tropical peatlands in Indonesia are increasingly degraded by conventional oil palm practices involving drainage and chemical fertilizers. This study evaluates AeroHydro Culture (AHC), a method applying microbe-enriched organic media aboveground, as a sustainable alternative that maintains high groundwater levels while supporting plant productivity. Field trials were conducted at two sites: a managed plantation in Siak and a degraded, abandoned plantation in Pulang Pisau. Ten months after treatment, AHC plots showed development of aerial-like lateral roots, improved chlorophyll levels, and increased arbuscular mycorrhizae colonization (from 0–46% to 22–73% in Siak, and 1.7–20% to 16–60% in Pulang Pisau). In Siak, AHC significantly increased IAA-producing and proteolytic bacteria in the 0–25 cm soil layer and raised oil palm yield by 36% over controls. This yield benefit was sustained in 2025, five years after the initial application. In Pulang Pisau, AHC also enhanced microbial abundance and promoted growth in the native species Shorea balangeran , suggesting its potential for reforestation. Drone imagery confirmed visible long-term differences in canopy color, supporting lasting physiological improvement. These results demonstrate that AHC promotes plant–microbe symbiosis, enhances nutrient acquisition, and sustains oil palm yield under saturated conditions. AHC offers a promising strategy for peatland rehabilitation where ecological recovery and agricultural productivity must be achieved in parallel.

Keywords: symbiosis; PGPR (plant growth promoting rhizobacteria); rhizosphere regulation; LSM (land surface management); GWL (groundwater level) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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