SOIL AS A FACTOR INFLUENCING THE MANGROVE FOREST COMMUNITIES IN TALIDENDANG BESAR, RIAU

One transect of 10 m x 900 m was constructed perpendicular to the sea edge to know the pattern of mangrove forest communities from the sea edge through the inland area. Then, one sample plot of 50 m x 50 m was established at each forest community to explore its vegetation structure and soil characteristics. The results show that in Talidendang Besar area, there are three mangrove forest communities stretching from the sea edge to the inland, namely Bruguiera parviflora, B. sexangula and B. sexangula-Nypa fruticans. The soil factors such as pH.EC (electrical conductivity), % K, % Na, C-organic, N-total, NH4 (ammonia), and CEC (cation exchange capacity) were regarded important in influencing the pattern of the mangrove forest communities