Dynamics of Tropical Peatlands Characteristics and Carbon Stocks as Affected by Land Use Conversion and Ages of Land Use in Riau Province, Indonesia

Indonesia's tropical peat plays a vital role in world environmental issues in addition to economic and social interests, but the dynamics and patterns of relationships between the characteristics of Indonesian tropical peat involving a function of time (ages of land use) in the context of land conversion have not been widely reported. The effects of tropical peatland use change are generally discussed regarding carbon emissions, with the limited literature identifying dynamic soil characteristics as these changes occur. This study uses a survey method. We identified the physical, chemical, and carbon stock characteristics of peat in forest locations, oil palm plantations with a land use age of 0-5 years; >5-10 years; >10 years, and agricultural land with a land use age of 0-5 years and >5-10 years to find out the dynamics of soil characteristics. Land use changes from peat swamp forests to oil palm plantations and agricultural land and the longer the age of land use results in an increase in bulk density (BD), ash content, pH, total-N, total-P2O5, total-K2O, but there is a decrease in water content, fiber content, org-C, E400/E600, and soil carbon stocks. The alignment of economic, social, and ecological interests is directed to water and land management by regulating the area's hydrological system and increasing peat stability. Applying mineral soils with high iron content and ameliorants containing polyvalent cations is necessary to form chelates and complexes with organic matter from peat soils, making them more stable against decomposition