The long dry season during the El Niño event usually causes the groundwater level to drop significantly. As a result, soil CO2 emissions through peat decomposition are potentially increased compared to a normal year. Even so, studies on the effect of the El Niño years on peat decomposition are rare in tropical peatlands. The study objective was to compare soil CO2 emissions through peat decomposition during an El Niño and a normal year. A field study on soil CO2 emissions through peat decomposition measurement was undertaken in a smallholder rubber plantation on peat soil from July to October 2015, utilizing a trenching plot during the dry season. Also, as a comparison, soil CO2 emissions from peat decomposition were recorded during the same period in 2014. In 2015, a strong El Niño year, soil CO2 emissions from peat decomposition were significantly larger than in 2014, a normal year. Also, soil CO2 emissions through peat decomposition in 2015 showed a significant negative correlation with groundwater level. Our results showed that different climatic conditions affect the peat decomposition process on tropical peat soil. This result is expected to be used as important information regarding Indonesia’s peatland management in dealing with future climate change.
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- Authors: Zu’amah, H., Handayani, C.O., Wakhid, N.
- Subjects: carbon dioxide, climate change, drought, groundwater, peat, tropics, wetlands, emissions, dry seasons, peatlands, peat soils
- Publication type: Chapter-R
- Source: Springer Proceedings in Physics 290: 605-612
- Year: 2023
- ISSN: 978-981-19-9768-6
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-9768-6_56
