Abstract
Problem statement: It is important to find the status of water qualit y at converted peat swamp forest into oil palm plantation. This study w as conducted to find and determine the water quality at peat swamp forest of Batang Igan, Sibu S arawak. This study presents a status on the water quality of peat swamp forest at the area. Approach: In-situ data and a total of 72 water samples were collected at four sampling stations (S1, S2, S3 and S4) in three different months of July, August and November 2009. In-situ data included temperature, conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH and Turbidity. Analysis for ammoniacal nitrogen (NH 3-N), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) were conducted in the laboratory. Results for water quality parameters are as follows, temper ature range (26.85-32.90 °C), pH range (3.03-3.84), DO range (1.99-8.05 mg/L), conductivity (42.07-98.72 µS cm -1 ), TSS range (1-54 mg L -1 ), turbidity (0.39-9.80 NTU), BOD range (0.5-9.8 mg L -1 ), COD (0-17) and ammoniacal nitrogen (0.2-0.42 mg L -1 ). The Water Quality Index (WQI) which was calculated based on six water quality parameters namely dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, pH, ammoniacal nitrogen and total suspended solids, was representa tive of the state of water quality in Batang Igan p eat swamp forest. Results: Based on WQI, S1 was categorized under Class III while S2, S3 and S4 were categorized under Class II. Conclusion: The physical-chemical parameters of water in Batan g Igan peat swamp forest were in normal range or in class I and class II that is in good water status except for pH and dissolved oxygen for the water; however it i s normal condition for peat water.
Highlights
Peat swamp forests are tropical moist forest, which grew and formed on a layer of dead leaves, wood and all parts of tree and plant
The conductivity, turbidity, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) are in class I and the temperature, pH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), ammonia and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) are in class III
Statistical analyses show that all water quality parameter were not significantly different between stations (ANOVA, p>0.05)
Summary
Peat swamp forests are tropical moist forest, which grew and formed on a layer of dead leaves, wood and all parts of tree and plant. It is an accumulation of 100% of pure organic material (Salimin et al, 2010). They comprise a unique ecosystem characterized by water logging that is low in nutrients and dissolved oxygen levels in acidic water condition. Peat swamp forests are an important component of wetlands that are closely related between land and water, the transition zone or place where the water flow, nutrients cycling and sun energy which eventually form a perfect ecosystem of hydrology including soil and vegetation. Agriculture, peat extraction and destruction of peat swamp drainage activity give a negative effect and bad implication on the hydrology (Hamilton, 2005)
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