Abstract
Abstract. The Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 had far reaching consequences for agriculture in Aceh province, Indonesia, and particularly in Aceh Barat district, 150 km from the seaquake epicentre. In this study, the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of soil and groundwater salinity and their impact on tree crops were monitored in Aceh Barat from 2006 to 2008. On 48 sampling points along ten transects, covering 40 km of coastline, soil and groundwater salinity were measured and related to mortality and yield depression of the locally most important tree crops. Given a yearly rainfall of over 3000 mm, initial groundwater salinity declined rapidly from over 10 to less than 2 mS cm−1 within two years. On the other hand, seasonal dynamics of the groundwater table in combination with intrusion of saline water into the groundwater body led to recurring elevated salinity, sufficient to affect crops. Tree mortality and yield depression in the flooded area varied considerably between tree species. Damage to coconut (65% trees damaged) was related to tsunami run-up height, while rubber (50% trees damaged) was mainly affected by groundwater salinity. Coconut yields (−35% in average) were constrained by groundwater Ca2+ and Mg2+, while rubber yields (−65% on average) were related to groundwater chloride, pH and soil sodium. These findings have implications on planting deep-rooted tree crops as growth will be constrained by ongoing oscillations of the groundwater table and salinity.
Highlights
Introduction and scopeOn 26 December 2004, a seaquake with magnitude of 9.3 on the Richter scale close to the North Sumatran coast caused one of the most devastating tsunamis in recorded history
This study aims at integrating spatial-temporal dynamics of salinization to tree crop damage as well as to specific growth-limiting factors, in order to understand mechanisms relevant to replanting of tree crop-based systems in coastal areas affected by tsunamis in the future
Available P was found in very low concentrations in both profiles, so that leaps are not interpreted here
Summary
Introduction and scopeOn 26 December 2004, a seaquake with magnitude of 9.3 on the Richter scale close to the North Sumatran coast caused one of the most devastating tsunamis in recorded history. The province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, and especially its district Aceh Barat, only 150 km from the epicentre, was most severely affected by the consequences of the seismic shock and the subsequent tsunami. Entire villages around the district capital Meulaboh were destroyed, and Shofiyati et al (2005) reported that, out of 120 295 ha flooded land in Aceh province, almost 19 000 ha were situated in the district of Aceh Barat. Analysis of satellite imagery showed that more than 17 % of over 200 000 ha agricultural land surveyed in Aceh and almost 25 % in Aceh Barat were affected by flooding due to the tsunami. While research on the role of vegetation to protect peoples’ lives and property has been conducted in the area (Laso Bayas et al, 2011), information on tsunami impacts on agriculture is scarce
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