ANALYSIS OF SOIL COMPOSITION AND SUITABLE TYPES OF PLANTS FOR EAST

KALIMANTAN SOIL

DYAH WORO PALUPI

(101217063)

TEKNIK GEOLOGI

UNIVERSITAS PERTAMINA

JAKARTA

2019
 ANALYSIS OF SOIL COMPOSITION AND SUITABLE TYPES OF PLANTS FOR EAST
KALIMANTAN SOIL

Dyah Woro Palupi

Exploration and Production Technology Faculty, Geological Engineering, Pertamina University, Jakarta

ABSTRACT
Land in Kalimantan has different characteristics from land in Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra. It has a
high pH that showing the soil composition is high pyrite and low nitrogen. Usually used for plantations,
but cannot be used as agriculture. This type of soil is ultisol soil, which is easily eroded and has low
nutrient content. Ultisol soil has the potential to poison plant roots, especially agricultural crops because
the content of Al, Mn and Fe is very high. To improve the condition of the soil, more efforts are needed
such as adding organic fertilizer, especially in the agricultural sector so that the maximum yield is
obtained(Sudaryono, 2009). Even though has low natural fertility, East Kalimantan has agricultural land,
as one as in Babulu, North Penajam Paser Regency.

INTRODUCTION
Kalimantan is one of the biggest islands in Indonesia which has no volcano. It's based on the
morphology of the island itself. There is Muller and Schwaner Mountains also the Meratus Mountains as
habitat for the flora and fauna which live in Kalimantan Island. Based on it morphology, there is no soil
enrichment by volcano activity which can increase the mineral composition in the soil. East Kalimantan
located in equator that has high rainfall every year relatively constant. According to the research,
formation of ultisol soil is the tropical area with high rainfall, because rainfall can bring and eroded the
alkaline substances of topsoil (Sudaryono, 2009). Although has low natural fertility, ultisoil soil can be
use as farming land if well managed. For example, in Babulu, North Penajam Paser Regency has
agricultural land with land area 8704 Ha(“Kecamatan Babulu dalam Angka Babulu Sub District in
Figure,” 2014). In this case, Sangatta ex coal mining area and non-exploration area as the research object
has a few different from the quantity of mineral, pH, C/N ratio, and organic matter.

Figure 1. Sample location (Sudaryono, 2009)

DATA AND METHODOLOGY
The data is gathering from other researcher as literature in Sangatta Regency with 22 samples of
soil from ex coal mining area and non-exploration land in 20-60 cm depth. The sample has been test in
Faculty of Agriculture Mulawarman University’s Soil Laboratory to check the component level in the
samples.

RESULT
Soil type in East Kalimantan is ultisol soil which is very acid and slightly alkaline. It has been
proved in research, that ultisol soil has low nitrogen and phosphorus that very needed for plant growth
(Sudaryono, 2009). But it contains high Al, Fe, and Mn which is include to micro mineral.

Figure 2. Twelve order of soil taxonomy (Frecilia, 2011)

It can be a poison for the plant especially for agricultural plant, because it will inhibits root
growth so the plant can't grow properly. High rainfall that relatively constant in East Kalimantan has
eroded the alkaline substances, the substance of alkaline usually located in the topsoil that will be eroded
when rain with high intensity (Sudaryono, 2009).
The composition of land in East Kalimantan is influence by peatlands that produce coal. The
peatlands itself one of factor that make the soil contain high acid. Factors that affect soil acidity
(Sudaryono, 2009) :
1. Primary element
a. Soil acidity (pH)
Acid soil has pH with range 0-7 while alkaline soil has pH with range 7-14. The
mineral from erosion that influence composition of the soil. Usually, alkaline soil is
formed by erosion from limestone. In this area, pH level between 4-5,3.
 b. Organic material and nitrogen level
Nitrogen is very important for plant growth. It will affect the colour of the leaves and
the resistances of root.
c. C/N ratio
C/N ratio is an indicator how fast the organic material to weathered. Factor that
affects the weathered is temperature, moisture, soil air conditioning, processing soil,
pH and types of organic matter. The C/N ratio between 10-15 (intermediate-low
category).
d. Phosphorus and Potassium level
Phosphorus and potassium will help the plant in photosynthesis processes, cell
growth, and nutrition distribution. Phosphorus level in this area 11-30 ppm P2O5 and
the Potassium level between 4-25mg/100g soil. Both of them intermediate-low
category.

2. Secondary element
a. Calcium
Level Ca affected to the cation exchange capacity and base saturation that
needed for soil trap. In acid soil, Ca level is low-intermediate 0,11-
6,25meg/100g.
b. Magnesium
Collaborate with Ca, Mg as important as Ca for soil as soil trap and influenced
the cation exchange capacity and base saturation. In acid soil, Mg level is high
between 1,09-7,54meg/100g.
c. Sulfur
Sulfur is needed to dissolve pyrite in the soil. High pyrite in soil makes the soil
more acid. The sulfur in study case area between 0,001-0,029% (very low category).

3. Micro element
a. Iron
If soil has high iron level, it will binds to existing phosphates and causes
phosphates to not dissolve in water. So the plant's need for phosphate cannot be
fulfilled. In study case area, iron level between 40-58 ppm (high-very high category).
b. Manganese
If manganese has high level in soil, it will be associated with iron to make an iron
concretion that bind the phosphate so can’t be dissolve by water. Manganese level
between 3-25 ppm (very low-intermediate category).
c. Base saturation and cation exchange capacity
It’s useful for take into account the amount of fertilizer that must be added when
planting. So it can produce maximum cropping results and good plant quality. Cation
exchange capacity is affected to the availability of nutrients in the soil. Composition
of base saturation and cation exchange capacity is affected by the rock type. In study
case area has low-intermediate base saturation and cation exchange capacity between
10,4-18,9me/100g with silt rock dominated in this area.
 d. Al3+ and H3+ saturation
Al3+ and H3+ controlled the soil trap, if Al3+ and H3+ in high level it’ll make Fe
and Mn in soil increase the cause is plant cannot grow properly because low nutrient
that plant needed. The Al3+ and H3+ saturation in study case area between 2-35%
inversely proportional to base saturation.
e. Pyrite
Pyrite is one of indicator of acid soil or FeS which oxidized with the air and
water. High pyrite composition usually can be found in pH soil between 2-3. In study
case area, pyrite level between 0,12-0,62% (very low-low category).

Table 1. Analysis result at ex coal mining area in Sangatta (Sudaryono, 2009)

To improve the quality of acid soil, several attempts can be made. Fertilization on the land will be use
one of the methods. Several methods that suggested (Sudaryono, 2009) is :
1. Sulfur fertilization
Sulfur fertilization can be used to reduce Al and pyrite level in the soil so the pH range will be
increase (close to neutral).
2. Phosphate and Potassium fertilization
This method is use to increase the P and K level in the soil to optimize nutrient distribution.
3. Addition of organic matter
Organic matter can increase the nutrient in soil such as nitrogen. It can be getting from cattle
manure or compost. Addition of organic material can improve the physical and chemical
properties of the soil.
Although acid soil has low nutrient for the plant, acid soil can be use as plantation land such as
coffee, pepper, oil palm, rubber, and industrial plants (Suharta, 2010). It can be use as agricultural land,
but it’ll need more effort to improve the quality of the soil to produce maximum yields.
CONCLUSION
1. Soil type in East Kalimantan is ultisol soil that easy to eroded, has pH range between 4-5,3 (very
acid)
2. Surface soil condition in study case area has low porosity, and low natural fertility because of the
rock composition dominated with silt. Even though it has low nutrient, it still can be use as
plantation field like coffee, pepper, oil palm, rubber, and other industrial plants. Land use must be
accompanied by efforts to improve soil quality such as the use of fertilizers that are suitable for
the types of plants to be planted, knowing the type of soil, physical properties, chemical
properties, and composition of the land itself so that the results achieved are more maximal.
3. To reduce the Al saturation, can be done with adding Phosphorus fertilizer and KCl.
REFERENCES
Frecilia, G. (2011). 12 Ordo Tanah. Retrieved from http://ginafrecilia.blogspot.com/2011/12/12-ordo-
tanah.html

Kecamatan Babulu dalam Angka Babulu Sub District in Figure. (2014), 80. Retrieved from
http://ppid.penajamkab.go.id/front/dokumen/download/500007456

Sudaryono, S. (2009). Tingkat Kesuburan Tanah Ultisol Pada Lahan Pertambangan Batubara Sangatta,
Kalimantan Timur. Jurnal Teknologi Lingkungan, 10(3), 337.
https://doi.org/10.29122/jtl.v10i3.1480

Suharta, N. (2010). Karakteristik dan permasalahan tanah marginal dari batuan sedimen masam di
kalimantan. Jurnal Litbang Pertanian, 29(4), 139–146.