SOIL QUALITY, SOIL HEALTH, AND ERODIBILITY FOR CONSERVATION PRIORITIES IN SMALLHOLDER OIL PALM IN SINTANG
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58466/ab63ty25Keywords:
soil quality, soil health, erodibility, soil conservation, smallholder oil palmAbstract
Smallholder oil palm soils in West Kalimantan are acidic and easily degraded, yet soil assessments rarely connect soil health status with conservation priorities. This study evaluated soil quality, soil health, and estimated erodibility in two smallholder plantation blocks in Sintang under organic and NPK fertilization to identify limiting factors and conservation management directions. Inceptisol topsoil (0-20 cm) was sampled at three points per block and analyzed for 12 physical, chemical, and biological parameters. The Soil Quality Index (SQI) was calculated using the Bajracharya formula. The Soil Health Index (SHI) was derived from an 11-indicator, literature-based scoring framework, and erodibility (K) was estimated using the Wischmeier nomograph under several texture, structure, and permeability scenarios. SQI was medium in both blocks (0.49 and 0.50). SHI was also medium and nearly equal, at 49.2 in the organic block and 49.4 in the inorganic block (Hedges' g = −0.04; 95% confidence interval −1.31 to 1.25). The similarity arose from indicators acting in opposite directions: earthworm populations, total N, and organic C were more favorable in the organic block, whereas available P (30.7 versus 10.2 ppm), pH score, and water retention were more favorable in the inorganic block. The limiting factors in both blocks were low pH (4.5 to 5.1), exchangeable K of 0.08 to 0.10 cmol(+) kg⁻¹, low CEC, and low microbial biomass. Estimated K ranged from moderate to high (0.31 to 0.47) depending on texture, structure, and permeability assumptions. These findings indicate that conservation should focus on maintaining organic matter, balancing K fertilization, and protecting the soil surface. Because each system was represented by a single plantation, the results are diagnostic and should be verified across more plantations.
References
Alonso, GR, Casalí, J, Campo-Bescós, MÁ & Díaz, J 2025, 'Soil properties governing erodibility of Cuban soils: a univariate erodibility equation', Soil Systems, vol. 9, no. 4, hh. 131.
Apori, SO, Adams, S, Hanyabui, E, Musah, M, Marius, M & Acheampong, MK 2020, 'Evaluation of soil fertility status in oil palm plantations in the Western Region of Ghana', AIMS Agriculture and Food, vol. 5, no. 4, hh. 938–949.
Ardiyanto, A, Tarigan, SD, Widyastuti, R, Nugroho, B & Rivai, FA 2026, 'Optimization of empty fruit bunch application to improve soil organic carbon, total soil nitrogen, earthworm populations, and oil palm performance on Spodosols', Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, vol. 41, no. 2, hh. 199–215.
Bajracharya, RM, Sharma, S, Dahal, BM, Sitaula, BK, Rokaya, K & Jeng, A 2006, 'Assessment of soil quality using physiochemical and biological indicators in a mid-hill watershed of Nepal', Proceedings of the International Seminar on Environmental and Social Impacts of Agricultural Intensification in Himalayan Watersheds, hh. 105–114.
BMKG 2026, Data iklim bulanan Stasiun Meteorologi Tebelian (ID WMO 96559) periode Agustus 2025–Agustus 2026, Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika, Jakarta.
Boafo, DK, Kraisornpornson, B, Panphon, S, Owusu, BE & Amaniampong, PN 2020, 'Effect of organic soil amendments on soil quality in oil palm production', Applied Soil Ecology, vol. 147, hh. 103358.
Bünemann, EK, Bongiorno, G, Bai, Z, Creamer, RE, De Deyn, G, de Goede, R, Fleskens, L, Geissen, V, Kuyper, TW, Mäder, P, Pulleman, M, Sukkel, W, van Groenigen, JW & Brussaard, L 2018, 'Soil quality: a critical review', Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 120, hh. 105–125.
Corral-Pazos-de-Provens, E, Rapp-Arrarás, I & Domingo-Santos, JM 2023, 'The USLE soil erodibility nomograph revisited', International Soil and Water Conservation Research, vol. 11, no. 1, hh. 1–13.
Davies, GM & Gray, A 2015, 'Don't let spurious accusations of pseudoreplication limit our ability to learn from natural experiments (and other messy kinds of ecological monitoring)', Ecology and Evolution, vol. 5, no. 22, hh. 5295–5304.
de Vos, RE, Lim, YL, Sunawan, Donough, CR, Monzon, JP, Tenorio, FA, Sugianto, H, Palupi, S, Tito, AP, Saleh, S, Ulfaria, N, Amsar, J & Slingerland, M 2026, 'Fertilizer use in Indonesian oil palm smallholder systems: agronomic and socio-economic constraints and opportunities', Environment, Development and Sustainability, doi:10.1007/s10668-026-07687-6.
Ghimire, P, Bhatta, B, Pokhrel, B & Shrestha, I 2018, 'Assessment of soil quality for different land uses in the Chure region of Central Nepal', Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources, vol. 1, no. 1, hh. 32–42.
Golicz, K, Cheak, SC, Jacobs, S, Grosse-Stoltenberg, A, Safaei, M, Bellingrath-Kimura, S, Breuer, L & Wartenberg, A 2024, 'The older, the better: a comprehensive survey of soil organic carbon under commercial oil palm plantations', Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 197, no. 1, hh. 86.
Guillaume, T, Holtkamp, AM, Damris, M, Brümmer, B & Kuzyakov, Y 2016, 'Soil degradation in oil palm and rubber plantations under land resource scarcity', Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 232, hh. 110–118.
Ho, LS, Tan, GYA, Ibrahim, J & Teh, C-K 2026, 'Diagnostic limitations in soil health frameworks for tropical perennial systems: a critical review and implications for regenerative agriculture in Southeast Asia', Agronomy, vol. 16, no. 17, hh. 1733.
Jaya, A, Birawa, C, Adji, FF, Anwar, M & Banuwa, IS 2018, 'Erosion and surface runoff on forest and oil palm plantation in Jalemu Watershed, Gunung Mas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province', Journal of Tropical Soils, vol. 23, no. 3, hh. 151–159.
Kurnia, U, Agus, F, Adimihardja, A & Dariah, A (eds) 2022, Sifat fisik tanah dan metode analisisnya, edk 2, Balai Penelitian Tanah, Bogor.
Lakens, D 2013, 'Calculating and reporting effect sizes to facilitate cumulative science: a practical primer for t-tests and ANOVAs', Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 4, hh. 863.
Lim, YL, Tenorio, FA, Monzon, JP, Sugianto, H, Donough, CR, Rahutomo, S, Agus, F, Slingerland, MA, Darlan, NH, Dwiyahreni, AA, Farrasati, R, Mahmudah, N, Muhamad, T, Nurdwiansyah, D, Palupi, S, Pradiko, I, Saleh, S, Syarovy, M, Wiratmoko, D & Grassini, P 2023, 'Too little, too imbalanced: nutrient supply in smallholder oil palm fields in Indonesia', Agricultural Systems, vol. 210, artikel 103729.
Moebius-Clune, BN, Moebius-Clune, DJ, Gugino, BK, Idowu, OJ, Schindelbeck, RR, Ristow, AJ, van Es, HM, Thies, JE, Shayler, HA, McBride, MB, Kurtz, KSM, Wolfe, DW & Abawi, GS 2016, Comprehensive assessment of soil health: the Cornell framework manual, Cornell University, Geneva, NY.
Monzon, JP, Lim, YL, Tenorio, FA, Farrasati, R, Pradiko, I, Sugianto, H, Donough, CR, Rattalino Edreira, JI, Rahutomo, S, Agus, F, Slingerland, MA, Zijlstra, M, Saleh, S, Nashr, F, Nurdwiansyah, D, Ulfaria, N, Winarni, NL, Zulhakim, N & Grassini, P 2023, 'Agronomy explains large yield gaps in smallholder oil palm fields', Agricultural Systems, vol. 210, artikel 103689.
Moradi, A, Sung, CTB, Goh, KJ, Hanif, AHM & Ishak, CF 2015, 'Effect of four soil and water conservation practices on soil physical processes in a non-terraced oil palm plantation', Soil and Tillage Research, vol. 145, hh. 62–71.
Nelson, PN, Rhebergen, T, Berthelsen, S, Webb, MJ, Banabas, M, Oberthür, T, Donough, CR, Rahmadsyah, Indrasuara, K & Lubis, A 2011, 'Soil acidification under oil palm: rates and effects on yield', Better Crops, vol. 95, no. 4, hh. 22–25.
Noirot, LM, Müller-Stöver, DS, Wahyuningsih, R, Sørensen, H, Sudarno, Simamora, A, Pujianto, Suhardi & Caliman, J-P 2022, 'Impacts of empty fruit bunch applications on soil organic carbon in an industrial oil palm plantation', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 317, hh. 115373.
Nuriman, M, Wibowo, SS, Rezekikasari, Agustin, L & Setiawati, T 2025, 'Bio-reclamation evaluation of former gold mine land: pre- and post-reclamation soil management conditions', Jurnal Biologi Tropis, vol. 25, no. 3, hh. 2457–2464.
Nuriman, M, Murni, SD, Indrawati, USYV, Munawir, M, Purnamasari, E & Amano, Y 2026, 'Soil health assessment for conservation-oriented regenerative management of smallholder oil palm on degraded mineral soil in West Kalimantan, Indonesia', Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences, manuskrip telah diajukan (JGIAS-2610143).
Partoyo 2005, 'Analisis indeks kualitas tanah pertanian di lahan pasir pantai Samas Yogyakarta', Ilmu Pertanian, vol. 12, no. 2, hh. 140–151.
Priatna, SJ & Sepriansyah, A 2024, 'Soil erosion sensitivity of rubber plant, oil palm, and teak in Ogan Komering Ilir District', Jurnal Lahan Suboptimal, vol. 13, no. 2, hh. 138–144.
Salamat, SS, Hassan, MA, Shirai, Y, Mohd Hanif, A, Norizan, MS, Mohd Zainudin, MH, Mustapha, NA, Mat Isa, MN & Abu Bakar, MF 2021, 'Effect of inorganic fertilizer application on soil microbial diversity in an oil palm plantation', BioResources, vol. 16, no. 2, hh. 2279–2302.
Sulaeman, Suparto & Eviati 2005, Petunjuk teknis analisis kimia tanah, tanaman, air, dan pupuk, Balai Penelitian Tanah, Badan Penelitian dan Pengembangan Pertanian, Bogor.
Tao, H-H, Snaddon, JL, Slade, EM, Henneron, L, Caliman, J-P & Willis, KJ 2018, 'Application of oil palm empty fruit bunch effects on soil biota and functions: a case study in Sumatra, Indonesia', Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 256, hh. 105–113.
Vance, ED, Brookes, PC & Jenkinson, DS 1987, 'An extraction method for measuring soil microbial biomass C', Soil Biology and Biochemistry, vol. 19, no. 6, hh. 703–707.
Wischmeier, WH, Johnson, CB & Cross, BV 1971, 'A soil erodibility nomograph for farmland and construction sites', Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, vol. 26, no. 5, hh. 189–193.
Woittiez, LS, Turhina, S, Deccy, D, Slingerland, M, van Noordwijk, M & Giller, KE 2019, 'Fertiliser application practices and nutrient deficiencies in smallholder oil palm plantations in Indonesia', Experimental Agriculture, vol. 55, no. 4, hh. 543–559.
