SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF SOME CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ACID SULFATE SOIL-AFFECTED BRACKISHWATER PONDS IN THE COASTAL AREA OF LUWU REGENCY SOUTH SULAWESI PROVINCE
Abstract: Spatial distribution
of brackishwater pond soil has important role in the system of bioenvironment
including brackishwater pond environment. This research was aimed to determine
the spatial distribution of some chemical characteristics of an acid sulfate
soil-affected brackishwater pond in coastal area of Luwu Regency South Sulawesi
Province, Indonesia. ALOS AVNIR-2 images (acquisition 16 May 2008, 16 October
2008, 17 September 2009) were integrated with Indonesian Topographic maps to
obtain base map. Sampling soil points were determined by simple random sampling
in 104 points for two different soil depths i.e. 0-0.2 m and 0.5-0.7 m. A total
of 18 soil chemical characteristics was measured in the field and analyzed in
the laboratory. Geostatistic using kriging method in the ArcGIS 9.3 software
was used to interpolate the data. The results of this study indicated that in
general pond soil chemical characteristics in Luwu Regency could be categorized
with high variability or relatively heterogenic wi th the value of var iation
coefficient more than 36%. The soil characteristics that explain acidity had
shown similar pattern in spatial distribution as well as other soil
characteristics with soil nutrient. The high value of pH and low value of PO4
were generally found in the northern part of Luwu Regency, including East
Lamasi, East Walenrang, Bua, and Ponrang Subdistricts. It is recommended that
soil management in brackishwater ponds of Luwu Regency could be based on soil
chemical characteristics so its could improve the production through minimizing
the input, increasing carrying capacity, and avoiding environmental
degradation.
Keywords: spatial analysis;
soil; brackishwater pond; coastal area; Luwu Regency
Author: Erna Ratnawati, Akhmad
Mustafa
Journal Code: jpperikanangg140065
