Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

THE SOIL MACROFAUNA DIVERSITY IN ‘NEGERI LAMA’ OIL PALM PLANTATION AREA, INDONESIA

Arlen Hanel John, Abdul Rauf, T. Sabrina and Erwin Nyak Akoeb

Abstract

The PT. Socfindo oil palm plantation in the ‘Negeri Lama”, North Sumatera, Indonesia area has been operating since 1927. Currently, it has Generation III plants (± 90 years) with peat soils, and mineral peat soil, Generation IV plants (± 90 years) with peat soil and mineral peat soils, and with years of planting between different generations. The peculiarity in plantation timing management in each generation also determines the existence, both density and relative density, and the frequency of soil macrofauna in the area. Soil macrofauna plays a role in maintaining the balance of the soil ecosystem. This research was conducted to determine the presence of soil macrofauna in the oil palm plantation in “Negeri Lama” area, involving survey method. This research was performed from February 2017 to April 2018. The determination of sampling points was carried out by Purposive Random sampling method, and sampling of soil macrofauna was using the Quadratic and Hand Sorting methods. It was found that 22 soil macrofauna species were grouped into several categories, namely 3 phyla, 6 classes, 10 orders, 16 families, and 19 genes. The highest population density was found in Generation IV (Mineral Peat) plantation area with 122.22 species/m2 and the lowest density value was found in Generation III (Peat) planting area with 95.24 species/m2. In conclusion, the presence of soil macrofauna in all generations consists of 5 species, namely Pontoscolex corethrurus, Geophilus flavus, Blattella germanica, Odontoponera denticulata and Gilvus macrotermes.