Organic Soils of Malaysia

by S. Paramananthan

Publisher: MPOC
Edition: First edition (2016).
Paperback: 156 pages.
Language: English.
ISBN: 978-983-9191-24-0.
Dimensions: 16.5 cm x 24 cm x 1 cm.
Weight: 450 g.
Price: US$18.00


PREFACE:

Peat soils have high carbon stocks and in their natural conditions, they often have high water tables. In the quest for development so as to obtain a higher standard of living, Mankind has cut down the vegetation, drained and cultivated them. Such actions result in loss of carbon stock with resultant carbon dioxide emissions. This raised concern about the cultivation of peat soils and the consequent effect on climate change.

While large areas of temperate peatland have been cleared and cultivated previously, peatlands are increasingly being cleared for various land use, including for oil palm cultivation today. Attention has been drawn to the clearing of tropical peatlands and their subsequent cultivation and the implication on climate change. Most of the predicted outcomes on tropical peatland utilization for oil palm cultivation has been derived based on the experience of peat usage in temperate regions. However, it is noted that the behavior of peatland under tropical conditions is different from that under temperate conditions.

This is the first book dedicated to tropical peat and its behavior when cultivated with oil palm. The book gives an insight of the characteristics of tropical lowland peat soils and shows how can be mapped, identified and classified. The agronomic utility of such a soil classification system which can explain the variation of oil palm performance and yield is shown. Attention is drawn to the fact that some peat soils can be developed and planted with oil palm to provide economic returns but there are other peat soils which cannot be farmed economically and must be conserved. One chapter of the book provides the good agricultural practices that must be followed to make oil palm cultivation sustainable. This is a good book for enthusiasts who want to know more about tropical peat soils and how oil palm can be cultivated sustainably on these soils.


CONTENTS:

CHAPTER 1 - GENERAL INTRODUCTION

• Introduction
• Objectives of this Book

CHAPTER 2 - EXTENT OF TROPICAL PEAT

• Global Extent of Peatlands
• Extent of Lowland Peats in Southeast Asia

CHAPTER 3 - CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL LOWLAND PEATS

• Introduction
• Horizontal Zonality of tropical Lowland Peats
• Ecology of the Tropical Lowland Peat Swamp Forests
• Structure and Development of the Tropical Lowland Peat Swamps
• Hydrology of Tropical Lowland Peat Swamps
• Peat Types and Profile Morphology
• Current Environmental Issues on Peat Development

CHAPTER 4 - THE MAPPING OF TROPICAL LOWLAND ORGANIC SOILS

• Introduction
• Mapping Methodology
• Field Survey
• Describing Organic Soils
• Definition of Tropical Lowland Peats
• Kinds of Organic Soil Materials
• Control Section of Organic Soils
• Field Description and Sampling
• Field Legend for Organic Soils
• Additional Data Recommended to be Collected
• Mineral/Organic Soil Boundary
• Type of Organic Soil
• Depth of Organic Soil
• Watertable Depth
• Elevation of Organic Surface
• Hydraulic Conductivity
• Bulk Density

CHAPTER 5 - THE CLASSIFICATION OF ORGANIC SOILS OF MALAYSIA

• Introduction
• History of Classification of Organic Soils in Malaysia
• Current Status in Malaysia
• Other Classification Systems for Organic Soils of the Tropics
• The Classification of Organic Soils of Malaysia

CHAPTER 6 - CONSERVATION OF TROPICAL LOWLAND PEATLANDS

• Introduction
• Need for National Peatland Policy
• The Need to Conserve Tropical Peatlands
• Conservation of Tropical Lowland Peatlands
• Effects of the Development of Peat Swamps
• Conclusion

CHAPTER 7 - LAND CHARACTERISTICS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE OF OIL PALMS PLANTED ON ORGANIC SOILS

• Introduction
• Soil-Crop Suitability Classification for Peninsular Malaysia
• Sarawak Land Capability Classification and Evaluation for Agricultural Crops
• Land Evaluation for Oil Palm
• Land Characteristics Influencing the Growth of Oil Palms Planted on Organic Soils
• Land Suitability Evaluation Procedure for Organic Soils
• Conclusions

CHAPTER 8 - ORGANIC SOIL MANAGEMENT GROUPS AND SUB-GROUPS

• Introduction
• Site Considerations
• Main Limitations to Crop Production
• Organic Soil Management Groups and Sub-Groups
• Overall Yield Potentials of the Organic Soils

CHAPTER 9 - BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEAT SWAMPS

• Introduction
• Pre-Development Phase
• Land Preparation and Planting Phase
• Planting Phase
• Water Management
• Immature and Mature Phase

CHAPTER 10 - CURRENT ISSUES, RECENT FINDINGS AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS

• Introduction
• Current Issues
• Development Issues
• Loss of Biodiversity
• recent Findings on Organic Soils

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Buy a book and get these TWO full-color maps prepared by Dr. S. Paramananthan for FREE:

1. Reconnaissance Soil Surveys in Malaysia. January 2016
2. Minimizing the Haze. October 2015

Terms & conditions: Map size 84 cm x 60 cm. Limited to the first 50 orders we receive. You only pay the shipping and handling cost of maps.