sharply to 40 cm due to the strong dry season and small amount of rainfall in July
and August 2018. Conversely, in the acacia plantation area at the bottom of the
slope, although the GWL dropped by approximately 10 cm during the dry season,
the GWL was relatively stable throughout the year because it did not fall below
40 cm. The rise and fall of the GWL were likely due to precipitation and inputs from
the upper slope. Thus, the upstream region of the hydrobuffer zone functioned as a
water reservoir, and the downstream region of the plantation area received water
from the upstream zone even in the dry season, for which the water management
system is called “Stock-based water management”.
Another noteworthy point is that the rainfall patterns appear to be similar, even
though the two sites were not more than 5 km apart. However, it will be necessary to
verify the relationship between the microtopography and rainfall patterns. Thus, it is
very important to further study the water cycle along from the sea to inland of
peatland, which is related to significant water management.
3.10.3.2 Soil Moisture Content
The monitoring of soil moisture content is essential to gain information about
whether there is a sufficient amount of available water for the plant’s roots to absorb
the needed water, as well as for environmental purposes such as the prevention of
peat fire and reduction of CO 2 emissions. WSL-MTI have been monitoring soil
moisture content using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) installed in different
land-use types: tree plantation area, conservation area, and Mendawak protection
forest (Fig. 3.32).
Additionally, WSL-MTI have implemented a real-time monitoring of soil moisture content using the real-time monitoring system. To maintain the soil moisture
content, as well as the GWL, WSL-MTI have developed a model of water management based on the abundant data and information, which enables control of the GWL
at a constant level across the landscape.
Fig. 3.32 Monitoring of soil moisture content using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR)
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T. Kato et al.
and August 2018. Conversely, in the acacia plantation area at the bottom of the
slope, although the GWL dropped by approximately 10 cm during the dry season,
the GWL was relatively stable throughout the year because it did not fall below
40 cm. The rise and fall of the GWL were likely due to precipitation and inputs from
the upper slope. Thus, the upstream region of the hydrobuffer zone functioned as a
water reservoir, and the downstream region of the plantation area received water
from the upstream zone even in the dry season, for which the water management
system is called “Stock-based water management”.
Another noteworthy point is that the rainfall patterns appear to be similar, even
though the two sites were not more than 5 km apart. However, it will be necessary to
verify the relationship between the microtopography and rainfall patterns. Thus, it is
very important to further study the water cycle along from the sea to inland of
peatland, which is related to significant water management.
3.10.3.2 Soil Moisture Content
The monitoring of soil moisture content is essential to gain information about
whether there is a sufficient amount of available water for the plant’s roots to absorb
the needed water, as well as for environmental purposes such as the prevention of
peat fire and reduction of CO 2 emissions. WSL-MTI have been monitoring soil
moisture content using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) installed in different
land-use types: tree plantation area, conservation area, and Mendawak protection
forest (Fig. 3.32).
Additionally, WSL-MTI have implemented a real-time monitoring of soil moisture content using the real-time monitoring system. To maintain the soil moisture
content, as well as the GWL, WSL-MTI have developed a model of water management based on the abundant data and information, which enables control of the GWL
at a constant level across the landscape.
Fig. 3.32 Monitoring of soil moisture content using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR)
124
T. Kato et al.