peatland ecosystems. Both nutrients and oxygen are applied to the peatland surface
as a combination of natural materials, organic matter, microorganisms, plant growthpromoting substances, and matrix materials.
AeroHydro culture is therefore an ideal culture system for tropical peatlands
because it allows enough oxygen and nutrients to be applied from the peatland
surface and enough water to be absorbed from the peatlands. Here, the most
important key elements of AeroHydro culture and how to implement AeroHydro
culture practices are discussed.
Keywords Land surface management · Aerial root · Ground water level (GWL) ·
Plant growth promotion (PGP) · Rhizosphere management
7.1 Introduction
In recent decades, the utilization of peatland has led to ecological degradation
because of inappropriate peatland management. Many peatlands have been changed
into dry land due to frequent fires and constant peat degradation by microorganisms.
However, as tropical peatland is an important ecosystem that can store high amounts
of carbon and water (Osaki and Tsuji 2016), it is urgent to rehabilitate and restore
disturbed peatlands. The Regulation of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia: Number 57 of 2016 (Article 23; Section 3) stated that “A peat ecosystem with
cultivation function shall be declared damaged if it meets the following damage
criterion: The groundwater level at the Peatland is more than 0.4 (zero point four)
meters beneath the peat surface at the compliance point.” However, many stakeholders (mostly palm oil companies) do not wish to maintain a high water level. If
this ecosystem is destroyed by drainage, a large amount of carbon will be emitted
from peatlands through peat degradation by microorganism oxidation and peat fires;
this will have a serious negative impact on the global environment (Osaki and Tsuji
2016) due to increased GHG emissions, a greater frequency of fires, and the loss of
biodiversity, including endangered species (FAO 2016).
Thus, peatland development that involves drainage will aggravate climate change
impacts. Peatland management is complex not only because of the presence of
multiple stakeholders but also because of the natural characteristics of peatland
ecosystems. Multiple important elements should be considered in managing
peatland, such as (1) the ground water level (GWL); (2) the nutrient status of the
peat soil and water; and (3) oxygen availability. The main limiting factor on plant
growth in high GWL conditions is the lack of oxygen and nutrients. An innovative
plant culture system called the AeroHydro culture is introduced in this paper. This
system involves plant culture at a high ground water level supplying oxygen/
nutrients from the peatland surface rather than from inside the peat. This innovative
management system will become a major incentive for many stakeholders to accept
the 40 cm water level regulation. If this cultivation system works well, it will have a
substantial impact in terms of responsible eco-management of tropical peatlands.
AeroHydro culture can also be applied with some modifications to different
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R. I. Wetadewi et al.
as a combination of natural materials, organic matter, microorganisms, plant growthpromoting substances, and matrix materials.
AeroHydro culture is therefore an ideal culture system for tropical peatlands
because it allows enough oxygen and nutrients to be applied from the peatland
surface and enough water to be absorbed from the peatlands. Here, the most
important key elements of AeroHydro culture and how to implement AeroHydro
culture practices are discussed.
Keywords Land surface management · Aerial root · Ground water level (GWL) ·
Plant growth promotion (PGP) · Rhizosphere management
7.1 Introduction
In recent decades, the utilization of peatland has led to ecological degradation
because of inappropriate peatland management. Many peatlands have been changed
into dry land due to frequent fires and constant peat degradation by microorganisms.
However, as tropical peatland is an important ecosystem that can store high amounts
of carbon and water (Osaki and Tsuji 2016), it is urgent to rehabilitate and restore
disturbed peatlands. The Regulation of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia: Number 57 of 2016 (Article 23; Section 3) stated that “A peat ecosystem with
cultivation function shall be declared damaged if it meets the following damage
criterion: The groundwater level at the Peatland is more than 0.4 (zero point four)
meters beneath the peat surface at the compliance point.” However, many stakeholders (mostly palm oil companies) do not wish to maintain a high water level. If
this ecosystem is destroyed by drainage, a large amount of carbon will be emitted
from peatlands through peat degradation by microorganism oxidation and peat fires;
this will have a serious negative impact on the global environment (Osaki and Tsuji
2016) due to increased GHG emissions, a greater frequency of fires, and the loss of
biodiversity, including endangered species (FAO 2016).
Thus, peatland development that involves drainage will aggravate climate change
impacts. Peatland management is complex not only because of the presence of
multiple stakeholders but also because of the natural characteristics of peatland
ecosystems. Multiple important elements should be considered in managing
peatland, such as (1) the ground water level (GWL); (2) the nutrient status of the
peat soil and water; and (3) oxygen availability. The main limiting factor on plant
growth in high GWL conditions is the lack of oxygen and nutrients. An innovative
plant culture system called the AeroHydro culture is introduced in this paper. This
system involves plant culture at a high ground water level supplying oxygen/
nutrients from the peatland surface rather than from inside the peat. This innovative
management system will become a major incentive for many stakeholders to accept
the 40 cm water level regulation. If this cultivation system works well, it will have a
substantial impact in terms of responsible eco-management of tropical peatlands.
AeroHydro culture can also be applied with some modifications to different
250
R. I. Wetadewi et al.