comes from the native peatland forest; plant growth is very good even at high GWLs
(lacking oxygen) and very poor nutrient conditions because oxygen and nutrients are
supplied mainly from mounds on the peatland surface and aerial roots. Thus, the
AeroHydro culture system induces lateral roots to the land surface, and this surface
root absorbs oxygen and nutrients from the peatland surface. As nutrients in native
peatland are absorbed from litter and N 2 fixing, it is important to establish a
symbiotic system between roots and microbes.
Therefore, the key components of the AeroHydro culture system are as follows
(refer Part 2 for more detail).
1. Maintain a high groundwater level and high moisture on the peatland surface
2. Apply compost made of leaves, grasses, weeds, and cover crops (natural
compost)
3. Apply slow-release K
+ fertilizers
4. Apply zeolite and/or biochar
5. Apply humic acid and fulvic acid as PGPs (plant growth promoters)
6. Establish a symbiotic system
In conclusion, tropical peatlands can produce a high amount of biomass at a high
ground water level by supplying oxygen and nutrients from the land surface. Based
on these functions in natural tropical peatlands, here, the AeroHydro culture system
is proposed for the ecological management of tropical peatlands.
7.2.5 Key System of AeroHydro Culture
An innovative cultivation method has been developed for peatlands. One of the
newly proposed innovative systems for plant cultivation is AeroHydro culture,
which supplies oxygen and nutrients to plants from the land surface. The method
Table 7.2 Dose of AeroHydro media
Amount in one bag for 6 months of application
No Material
Unit Oil palm Sago
Shorea balangeran
1
NPK + Mg + B (briquette form)
kg
0.5
0.25
0.25
2
Biochar
kg
0.125
0.125
0.125
3
Zeolite
kg
0.1875
0.1875 0.125
4
K
+ granules
kg
0.16
0.16
0.16
5
Natural compost
kg
20
20
15
6
Liquid organic biofertilizer
L
0.5
a
0.5
a
0.5
a
7
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi/AMF kg
0.25
0.25
–
8
Ectomycorrhizal/ECM fungi
kg
–
–
0.05
Additional (spray on the leaves and roots every 3 months)
1
Liquid organic biofertilizer
L
2
a
2
a
2
a
a Dosage after dilution
254
R. I. Wetadewi et al.
(lacking oxygen) and very poor nutrient conditions because oxygen and nutrients are
supplied mainly from mounds on the peatland surface and aerial roots. Thus, the
AeroHydro culture system induces lateral roots to the land surface, and this surface
root absorbs oxygen and nutrients from the peatland surface. As nutrients in native
peatland are absorbed from litter and N 2 fixing, it is important to establish a
symbiotic system between roots and microbes.
Therefore, the key components of the AeroHydro culture system are as follows
(refer Part 2 for more detail).
1. Maintain a high groundwater level and high moisture on the peatland surface
2. Apply compost made of leaves, grasses, weeds, and cover crops (natural
compost)
3. Apply slow-release K
+ fertilizers
4. Apply zeolite and/or biochar
5. Apply humic acid and fulvic acid as PGPs (plant growth promoters)
6. Establish a symbiotic system
In conclusion, tropical peatlands can produce a high amount of biomass at a high
ground water level by supplying oxygen and nutrients from the land surface. Based
on these functions in natural tropical peatlands, here, the AeroHydro culture system
is proposed for the ecological management of tropical peatlands.
7.2.5 Key System of AeroHydro Culture
An innovative cultivation method has been developed for peatlands. One of the
newly proposed innovative systems for plant cultivation is AeroHydro culture,
which supplies oxygen and nutrients to plants from the land surface. The method
Table 7.2 Dose of AeroHydro media
Amount in one bag for 6 months of application
No Material
Unit Oil palm Sago
Shorea balangeran
1
NPK + Mg + B (briquette form)
kg
0.5
0.25
0.25
2
Biochar
kg
0.125
0.125
0.125
3
Zeolite
kg
0.1875
0.1875 0.125
4
K
+ granules
kg
0.16
0.16
0.16
5
Natural compost
kg
20
20
15
6
Liquid organic biofertilizer
L
0.5
a
0.5
a
0.5
a
7
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi/AMF kg
0.25
0.25
–
8
Ectomycorrhizal/ECM fungi
kg
–
–
0.05
Additional (spray on the leaves and roots every 3 months)
1
Liquid organic biofertilizer
L
2
a
2
a
2
a
a Dosage after dilution
254
R. I. Wetadewi et al.