Plant Age Influence on Soil Chemical Properties of Oil Palm Plantation in East Kotawaringin, Central Borneo

This research was attempts on comprehended the influence of oil palm age on soil chemical properties of oil palm plantation in East Kotawaringin District, Central Borneo. Soil sample is obtained from oil palm plantation site which represent plant in age of 3, 5, 7, 9, 14 and 16 years old in four depths of soil layer. Soil sample then brought to laboratory for analysis. We also collected forest soil sample nearby the plantation site for comparison of 0 year age. The result indicates that the clearance of forest and the planting of oil palm at the age of 3 years old influencing pH H2O and pH KCl, and both are also influential in reducing C-organic, N-total, P-available, cation exchange capacity, Ca, K, Na, H and Al exchangeable. The increase of oil palm age respectively from 3, 5, 7, 9, 14 and 16 years old is affected on the increasing content of C-organic, cation exchange capacity, H and Al exchangeable, and also affected on reducing pH H2O, pH KCl, N-total, P-available, Ca, K and Na exchangeable. The increase of oil palm age from 3 to 14 years old is reducing the base saturation. Conversely, age increase from 14 to 16 years old is increasing the base saturation. The increase of oil palm age from 3 to 16 years old is not influencing the change of exchangeable-Mg in oil palm plantation soil.