Effect of Fertilizer Application on Groudwater Quality at an Oil Palm Plantation

Abstract

Oil palm plantations need fertilizers for optimum growth and production. However, excessive use of fertilizers can lead to pollution of groundwater. For this reason, a study was carried out to investigate
groundwater quality of an oil palm ecosystem, which involved the measurement of 9-point monitor wells and run-off. This research was conducted in Kabun-Aliantan (N: 0002.925’ E: 100049.977’). Tandun, Riau-Indonesia. The location points of the monitored wells in this study comprised a young oil palm area (P1), an adult oil palm area near Lau river (P2), a housing complex at oil palm plantation (P3), an adult oil palm area at Marihat, Block A (P4), a housing 1 at the sub-district town (P5), a housing 2 at the sub-district town (P6), a cocoa area (P7), a village housing (P8), at the side of Lau river (PR), and a run-off in a micro catchment (N: 00027.936’ E: 100049, 977’). The parameters analyzed in the water samples were pH, nitrate-N (NO3-N), nitrite-N (NO2-N), ammonium-N (NH4-N), phosphate (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).
In general, pH, NO3-N, NO2-N, NH4-N, P, K, Ca and Mg increased after fertilizer application and decreased with time. All levels of parameters were lower than the WHO standard for drinking water. This study showed that the fertilizers on the oil palm plantation did not pollute the groundwater quality. However, groundwater pollution was found to be caused by residential wastes, such as the use of detergents and other human activities.