The Effects of Land Use Changes in Malaysia on the Structural Characteristics of Soil Organic Matter.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of land use change carbon (C) contents and structural characteristics of organic matter (OM) in soils. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used. Soil samples from different plantation rubber (Hevea brasiliensis), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) with different age 5and15 years old, and pasture (Pancium Maximum)) in the Main Range of Peninsular Malaysia were investigated to determine the effects of land use change on soil organic carbon (SOC) contents and structural characteristics of OM. Chemical analyses and structural characteristics of soil samples from 0 to 30 cm were analyzed. FTIR spectra for the surface organic horizons showed an increase of aliphatic band (2920 cm- ) with increasing nitrogen, that resulted from a selective preservation of aliphatic structures derived from original plants with high content of waxes (rubber) and using fertilizer. This study demonstrates that differences in (C) contents is related to co-variation of vegetation; however, vegetation is the major driver of differences in structural characteristics of OM