Abstract:
Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu (GSK-BB) Biosphere Reserve is one of peatland areas
located in Riau Province that consist of conserved area and productive area. Most of
these areas have been changed as oil palm plantation, industrial forest plantation,
agriculture, and settlement. This research aim was to analyze land use change affect to
microbial cells in GSK-BB Biosphere Reserve by analyzing physical and chemical
characteristics of soil, quantifying microbial cells and determinating of protease activity.
Physical and chemical characteristics of soil were measured by employing standard
methods, microbial cells was quantified by using of total plate count method and
protease activity was measured by using colorimetric method. Soil samples were taken
from six different locations, namely primary forests (as a control), secondary forest, 14
years old rubber plantation, 40-60 years old rubber forests, 12 years old palm oil
plantation, and 3 years old oil palm plantation. Soil physical and chemical
characteristics varied in every location ranging from 3,5 for soil pH; temperature 28,25-
31,25oC; dry weight 14,70-34,70%; bulk density 0,08-0,38 g/cm3 and soil conductivity
8,75-20,5 me/100 g. Copiotropic bacterial cell number ranges from 7,05±0,85x104-
44±6,48x104 CFU/g soil. Oligotropic bacterial cell number ranges from 10,5±0,57x104-40,0±2,16x104 CFU/g soil. Proteolytic bacterial cell number ranges from 0,5±0,08x104
-4,6±0,53x104 CFU/g soil. Fungal cell number ranges from 2,42±0,78x103-
16,0±2,94x103 CFU/g soil. Actinomycetes cell number ranges from 4,00±1,15x103 -
9,25±1,70x103 CFU/ g soil. Protease activity ranges from 2,28-5,78 g tyrosine/ g soil/
hour. The results of this research show that land use changes influence the dry weight,
bulk density, soil conductivity and microbial cells number.
