CHARACTERISTIC OF SOIL AND WATER IN TIDAL LANDS WITH WATER MANAGEMENT GARPU SYSTEM IN BARAMBAI AND CERBON DISTRICT, SOUTH KALIMANTAN

Abstract

Barambai and Cerbon Districts, Barito Kuala Regency, which are tidal lands areas that has implemented a macro-level water management system called the garpu system. This garpu system was built in 1969 and has two secondary canals that flow from the Barito River to the end of the pond where the acid element water is stored. This research was conducted to determine the differences in soil characteristics (pH and dissolved Fe) and water quality (pH, EC, and SAR) in the area around the right pond canal and left pond canal of the garpu system and the criteria itself. This research used a survey method, specifically purposive sampling of soil and water samples based on one-kilometer distance. Soil and water samples were analyzed in the Soil Department Laboratory, Lambung Mangkurat University. The research results showed that the soil pH and concentration of dissolved Fe did not show a significant difference between the area of right and left pond canals. The pH is 3.78 and 4.10, and the dissolved Fe is 1453.7 and 709.4 ppm. The water quality (pH and EC) in the right and left canals area does not show significant differences, whereas the SAR shows significant differences. The pH of the water in the area of right pond canal and the left pond canal is 3.99 and 3.68, the EC is 243 and 289 µS cm^-1, and the SAR is 0.34 and 0.47. The acidity of the water does not qualify the standard criteria for irrigation water quality.