The Distribution of Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.) Feeding Roots Under Various Types of Ground Cover, Peat Depths, and Distances From the Trunk in Peatlands

Oil palm cultivation on peatlands is growing rapidly, but information regarding the distribution patterns of suction roots beneath different types of vegetation cover and at varying peat depths remains limited. This study aims to analyze the distribution of oil palm suction roots under various types of land cover, at different peat depths, and at varying distances from the trunk in peatland plantations. This study used a factorial randomized block design (RBD) with three factors: land cover (V0 = discs and carrying poles; land cover percentage 0%, V1 = leaf litter piles; land cover percentage 50%, V2 = weed vegetation on dead stakes; land cover percentage 100%), peat depth (D1 = peat depth 0.5–1.5 m; mean 1.0 m, D2 = peat depth 1.5–3.0 m; mean 2.0 m, D3 = peat depth >3.0 m; average 4.0 m) and distance of the sampling point (J) from the oil palm trunk (J1 = distance 1.0 m, J2 = distance 2.0 m, J3 = distance 3.0 m, J4 = distance 4.0 m, J5 = distance 4.5 m). The data were analyzed using analysis of variance and multiple regression. The results showed that land cover type and sampling distance significantly influenced the development of suction roots, whereas peat depth did not show any statistically significant differences. The highest surface area and volume of suction roots were observed in the open circle and harvest path areas (V0), reaching 1,012.20 cm² and 25.56 ml, respectively. The highest distribution of nutrient-absorbing roots occurred at a distance of 1.0 m from the stem, with surface area and volume values of 1,234.71 cm² and 32.52 ml, respectively. Peat depths of 1.5–3.0 m tended to support better root development due to higher levels of organic matter and available phosphorus.