Ecological Study of Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb ver molat (Becc)) in the Natural Habitat at Malili District East Luwu South Sulawesi Hadijah Azis Karim
Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Andi Djemma (UNANDA) Palopo, Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia
Abstract
Sago palm (Metroxylon sago), a tropical plant which mostly grows naturally and distributed in Eastern Part of Indonesia (including Wallacea Zone), an ^alternative^ food source ^non rice^ which is important in the world, showing the challenges and opportunities in community. However, currently the existing of sago palm is facing threats for food security in the future due to land conversion into setllement area, dry agriculture land, and industrial area- Life cycle of sago palm is a long term periode (8 - 12 years). Moreover, sago palm adapt to fresh water swamp as a marginal land. The objective of this research were to: 1) Analyses of population structure of sago palm, 2) Regeneration potency of sago palm, 3) describe habitat characteristic of sago palm. The research was conducted in April to August 2017 at Wewangriu Village Malili District. The result of research showed that population of sago palm in natural habitat was dominated by sapling/sucker with 226 individuals, then followed by seedling was 177 individuals. The regeneration potency of sago palm was categorized Fair based on relatif density and relatif frequency. Related to habitat characteristic or microclimate conditions, the temperature was hot and dry with ranged form 28.5 oC to 30.5 oC. Hydorology parameters such as water pH was about 5.9 to 8.1. Especially soil propeties was dominated by silty clay and clay with acid condition (soil pH 6.1 - 6.4). Maintaining the existence of sago palm, it is necessary to protect and preserve it in the natural habitat.
