Oil Palm Plantation and Plant Species Diversity in Kolaka District,
Indonesia
LA ODE MUH. MUNADI1, MUHAMMAD AMRULLAH PAGALA2, LA ODE NAFIU2,
DEKI ZULKARNAIN2
1Postgraduate Agricultural Science, Halu Oleo University,
Jl. Mayjend. S. Parman, Kemaraya, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi,
INDONESIA
2Faculty of Animal Science, Halu Oleo University,
Jl. H.E.A Mokodompit, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi,
INDONESIA
Abstract: - Knowledge of the types of plant species in the world continues to progress even though there are
still many plant species whose types and benefits are not yet known. These plant species concentrate in an area
both in residential areas, pastures, agricultural land, and plantation land. The research aims to identify plant
species in mature oil palm plantation areas in Kolaka Regency by selecting Watubangga and Tanggetada
subdistricts as survey locations and has been carried out from January to August 2022 by dividing the mature
oil palm area into 3 villages in each subdistrict as research samples. The results of the survey and identification
were analyzed using the summed dominance ratio formula to determine the level of dominance of plant species
in controlling growth facilities. The findings of plant species in mature oil palm plantation areas in Watubangga
Subdistrict, Polenga Village (highest-Cyperus rotundus L. 3.0738%, lowest-Solanum torvum Sw. 1.8637%),
Kastura Village (highest-Brachiaria miliformis 4.1470%, lowest-Euphorbia hirta L 1.5057%), Kukutio Village
(highest-Pennisetum purpureum Schumach 3.8447%, lowest-Chromolaena odorata (L.) King. 1.6317%).
Tanggetada Subdistrict, Pundaipa Village (highest-Asystasia coromandeliana Ness 3.8541%, lowest-
Cyrtococcum acrescens 1.4968%), Tinggo Village (highest-Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. 4.9256%,
lowest-Chromolaena odorata (L.) King 1.6079%), Oneeha Village (highest-Pennisetum purpureum Schumach,
3.8447%, lowest-Chromolaena odorata (L.) King. 1.6317%). This finding can be concluded that each area of
mature oil palm plantations has several different and varied plant species and there are invasive plants that can
eliminate native plants such as Chromolaena odorata (L.) King. and Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
Key-Words: - Summed Dominance Ratio, Plants, Oil Palm Plantation, Kolaka
Received: June 14, 2022. Revised: February 11, 2023. Accepted: March 2, 2023. Published: March 15, 2023.
1 Introduction
Massive and structured forest clearing in various
parts of the world causes damage to various
ecosystems to be used as industrial areas, housing,
agriculture, mining, and plantations. The extent of
the oil palm plantation area has an impact on
environmental damage and the extinction of plant
species ecosystems. The damage certainly has
implications for the growth and development of a
plant ecosystem as well as what happened in
Southeast Sulawesi Province. Oil palm plantations
in Southeast Sulawesi Province in 2022 were
recorded at 75.921 hectares spread across Konawe,
North Konawe, East Kolaka, and Kolaka Regency.
Kolaka Regency was formerly known by the
people of Southeast Sulawesi as the land of orchids
(Wonua Sorume), a district that will be famous for
its diversity of beautiful orchid plants, unique birds,
and unique animals (Anoa) Southeast Sulawesi is
now starting to experience extinction because since
2004 private plantations that were given a permit to
manage a forest area of 31.291 hectares, began to
penetrate the forest and establish a plantation
industry. This fact gives a shocking effect to plant
species found in forest areas and of course, will
slowly experience extinction due to massive land
clearing on a large scale by oil palm plantations.
The massive opening of oil palm plantation areas
in Kolaka Regency also has an impact on
Watubangga Subdistrict with an area of 5.748 ha
and Tanggetada District 7.748 ha, which of course
eliminates some plant species in the area and
requires efforts to preserve plant species [1], predict
and assess the risk of extinction [2], especially plant
species in the lowlands [3], and the need to identify
plant species that are starting to experience
extinction [4].
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on SYSTEMS
DOI: 10.37394/23202.2023.22.26
La Ode Muh. Munadi, Muhammad Amrullah Pagala,
La Ode Nafiu, Deki Zulkarnain
E-ISSN: 2224-2678
249
Volume 22, 2023
Identifying plant species in oil palm plantations
has benefits both theoretically and practically
because through this study it will be known with
certainty the types of plants that can live in oil palm
plantations become a basic frame of reference for
further research in saving natural plant species that
are threatened with extinction. As a result of the
invasion of oil palm plantations. Previous research
has given many examples to identify plant species in
various areas that are threatened with extinction,
such as in the Scottish mountains [5], Hungarian
prairie [6], South Africa [7], Chile and Peru [8], and
Ethiopia [9].
Identification of plant species in oil palm
plantation areas in particular has not been widely
carried out in Kolaka Regency. Previous research on
plant species in oil palm areas was mixed plant
species in oil palm plantations [10], conservation of
biodiversity in oil palm plantation areas [11],[12]
loss of plant species in oil palm areas [13]. The
results of the research on plant species found in oil
palm plantation areas have been previously
mentioned there are no studies that specifically
examine the summed dominance ratio of plant
species in oil palm plantation areas. Summed
dominance ratio is the richness of a plant species
[14], able to dominate and dominate other plant
species [15], and shows the index of the dominance
of plant species in controlling the means of growth.
2 Methods
The survey and identification of plant species in the
oil palm plantation area were carried out in Kolaka
Regency by selecting two sub-districts as research
locations, namely Watubangga District and
Tanggetada District, each sub-district selected three
villages as research samples based on the criteria for
land area and productivity of mature oil palm
plantations. The tools used when measuring plant
species using questionnaires, tropical plant books,
digital cameras, machetes, plastic samples, paper
labels, writing tools, and research materials are plant
species found in oil palm plantation areas that have
been produced.
Points were taken for each plant species using a
transect system measuring 50×50 m2 (Fig.1) plant
sampling used the transect method, where the
researchers first determined two points as the center
of the transect line with a length of 50 m with a
transect line thickness of 1 cm, and made transect
segments with a length of 1 m and walked along the
transect line to identify plant species, record, and
compare using tropical plant books, and the internet.
The sample points for each village are 50 points
with a total of 300 transects.
Fig. 1: Research Transect Design
Analyzing plant species in oil palm plantation
areas using summed dominance ratio [25],[26],[27].
Absolute Density:
AD=
Total species
An area
Relative Density:
RT=
×100
Absolute Frequency:
AD=
Number of plant species
Total of all plants
Relative Frequency
RF=
Absolute frequency
× 100
Total absolute frequency
Important Score:
RT + RF
Summed Dominance Ratio:
SDR=
IS
2
3 Results and Discussion
The summed Dominance Ratio in the study was
divided into six village areas according to the
research locations in Watubangga and Tanggetada
districts. The summed dominant ratio is specifically
used as a parameter to see the level of dominance of
a plant species in an area. Plant species that have a
higher ratio value than other plant species, the more
these plants can be concluded as plants that can
control the growing media, and vice versa if the
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on SYSTEMS
DOI: 10.37394/23202.2023.22.26
La Ode Muh. Munadi, Muhammad Amrullah Pagala,
La Ode Nafiu, Deki Zulkarnain
E-ISSN: 2224-2678
250
Volume 22, 2023
Summed dominant ratio value is lower, the plant
species is getting lower in controlling the growing
media.
The basic understanding of the summed
dominance ratio will certainly provide an
understanding and description of the diversity of
plant species in the oil palm plantation area in
Kolaka Regency. The results of the identification of
plant species in the oil palm area resulted in (Fig. 2,
Fig. 2A) Polenga Village with the lowest summed
dominance ratio value found in the Solanum torvum
Sw species from the Solanaceae family of 1.8637%
and the highest summed dominance ratio was found
in the species Cyperus rotundus L. family
Cyperaceae with a value of 3.0738%.
Fig. 2: Oil Palm Plantation Area
Fig. 2A: Oil Palm Plantation Area
Oil palm plantations in Kastura Village,
Watubangga District (Table 1), had the highest
summed dominance ratio found in the plant species
Brachiaria miliformis from the Poaceae family with
a value of 4.1470% and the lowest plant species
Euphorbia hirta L. from the Dennsteadtiaceae
family with a value of 1.5057%. As a result of the
sum of the dominance of the species, these plants
are more numerous than other types of species. Oil
palm development areas generally have fairly shady
canopies so that light intensity cannot penetrate the
soil surface directly and of course will affect plant
species. Asteraceae is a plant species that is resistant
to high levels of shade, this can be seen from the
results of observations made during research in
Kolaka Regency.
Table 1. Summed Dominance Ratio Watubangga
District
Plant species and their diversity can be directly
affected by the level of light intensity because in
general plants need light to live normally. The
diversity of plant species is affected by water,
minerals, and light [16], which can increase plant
productivity [17], with different levels of wealth and
equity [18]. Kukutio Village, Watubangga District,
had the highest summed dominance ratio found in
the plant species Pennisetum purpureum Schumach
(Fig. 3, Fig. 3A) with a summed dominance ratio of
3.8447%, and the lowest was in the species
Chromolaena odorata (L.) King (Fig. 4, Fig. 4A)
with a summed dominance ratio of 1.6317%.
Chromolaena odorata (L.) King is an invasive plant
containing bioactive compounds [19], able to
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on SYSTEMS
DOI: 10.37394/23202.2023.22.26
La Ode Muh. Munadi, Muhammad Amrullah Pagala,
La Ode Nafiu, Deki Zulkarnain
E-ISSN: 2224-2678
251
Volume 22, 2023
survive in dry areas [20], and resistant to climate
change [21].
The increase in the number of plant species
depends on the conditions in which the plant is
located, on the other hand, plants are largely
influenced by temperature conditions, the
environment, and the activities of other living
things. Plant species can grow and develop properly
if there are no disturbances that hinder growth,
wealth, or evenness.
Fig. 3: Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.
Fig. 3A: Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.
Fig. 4: Chromolaena odorata (L.) King.
The formation of various plant patterns in the
species structure is a dynamic process and has a
close relationship with environmental conditions
because in general, if there are elements that are not
by plant needs, it will inhibit microbial growth.
Fig. 4A: Chromolaena odorata (L.) King.
Table 2. Summed Dominance Ratio Tanggetada
District
The summed dominance ratio in Tanggetada sub-
district (Table 2) is not much different from the
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on SYSTEMS
DOI: 10.37394/23202.2023.22.26
La Ode Muh. Munadi, Muhammad Amrullah Pagala,
La Ode Nafiu, Deki Zulkarnain
E-ISSN: 2224-2678
252
Volume 22, 2023
summed dominance ratio in Watubangga sub-
district. This is influenced by the intensity of land
clearing carried out by plantation workers. The
highest summed dominance ratio of plant species in
Pundaipa Village was Asystasia coromandelana
Ness. from the family Acanthaceae (3,8541%) and
the lowest plant species Cyrtococcum acrescens
(1,4968%), although they have differences, these
species grow evenly. The dominant plant species in
Tinggo Village is Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
(Fig. 5, Fig. 5A) from the family Poaceae
(4.9256%) and the lowest is Chromolaena odorata
(L.) King from family Asteraceae (1.6079%).
Fig. 5: Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
Fig. 5A: Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv. is a problem
plant that can control the means of growth [22],
threaten other plant ecosystems [23], and can be
found on all continents except Antarctica [24].
Oneeha village has the highest plant species,
Pennisetum purpureum Schumach (3.8447%), and
the lowest is Chromolaena odorata (L.) King. of the
Asteraceae species (1,6317%).
Vegetative homogeneity is the type of vegetation
found under oil palm stands or other growing areas.
Plant uniformity can have a soil and water
conversion effect because plants have a uniform
root system to create dense clusters and are resistant
to soil erosion, protect the soil from rain and surface
runoff also play a role in increasing soil organic
matter. Differences in the structure and composition
of each layer of vegetation are closely related to
environmental conditions. Environmental factors
that will affect the continuity of growth are altitude,
altitude will affect species richness, structure, and
composition of vegetation, soil conditions,
temperature, and light and water intensity.
4 Conclusion
The findings of plant species in the oil palm
plantation area showed that the Watubangga sub-
district has different diversity and there are invasive
plants that cause the loss of native species in the oil
palm plantation area, namely Chromolaena odorata
(L.) King. and Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.
however, there are also plant species that can be
used directly as animal feed, such as the Pennisetum
purpureum Schumach plant which is found in
almost all observation points. This study is expected
to provide an overview of the diversity of plant
species in the oil palm plantation area and can be
used as initial data for further research in the future.
Acknowledgement:
We express our gratitude to the Ministry of
Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the
Republic of Indonesia, Director of Postgraduate
Studies and Chancellor of Halu Oleo University for
all their support in completing the research study.
References:
[1] Y. Yoshihara, T. Sasaki, D. Nyambayar, Y.
Matsuki, Y. Baba and Y. Suyama. Testing the
effects of plant species loss on multiple ecosystem
functions based on extinction scenarios. Basic and
Applied Ecology. vol. 38, 2019, pp. 13–22.
[2] E. Kaky and F. Gilbert. Assessment of the
extinction risks of medicinal plants in Egypt under
climate change by integrating species distribution
models and IUCN Red List criteria. Journal of Arid
Environments. Vol. 170, 2019.
[3] F. Attorre et al. How to include the impact of
climate change in the extinction risk assessment of
policy plant species?. Journal for Nature
Conservation. vol 44, 2018, pp. 43–49.
[4] M. Chalak, L Hemerik, W van der Werf, A Ruijs,
and EC van Ierland. On the risk of extinction of a
wild plant species through spillover of a biological
control agent: Analysis of an ecosystem
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on SYSTEMS
DOI: 10.37394/23202.2023.22.26
La Ode Muh. Munadi, Muhammad Amrullah Pagala,
La Ode Nafiu, Deki Zulkarnain
E-ISSN: 2224-2678
253
Volume 22, 2023
compartment model. Ecological Modelling, vol 221,
2010, pp. 1934–1943.
[5] S. H. Watts et al. Riding the elevator to extinction:
Disjunct arctic-alpine plants of open habitats decline
as their more competitive neighbours expand.
Biological Conservation, vol. 272, 2022.
[6] B. Deák et al. Different extinction debts among
plants and arthropods after loss of grassland amount
and connectivity. Biological Conservation, vol. 264,
2021.
[7] W. Foden. South Africa’s threatened species
legislation: What stands between our plants and
extinction?,” South African Journal of Botany, vol.
73, 2007, pp. 288.
[8] P. Pliscoff, F. Luebert, H. H. Hilger and A. Guisan.
Effects of alternative sets of climatic predictors on
species distribution models and associated estimates
of extinction risk: A test with plants in an arid
environment,” Ecological Modelling, vol. 288,
2014, pp. 166–177.
[9] B. T. Mellisse, K. Descheemaeker, K. E. Giller, T
Abebe and G. W. J. van de Ven. Are traditional
home gardens in southern Ethiopia heading for
extinction? Implications for productivity, plant
species richness and food security. Agriculture,
Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 252, 2018, pp. 1–
13.
[10] D. C. Zemp et al. Mixed-species tree plantings
enhance structural complexity in oil palm
plantations,” Agriculture, Ecosystems &
Environment, vol. 283, 2019.
[11] E. Meijaard, B. Azhar, M. Persio, and D. Sheil. Oil
Palm Plantations in the Context of Biodiversity
Conservation. in Reference Module in Life Sciences,
vol. 17, 2021.
[12] E. Meijaard and D. Sheil. Oil-Palm Plantations in
the Context of Biodiversity Conservation.
Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (2nded), SA Levin, Ed.
Waltham: Academic Press. pp. 600–612, 2013.
[13] U. Jaroenkietkajorn, S. H. Gheewala and L. Scherer.
Species loss from land use of oil palm plantations in
Thailand. Ecological Indicators, vol. 133, 2021.
[14] G. Filibeck et al. Competitive dominance mediates
the effects of topography on plant richness in a
mountain grassland. Basic and Applied Ecology,
vol. 48, 2022, pp. 112–123.
[15] H. Zhang, R. Chang, X. Guo, X. Liang, R. Wang
and J. Liu. Shifts in growth and competitive
dominance of the invasive plant Alternanthera
philoxeroides under different nitrogen and
phosphorus supply. Environmental and
Experimental Botany, vol. 135, 2017, pp. 118–125.
[16] W. K. Cornwell and P. J. Grubb. Regional and local
patterns in plant species richness with respect to
resource availability. Oikos, vol. 100, 2003, pp.
417–428.
[17] B. J. Cardinale, H. Hillebrand, W. S. Harpole, K
Gross and R Ptacnik. Separating the influence of
resource ‘availability’ from resource ‘imbalance’ on
productivity-diversity relationships. Ecol Lett, vol.
12, 2009, pp. 475–487.
[18] V. I. Vasilevich. Species diversity of plants.
Contemp. Probl. Ecol, vol. 2, 2009, pp. 297–303.
[19] F. Olawale, K. Olofinsan, and O. Iwaloye.
Biological activities of Chromolaena odorata: A
mechanistic review. South African Journal of
Botany, vol. 144, 2022, pp. 44–57.
[20] W. Li, Y. Zheng and R. Wang. Extension of the
EICA hypothesis for invasive Chromolaena odorata.
Acta Oecologica, vol. 114, 2022.
[21] J. Sharma et al. Climate change and dispersion
dynamics of the invasive plant species Chromolaena
odorata and Lantana camara in parts of the central
and eastern India. Ecological Informatics, vol. 72,
2022.
[22] J. A. Estrada and S. L. Flory. Cogongrass (Imperata
cylindrica) invasions in the US: Mechanisms,
impacts, and threats to biodiversity. Global Ecology
and Conservation, vol. 3, 2015, pp. 1–10.
[23] B. A. Bradley, D. S. Wilcove and M. Oppenheimer.
Climate change increases risk of plant invasion in
the Eastern United States. Biol Invasions, vol. 12,
2010, pp. 1855–1872.
[24] C. T. Bryson, L. J. Krutz, G. N. Ervin, K. N. Reddy
and J. D. Byrd. Ecotype Variability and Edaphic
Characteristics for Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica)
Populations in Mississippi. Invasive Plant Science
and Management, vol. 3, 2010, pp. 199–207.
[25] J. Moenandir. Ilmu Gulma. Raja Grafindo Persada.
Jakarta. 1993.
[26] D. R. J. Sembodo. Gulma Dan Pengelolaannya.
Graha Ilmu. Yogyakarta. 2010.
[27] A. Y. Kastanja. Identification of Weed Types and
Dominance in Upland Rice Planting (Case Study in
West Tobelo District, North Halmahera Regency.
Journal of Agroforestry, vol. 6, 2011, p. 22-31.
Contribution of Individual Authors to the
Creation of a Scientific Article (Ghostwriting
Policy)
La Ode Muh. Munadi (PhD student), conducting
research, analyzing, and completing writing,
Muhammad Amrullah Pagala (promotors) The
main person in charge and supervise the research
process, La Ode Nafiu and Deki Zulkarnain (co-
promotors) Motivating researchers, assisting the
process of analysis and checking research results.
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on SYSTEMS
DOI: 10.37394/23202.2023.22.26
La Ode Muh. Munadi, Muhammad Amrullah Pagala,
La Ode Nafiu, Deki Zulkarnain
E-ISSN: 2224-2678
254
Volume 22, 2023
Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a
Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself
No funding was received for conducting this study.
Conflict of Interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare
that are relevant to the content of this article.
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
(Attribution 4.0 International, CC BY 4.0)
This article is published under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
_US