IPB University Professor Reveals the Cause of Soil Cracks in Kalimantan
The appearance of cracks in the soil in Limus Hamlet, West Kalimantan, has drawn attention because, at first glance, they resemble the patterns of cracked soil found in arid regions of Africa.
However, this phenomenon does not necessarily indicate that the land in central Kalimantan is turning into a desert. Soil cracks can form through natural processes when soil or mud deposits lose water and shrink.
Prof Widiatmaka of the Department of Soil Science and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture at IPB University, explained that cracks generally occur in soil or materials containing clay. When these materials lose water, they shrink, creating stress that causes the surface to crack.
“The most common cause is the drying of soil or mud deposits containing clay. As they lose water, these materials shrink, but their shrinkage is constrained by the underlying layer or surrounding materials. The resulting stress then causes the surface to crack, forming a pattern of cracks,” he explained.
According to him, the drying process can be triggered by various conditions, such as reduced rainfall, high evaporation rates, receding standing water, or changes in drainage. In addition, the cracks may also be related to land subsidence or movement.
In the case of Limus Hamlet, he believes the most plausible initial hypothesis is that the soil or mud deposits dried out and then shrank. However, the specific cause cannot yet be determined without a field investigation.
“It cannot yet be confirmed whether the drying is primarily due to dry weather, receding water pools, or changes in water management and land use,” he said.
He added that the similarity in appearance to cracked soil in Africa also needs to be examined carefully. The underlying mechanism may indeed be similar, namely the material losing water and shrinking. However, the environmental conditions and triggering factors are not necessarily the same.
“It is more accurate to say that it resembles cracked soil in arid regions of Africa, rather than evidence that the land in Kalimantan has turned into a desert,” he emphasized.
Prof Widiatmaka believes that drought can indeed be a strong trigger, especially when water supply decreases and evaporation increases. However, the contribution of drought and climate change to this phenomenon still needs to be substantiated through field data and rainfall records.
Human activities can also accelerate the drying process. He explained that land clearing can reduce shade, while changes in drainage, water extraction, and mining activities have the potential to alter hydrological conditions. Nevertheless, the involvement of these activities in this specific case has not yet been proven.
He noted that soil cracks do not always pose an environmental threat. However, if cracks occur repeatedly, spread, and are accompanied by land subsidence, vegetation die off, or a reduction in water sources, these conditions require further investigation.
“Cracks alone are not enough to conclude that there is a serious threat. Soil conditions, water, and land use must be examined first,” he concluded. (AS) (IAAS/WSG)
