Physico-Chemical Properties and Mineral Identification of Salt Licks Soil in Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve

This study intended to describe the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of salt licks discovered in Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve. The salt licks in this forest reported to be visited and used by wildlifes via camera trap studies. In order to understand this wildlife’s behavior, the physicochemical and mineralogical properties of the salt lick especially the salt lick soil are important to determine the cause of the wildlife visitation. Five salt licks area as well as controlled soils were selected. Water and rock samples were also collected for the comparison study. The physical characteristic of licks soil shows pH ranges from slightly acidic to alkaline, high moisture content (23.30% – 59.35%), wide range of organic matter content (0.38% – 9.65%) and electrical conductivity range between 41.82 µS/cm to 243.32 µS/cm which is higher than the controlled soils. The soil texture from the salt licks soils is mostly classified as loam. The result of chemical analysis shows that the concentration of elements is higher in the lick soil compared to the controlled soil such as Ca (1101.92 mg/kg – 11551.64 mg/kg), K (767.32 mg/kg – 2432.11 mg/kg), Na (85.83 mg/kg – 754.20 mg/kg), Mg (986.05 mg/kg – 5843.29 mg/kg) and P (47.23 mg/kg – 290.215 mg/kg). Water samples from salt licks area are rich in Ca (637.67 mg/L – 3074.25 mg/L) and Na (572.35 mg/L – 2554.63 mg/L) compared to river nearby. The mineral analysis indicated the appearance of clay such as illite, chlorite and smectite. As a conclusion, the salt lick soil’s pH varies from slightly acidic to alkaline (5.38 – 8.98) compared to controlled soils (4.54), The salt lick surface soils also show higher percentage of moisture content (69.38%) and soil electrical conductivity (78.41%) difference compared to controlled soils. Meanwhile the organic matter percentage in salt lick soils is slightly lower (48.85%) than the controlled soils (51.11%). The salt lick soils also exhibit higher elements concentration than the controlled soils such as average concentration of Ca (96.14%), K (86.09%), Na (89.51%) Mg (91.38%) and P (86.78%).