Klias Peat Soil: A Depth-Based Property Assessment

Peat soil is crucial in Southeast Asia, particularly in Sabah, where it exhibits high water content, low density, and significant organic matter. This research investigates the unique engineering behavior and characteristics of Klias tropical peat, focusing on index properties such as fiber content, organic content, and natural water content compared to other Malaysian regions. Key objectives include studying the physical properties, decomposition levels, and in-situ density of peat with depth, as well as examining its chemical composition. Results indicate distinct variations in peat density and composition at different depths, with average moisture content at 258%, organic content at 91%, fiber content at 75%, pH at 3.7, and specific gravity at 0.748. The degree of decomposition is classified as H5-H6. Findings reveal that peat density increases with depth, while sulfur remains constant (0.1% to 3.4%), oxygen decreases (28% to 24%), and carbon increases (60% to 76%) with depth. This study also explores the application of Peat Sampler in understanding the engineering behavior and characteristics of peat.