Abstract
The Katingan I Lowlands Irrigation Area (LIA) is one of tidal lowlands irrigation area in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Because the Katingan I LIA utilizes water from the estuary, the occurence of saltwater intrusion is likely to occur. Assessing water salinity due to saltwater intrusion provides essential information for farmers to manage water appropriately. In addition, this information can also be used by the government to develop policies and management strategies for Katingan I LIA. Saltwater intrusion that occurs when sea water flows into irrigation canals and agricultural land can lead to increased salinity. High salinity levels can affect agricultural productivity, especially in rice crops. Therefore, a thorough salinity study is needed to support the development of rice farming. This study aims to evaluate salinity levels due to saltwater intrusion and understand the factors affecting them. The study measured tidal (water level elevation), electrical conductivity (EC), and salinity data of the Katingan River and several locations in the primary and secondary channels. Data collection methods included continuous and instantaneous measurements using portable data logger installations and handheld devices. The existing water salinity conditions at Katingan I LIA obtained the maximum water salinity value from the three locations of 14,536 ppm and the lowest water salinity value of 3.02 ppm. The maximum water salinity value that enters the primary canal is 5,547 ppm, higher than the thershold salinity value for rice farming (5,120 ppm). Therefore, anticipatory measuers must be conducted to reduce salinity intrusion, such as optitmizing water channels, making water gates, and managing the water use efficiently. It is also recommended that measurements be carried out during the dry season to see the comparison of results and the magnitude of the maximum water salinity value that occurs because salinity problems occur more during the dry season
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