Unravelling Soil Degraded Patterns in the Alas Bromo Education Forest

¹ Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jebres 57126, Surakarta, Indonesia
² Bachelor of Soil Science Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jebres 57126, Surakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Land degradation is crucial for maintaining soil resilience and carbon storage, as key components in addressing the impacts of climate change. Soil degradation can reduce the function of soil as a biomass producer through the degradation of soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Alas Bromo Education Forest is a type of dry land that has several types of land cover with varying ages and has varying slopes. This study aims to determine the potential for soil degradation and the actual soil degradation status in the Alas Bromo Education Forest, determine the parameters that are limiting factors for soil degradation, and determine the effect of slope and tree stands with different ages on soil degradation status. The method used in this research is descriptive exploratory through survey approach and laboratory analysis. Alas Bromo Education Forest has the potential for moderate and high soil degradation. However, actual degradation does not indicate moderate and high degradation, but rather no degradation and minor degradation. Soils with non-degraded and lightly degraded classes have a fraction composition in the form of colloids <18%, bulk density >1.4 gr/cm3, porosity <30%, and degree of water passing <0.7 cm/hour. The greater the slope, the higher the soil degradation score. Rosewood with 5 years of age has the greatest influence on soil degradation. Maintaining low actual degradation rates is crucial for maintaining soil carbon storage and thus supporting climate change mitigation.