Characteristics and Classification of Soil Formed from Banda Recent Volcanic Ash on Various Topographic Positions

Abstract

Abstract The Banda Islands consist of three main islands namely Banda Besar Island, Banda Naire Island, and Banda Api Island. Banda Api Mountain is an active volcano and based on history has erupted 20 times over the past 400 years. The eruption of volcanic ash has covered most of Banda Naire Island in the east and Banda Big Island in the east and south of Banda Api Mountain. This study aims to determine the characteristics and classification types of soil formed from parent material deposited in recent volcanic ash in different topographic positions. The method used was free survey method through toposequence approach by determining the profile point based on a straight line (transect) while soil classification refers to the Soil Taxonomy System. The results of the study showed that the profile of the soil at the position of the foothills on the island of Banda Naire and the Banda Besar morphologically had Andisols properties (Typic Hapludands), but in generally the physical and chemical characteristics of each soil profile did not match with the Andisols requirements so that they were classified into the Inceptisols (Vitrandic Eutrudepts and Vitrandic Dystrudepts) (in the slope and foothills), while at the top of the hill were classified as Entisols (Typic Udipsamments).