Soil properties under four different land uses in relation to soil erosion and conservation in Wanagama

Abstract

Abstract Although the parent material of the study area is the same at all land uses, but when the plantation is different will result the different processes and development. In Wanagama where it was used to be highly degraded land, then it was rehabilitated. This research aimed to analyze the soil properties under Gliricidea, teak, crops and grass plantation. Also, aimed to relate the soil properties with soil erosion. Soil samples were taken from the field randomly at the four land use types with 3 replications, in addition for the grass land the soil samples were taken from the 3 location. Then, they were brought to the laboratory to analyze. This research shows that: the soil organic content varies from 2.61 to 9.78%; the permeability were classified as slow to very rapid; the bulk density and bulk particle density are also varies, that are 0.50 – 1.15 and 1.86 – 2, 20 respectively. Soil porosity ranges from 46.75 to 76.97 % which is considered as moderate to high. The soil texture are mostly clay with the clay content varies from 32.79 to 61.85%. The soil erodibility is considered as low to moderate with the K factor of 0.07 to 0.26. Soil properties has a very close relationship with the process inside the soil, especially related to the psychological processes or other process including erosion process.