Analisis Tingkat Erosi Tanah pada Lahan Agroforestri Kopi di Kawasan Lereng Gunung Rinjani Menggunakan Metode USLE

Abstract

This study analyzes soil erosion levels in coffee agroforestry land on the slopes of Mount Rinjani using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method. The research is motivated by the increasing risk of land degradation in tropical mountainous areas due to agricultural land use on steep slopes with high rainfall intensity. The study aims to identify erosion hazard levels and the main factors influencing soil loss in coffee agroforestry systems. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed through field observations, measurement of biophysical land parameters, spatial analysis, and calculation of USLE factors, including rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, vegetation cover, and conservation practices. The findings reveal that erosion levels in the study area range from low to very high, with slope gradient and vegetation cover serving as the dominant variables affecting soil loss. Areas with dense vegetation and proper soil conservation practices exhibited lower erosion rates compared to areas with limited vegetation cover. This study argues that coffee agroforestry systems cannot effectively reduce erosion without adequate conservation management. The research contributes to the development of agroforestry-based soil conservation studies and provides an empirical basis for sustainable land management in tropical mountainous regions.