Status Kesuburan Tanah Berdasarkan Aspek Kimia dan Fisik Tanah di DAS Wai Ela, Negeri Lima, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah, Provinsi Maluku

Soil fertility problems in Wai Ela Negeri Lima are caused by 1) natural factors such as geology, soil, topography, and land uses; 2) land management system, such as shifting cultivation and deforestation; and (3) land degradation due to a natural disaster such as the fast flood in Wai Ela watershed. The objectives of the study were 1) to study soil chemical and physical characteristics of Wai Ela watershed; 2) to determine the soil fertility status of Wai Ela watershed; and 3) to provide some recommendations to improve the soil fertility. Soil properties used in determining soil fertility status included CEC, BS, C-organic, available P2O5, N-total, pH, soil depth, soil textures, and soil permeability rates. The soil fertility status was determined by using PPT’s criteria. Data preparation and analysis were conducted by using Geographic Information System. The study results showed that the soil fertility status of Wai Ela watershed ranged from the low-class 217.74ha (14.50%) to medium class 899.56 ha (60.21%) and high-class 303.35ha (20.31%). The recommended soil fertility status improvements in Wai Ela include balanced-fertilization management, increasing soil organic matter by applying manure and compost at soil tillage stage, neutralizing the soil pH and applying irrigation water management. Keywords: chemical and physical aspects, Negeri Lima, soil fertility, Wai Ela Watershed   ABSTRAK Masalah kesuburan tanah di DAS Wai Ela Negeri Lima disebabkan oleh: 1) faktor alami yaitu geologi, jenis tanah, topografi dan penggunaan lahan; 2) pola pemanfaatan lahan, yaitu perladangan berpindah dan penebangan hutan; dan 3) degradasi lahan akibat bencana alam berupa banjir bandang di danau Wai Ela. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: 1) Mengkaji data kimia dan fisika tanah di DAS Wai Ela; 2) Menetapkan status kesuburan tanah di DAS Wai Ela; dan 3) Menentukan arahan perbaikan kesuburan. Sifat kimia tanah yang berpengaruh terhadap penetapan status kesuburan tanah adalah KTK, KB, C-organik, P2O5 tersedia, N total dan pH tanah. Sifat fisika tanah seperti kedalaman tanah, tekstur dan laju permeabilitas tanah. Penentuan status kesuburan tanah ditetapkan berdasarkan kriteria penentuan tingkat kesuburan tanah PPT (1983) dan kriteria kombinasi kesuburan fisika tanah (Sitorus, 1985). Tahap persiapan sampai pengolahan data status kesuburan tanah adalah berbasis SIG. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa status kesuburan tanah total pada lokasi penelitian yaitu kelas rendah 216,74 ha (14,50%), kelas sedang 899,56 ha (60,21%) sampai kelas tinggi 303,35 ha (20,31%). Arahan perbaikan kesuburan tanah di DAS Wai Ela adalah manajemen pemupukan berimbang, penambahan bahan organik (pupuk kandang, pupuk hijau) pada tahapan pengolahan tanah, manajemen pH tanah yang sesuai dan pengaturan air irigasi yang tepat. Kata kunci: aspek kimia dan fisik, DAS Wai Ela, kesuburan tanah, Negeri Lima