Analysis of Land Physical Change, Land Use and Value of Soil Erosion: Case Study of Tawaeli Watershed, Palu, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aimed to examine land physical change against the erodibility of soil erosion. This study is a form of land use survey. It was performed in the Taweli watershed in the city of Palu. Sample was randomly taken. Research variables were rainfall erosivity, physical characteristics and value of soil erodibility, Length and Slope (LS), vegetation factor and soil management. The value of erosion was calculated based on USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) method. Study result revealed that the forest had the value of soil erosion of 0.18-2.15 ton ha-1 year-1 that categorized as very low erosion hazard level. Mixed farming land had the value of soil erosion of 6.97-29.29 ton ha-1 year-1 that categorized as low, shrubs was categorized into average to heavy erosion hazardous level of 89.44-1687.64 ton ha-1 year-1 and the primary forests had value of erosion of 1.68, 9.80 and 19.85 ton ha-1 year-1 , respectively which categorized as very low. Therefore, it can be inferred that land of shrubs have high value of erosion compared to the land use for forest and mixed farming agriculture.