Characteristics of soil physical and chemical properties on Arabica coffee land in Bener Meriah Regency

Abstract

Bener Meriah Regency is one of the Arabica coffee producing areas in Aceh Province. This Arabica coffee has been cultivating for years by the Gayo people with a continuous cultivation system throughout the year. Continuous cultivation for years causes a decrease in soil fertility in both physical and chemical properties, resulting in a decrease in coffee production. This study aims to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil on Arabica coffee land in Bener Meriah Regency. The study used a quantitative descriptive method through land surveys and analysis of data in the field and analysis of soil samples in the laboratory. Observations were made on 15 Land Units Type (LUT) obtained from the overlay of elevation maps, slope maps, soil type maps and existing coffee plantation maps of Bener Meriah Regency. Parameters observed included soil structure, soil permeability, soil aggregate stability, soil pH, total and available P. The results showed that the soil structure was classified as crumb, soil permeability was slow to fast, soil aggregate stability was classified as unstable to rather stable, soil pH was acid to rather acid, P total was very low to very high, and P available was very low.