Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Kabupaten Aceh Tengah memiliki kawasan hutan dominan seluas 445.404,12 hektar, termasuk hutan pinus yang penting untuk ekosistem, kualitas tanah, dan pengaturan aliran air. Keberhasilan pengelolaan hutan dan konservasi tanah serta air sangat dipengaruhi oleh sifat kimia dan fisika tanah, seperti pH, C-organik, KTK, N-total, P2O5, K2O, tekstur tanah, kedalaman efektif, drainase, dan kemiringan lereng. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis sifat kimia dan fisika tanah, menilai kesesuaian lahan, serta memberikan arahan konservasi tanah dan air di bawah tegakan hutan pinus, guna mendukung keberlanjutan pertumbuhan dan fungsi ekologis hutan.
Penelitian dilakukan di Kabupaten Aceh Tengah pada Juni-Juli 2024. Sampel tanah diambil dari tiga lokasi berbeda dengan ketinggian 582 mdpl, 575 mdpl, dan 567 mdpl, pada kedalaman 0, 20, dan 40 cm. Sampel tanah tersebut kemudian dianalisis di laboratorium. Data yang diperoleh dari hasil analisis laboratorium tanah tersebut kemudian dianalisis menggunakan metode matching, yang membandingkan hasil pengukuran dengan kriteria kesesuaian lahan untuk tanaman pinus. Metode ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kesesuaian lahan berdasarkan faktor-faktor lingkungan dan kondisi tanah yang relevan, serta mengidentifikasi kelas kesesuaian lahan aktual dan potensial untuk budidaya pinus.
Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sifat fisika tanah relatif seragam di semua lokasi dengan tekstur debu, drainase baik, kedalaman efektif 75 cm, dan tingkat bahaya erosi rendah. Suhu udara cenderung lebih rendah di ketinggian 582 mdpl (20,48°C). Sifat kimia tanah menunjukkan variasi antar lokasi, dengan pH tanah berkisar antara 4,6 di ketinggian 575 mdpl hingga 4,79 di 567 mdpl. KTK tergolong sedang hingga rendah, kandungan C-organik rendah, nitrogen total sedang, serta P2O5 dan K2O sangat rendah di semua lokasi. Berdasarkan analisis kesesuaian lahan, kawasan ini berada pada kelas S2 (cukup sesuai), dengan faktor pembatas pada lahan pinus berupa bahaya erosi dan ketersediaan hara. Pada serei wangi dan kemiri faktor pembatasnya berupa bahaya erosi, dan retensi hara. Sementara itu faktor pembatas permanen pada ketiga lokasi penelitian ini adalah temperature, bulan kering, kedalaman efektif dan lereng. Untuk meningkatkan kesesuaian lahan menjadi kelas S1 (sangat sesuai), diperlukan langkah-langkah konservasi seperti, penanaman sejajar kontur, agroforestri, penambahan bahan organik dan terasering dapat meningkatkan kesuburan tanah dan ketersediaan air, sehingga potensi lahan dapat dioptimalkan dan keseimbangan ekosistem terjaga.

Central Aceh Regency has a dominant forest area of 445,404.12 hectares, including pine forests that play a crucial role in ecosystems, soil quality, and water flow regulation. The success of forest management and soil and water conservation is significantly influenced by soil chemical and physical properties, such as pH, organic carbon (C-organic), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen (N-total), phosphorus (P2O5), potassium (K2O), soil texture, effective soil depth, drainage, and slope gradients. This study aims to analyze soil chemical and physical properties, assess land suitability, and provide recommendations for soil and water conservation under pine forest stands to support sustainable growth and the ecological functions of the forest. The research was conducted in Central Aceh Regency from June to July 2024. Soil samples were collected from three different locations at altitudes of 582 meters, 575 meters, and 567 meters above sea level (masl) at depths of 0, 20, and 40 cm. The samples were then analyzed in a laboratory. The laboratory results were further evaluated using the matching method, which compares the measurements with land suitability criteria for pine cultivation. This method aims to determine land suitability based on environmental and soil conditions and identify the actual and potential land suitability classes for pine cultivation. The results indicate that the physical soil properties are relatively uniform across all locations, with loamy texture, good drainage, an effective soil depth of 75 cm, and low erosion hazard levels. Air temperature tends to be lower at 582 masl (20.48°C). The chemical soil properties vary among locations, with soil pH ranging from 4.6 at 575 masl to 4.79 at 567 masl. CEC is categorized as moderate to low, organic carbon content is low, total nitrogen is moderate, while P2O5 and K2O levels are very low across all locations. Based on the land suitability analysis, the area falls into the S2 class (moderately suitable), with limiting factors for pine cultivation including erosion hazard and nutrient availability. For citronella and candlenut, the limiting factors are erosion hazard and nutrient retention. Additionally, permanent limiting factors in all research locations include temperature, dry months, effective soil depth, and slope. To improve land suitability to S1 class (highly suitable), conservation measures such as contour planting, agroforestry, the addition of organic matter, and terracing are necessary. These efforts can enhance soil fertility and water availability, optimizing land potential while maintaining ecological balance.