PREDICTION OF SOIL EROSION RATES IN A SUGAR PALM AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM IN THE JOMPI WATERSHED, MUNA, INDONESIA

A study of soil erosion rates in a sugar palm agroforestry system was conducted. The study was carried out in the Jompi watershed, Muna, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, geographically located between 4049'53" - 4053'16" S and 122039'53' - 122040'5" E. The objective of the study was to predict the rates of soil erosion in a sugar palm agroforestry system in the Jompi watershed. Twelve purposively sampled land units were assessed and their erosion rates were predicted based on the USLE method. The weighted erosion rate in the Jompi watershed sugar palm agroforestry system was 62.18 tons ha-1 year-1, which fell into category moderate of the erosion hazard index. The level of soil cover had a significant effect on erosion rate. The average erosion events on the three levels of soil cover (low, moderate, high), however, did not show any significant effect