Morphometric Characterization of Gully Erosion and Estimation of Eroded Soil Volume in Talakbroto Village, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Ditch erosion is a form of land degradation that has the potential to degrade soil quality, reduce the area of productive land, and increase sedimentation in downstream areas. This study aims to identify the characteristics of ditch erosion and estimate the extent of soil loss in Talakbroto Village, Simo Subdistrict, Boyolali Regency, Central Java Province. The study was conducted through field observations, ditch morphometric measurements, interviews, and spatial data analysis covering slope gradient, rainfall, soil type, and land use. Soil loss estimates were calculated using a morphometric approach based on the cross-sectional area and volume of each ditch segment. The results indicate that gully erosion at the study site exhibits variations in form and size influenced by slope gradient, extremely high rainfall, the properties of Vertic Haplustalfs soil, and the presence of fragile weathered rock. The total soil loss value obtained was 0.423 tons/ha/year. These results indicate that the study area is vulnerable to gully erosion, which could worsen without appropriate land management measures. The implementation of suitable soil and water conservation measures is necessary to mitigate gully erosion and minimize soil loss.


Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 6: Water Quality
SDG 15: Life on Land