Soil Chemical Status Under Natural Forest, Coffee Agroforestry and Coffee Monoculture at Air Hitam Subdistrict, West Lampung, Indonesia

Abstract

The chemical status of soil is a crucial aspect of soil health and plays a vital role in determining plant growth and productivity. However, the change in land use from forest to coffee plantation can influence the soil’s chemical condition. One strategy to improve soil condition is agroforestry. Despite the growing interest in coffee agroforestry systems as a sustainable alternative to coffee monoculture, there is limited research on their effects on soil chemical status in Indonesia. Air Hitam Subdistrict in West Lampung, Indonesia, is an important coffee-growing region where both agroforestry and coffee monoculture systems are practiced. This study aims to compare the soil chemical status of natural forest, coffee agroforestry, and coffee monoculture systems in Air Hitam Subdistrict. It particularly focuses on key macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, as well as secondary macronutrients like calcium and magnesium, and trace elements such as sodium. The results show that soil organic carbon (SOC), N-Total, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations are higher in the natural forest than in coffee agroforestry, and higher in coffee agroforestry compared to coffee monoculture. However, the available phosphorus (P) concentration is higher in coffee monoculture due to the application of chemical fertilizers. This research reveals that coffee agroforestry can improve soil condition.