'Pot cultivation' as a form of soil and water conservation technique for adaptation to soil condition and climate change in karst area

Abstract

Shallow soil is found in Gunungsewu karst area of Gunungkidul Indonesia, often referred as 'soilly rock'. Its the main problem are limited of growing medium and soil loss due to erosion. ‘Pot cultivation’ (PC) is term to describe technique of cultivating crop on small plot of soil between rock. Study aimed to determine 1) the practice of soil and water conservation (SWC) techniques of PC as a form of adaptation to soil condition, 2) the potency of PC for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in karst area. Research was conducted in Gunungsewu karst area, from January to August 2020. Study method was observation and interview. Results showed that practice of PC was carried out as form of adaptation to shallow soil in karst area. Soil is managed to fill the rocks, so sufficient as plant growth medium. Rock functions as a 'pot'. Rock 'pots' function like terraces in SWC. PC is effective way in increase of growing medium, preventing soil from erosion, preserving soil organic carbon, and as an action of adaptation and mitigation co-benefit. The results of this study are expected to be useful for development of karst area which have shallow soil.