Kajian Karakteristik Tanah pada Satuan Lahan Karst Lau Damak, Kecamatan Bahorok, Kabupaten Langkat, Sumatera Utara

Abstract

This study aims to examine the characteristics and classification of soil in the karst land unit of Lau Damak Village, Bahorok subdistrict, Langkat Regency, North Sumatera. Soil analysis activities was carried out at the Laboratory of Research and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatera and the Laboratory of PT. Socfin Indonesia. Morphology and soil characteristics were observed in 3 soil representative profiles, namely P1 (pieks of karst hills) at an altitude of 280 m above sea level, P2 (other karst hills) at an altitude e of 217 m above sea level, and P3 (other karst hills) at an altitude of 124 m above sea level. Soil were classified according to the key soil taxonomy 2014. Soil analysis includes Bulk density, Texture, Structure, Consistency, Soil color, pH H2O, Soil organic carbon (SOC), Exchangeablecation, CEC, and Base saturation. The results showed that the top of the karst hill has more rock fragments and shallower solum dept than the soil profile at lower elevations; P1 has soil is reddish black, P2 has soil is yellowish red, and P3 has soil is yellow; Soil has low chemical properties especially in pH H2O, exchangeable bases, base saturation, CEC, and SOC; Loose consistency in surface horizons in all three soil profiles, and soil bulk density in P1 is lower than P2 and P3. The three representative profiles have an cambic characterizing horizon so that the classification according to Soil Taxonomy is Typic Dystrudepts.