Erosion Prediction For Determination Soil and Water Conservation Based Local Wisdom In Ayung Watershed Bali, Indonesia.

Agricultural Science Research Journal 5(5); pp. 85- 91, May 2015
Available online at http://www.resjournals.com/ARJ
ISSN: 2026 – 6073 ©2015 International Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Erosion prediction for determination Soil and water
conservation based local wisdom in Ayung Watershed
Bali, Indonesia
Made Sri Sumarniasih
Doctoral Program of Agricultural Sciences at Post Graduate Program, of Udayana University
Indayati Lanya, I Nyoman Merit, Made Antara Faculty of Agriculture, of Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
Corresponding Author e-mail: madesris@gmail.com
Abstract
The aim of this research is to prediction of erosion and determination soil and water conservation based local
wisdom. Location determination is based on the compilation map Ayung Watershed, map of soil types, land use
map and slope map. Uniformity of soil type, slope and land use classes is classified into one unit of land, so
there are 40 units of land to be taken sample points. The erosion prediction used USLE method. The results of
research showed that the erosion in the Ayung watershed from very light to very heavy ranged from 0.98 to
1717.12 tons/ha/year. Very light and light erosion occurs on Paddy field use and forest, on the Ayung watershed
the middle and downstream, from Petang, Bongkasa, Abiansemal, Kesiman, to the south, to the mouth of the

river Ayung in Padanggalak. Heavy to very heavy erosion on farm land use mixed-crop, cultivated, and shrub, at
the start of the Petang, to the north to the Ayung watershed upstream. Erosion can be tolerated (Edp) ranged
from 22.60 to 57.00 tons/ha/year. Suggested erosion control through soil and water conservation efforts based on
local wisdom, namely: (a) increasing the density of plants in the mixed-crop of citrus mix with coffee plants with
individual terracing and set the time of fertilization to overcome of climate change; (b) cropping pattern corn with
legume or horticultural crops cultivated on land use, the addition of crop residues used as mulch or organic
material, construction the level terrace or cotour terrace according topography planting crops commonly grown
amplifier terraces in the study area, as well as set the time of planting to overcome with climate change; (c) set
the time of planting rice in Paddy field based Sasih to overcome climate change so that the distribution of water
by a water control system (Subak) running smoothly; (d) planting trees in border river or cliff, then at that
location sacred by praying and giving Balinese cloth (cloth poleng or checkered black and white) to put on the
tree; (e) regulation form permitting of prohibition or tightening the construction of tourism facilities in the Ayung
river border. Erosion in the Ayung watershed decreased to very light with a range of 0.98 to 50.85 tons/ha/year, if
carried out crops and land management changes (CP) based on local wisdom (decreased >90%).
Keywords: erosion, conservation, local wisdom
Introduction
Watershed is an area bounded by topography
separator that holds stores and drain the rainfall that falls
on it flows into a river that empties into the lake or in the
ocean (Asdak, 2004; Ministry of Forestry, 1997). Ayung

watershed is the longest in Bali, stretching from north to
south, tipped in Bangli district, Badung, Buleleng and
Tabanan, Gianyar and flows through and empties

Badung in Denpasar. Ayung watershed has an important
role that is the source of irrigation water in agriculture,
raw water by local water company at Denpasar and
Badung regency to be processed into drinking water.
Other activities that were found in the flow of the Ayung
River as a means of rafting tours are much in demand by
domestic and foreign tourists, and a Hindu religious
ceremony, resulting in a conflict of interest in the
utilization of water of the Ayung River.

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The problem that occurs is a reduction in land cover
in the upper reaches of the watershed, due to the steep
topography used for agriculture crops should be
designated catchment area, whereas from the upstream

to the middle of the dominant land use and cultivated
land and mixed-crop without soil and water conservation
treatment. Such conditions can lead to erosion, land
degradation, lower land productivity and agricultural
production eventually declined to 50% (Suwardjo et al.,
1995; Poerbandono et al., 2006). In the middle
especially in Gianyar regency, along the banks of the
river overlooking the gorge built tourism supporting
facilities such as hotels and restaurants that should be
protected areas, while in the lower reaches of the Ayung
watershed dominant land conversion to residential
(BPDAS, 2009). Watershed degradation is accelerated
by an increase in the utilization of natural resources as a
result of population growth, development pressures, and
socio-economic pressures. Efforts to improve the
condition of the watershed is the soil and water
conservation based on local wisdom, so that the
controlled reciprocal relationship of natural resources
and environmental watershed by human activities to the
preservation of the environment and human welfare.

Local wisdom can be expressed as a science and
technology that took place as a human effort at that time
to face the challenges of life and good against the
natural life, fellow or his beliefs. Local knowledge or local
wisdom born, lasting and sustainable as the community
in the life and live lihood is highly dependent on the area
in which they live. Truth which has been a tradition or
awig-awig in an area formed as a local culture of
excellence and geographical conditions in a broad
sense. Local knowledge is a product of past cultures that
should constantly hold onto life and even worth locally,
but the values contained in it are considered a very
universal. Local knowledge is an individual’s response to
its environment, a form of environmental wisdom in the
social life somewhere, insight and customs or ethics that
guide human behavior in life in an ecological community.
Conceptually, local wisdom is human wisdom that rests
on the philosophy of values, ethics, and behavior in
ways that traditional institutionalized, the value of which
is considered good and right, so it can last a long time

and even institutionalized in society (Salain, 2007;
Ridwan, 2007). The function and meaning of local
knowledge is for the conservation and preservation of
natural resources, for the development of culture and
science and social meaning, for example in the
agricultural cycle ceremonies (Suhartini, 2009).
Relationship with the local knowledge of soil and
water conservation aspects as a new paradigm in soil
and water conservation programs is bottom-up approach
by involving the community. In Bali there are some areas
that local knowledge can be used as a foundation
policies in an effort to save the environment, especially
in soil and water conservation efforts, namely the
manufacture of swales or terraces on farmland to steep
topography choppy, set the time of planting Sasih
(months according to Balinese calendar) to address

climate change, and the Subak irrigation system to
regulate the distribution or the distribution of water in the
member (Subak manners). According Windia (2006),

Sutrisno (2011)and Ministry of Agriculture (2010), Subak
is indigenous Balinese cultural heritage of Bali and has
been recognized worldwide, where Paddy field irrigation
is managed by an organization that has an important
role. Subak irrigation is the management body of water
user farmers, an institution that becomes a container
grower in the region, which is formed by the ministry of
irrigation water user farmers themselves democratically.
The irrigation system is done in Subak is a Balinese
cultural heritage in the form of an irrigation system that
regulates the division of water management based on
the mindset of harmony and togetherness that is based
on formal rules and religious values. In a conventional
irrigation system tends only based on the concepts of
efficiency based on formal rules, the economic mindset.
While the concepts of effectiveness, religious values,
and management of irrigation systems based on
harmony and togetherness, well organized and flexible
system Subak in Bali. Subak as an institution that sociocultural character has the strength and wisdom of the
local culture, which is flexible and able to absorb

agricultural technology and absorb the culture that
developed in the surrounding community. This situation
is expected to address and resolve issues related to the
management and provision of farm level irrigation water.
New innovations and paradigm changes related to
farming and utilization of water resources is expected to
be finalized and adopted by Subak system. Local
wisdom can be used as a firm foundation in carrying out
soil and water conservation activities, and have a noble
purpose is to save the environment. The application of
local wisdom combined with modern rules is expected to
provide optimal results in soil and water conservation
efforts.
The purpose of the study namely predicting actual
erosion and erosion are still tolerated on land use,
formulate soil and water conservation efforts based on
local wisdom if the erosion exceeding the tolerable
erosion, and predict how much reduction in erosion with
changes in crop and land management (CP) based local
wisdom.

Research Method
The experiment was conducted on a variety of land
use upstream-downstream watershed Ayung, Bali.
Location determination is based on the compilation map
of soil types, land use map and slope map. Uniformity of
soil type, slope and land use classes are classified into
one unit of land, so there are 40 units of land to be taken
sample points (Figure 1). Of each land unit is taken to be
analyzed soil physical and chemical properties in the
laboratory.
Prediction of the amount of erosion were calculated
using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method
developed by Wischmeier and Smith (1978), A = R x K
x LS x CP, where A is the magnitude of the erosion

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(tons/ha/year).R = 6,119 C1,21 D0,47 M0,53(Bols,
1978), where : R = rainfall erosivity, C = monthly rainfall
(cm), D = number of monthly rain days, M = maximum

rainfall (cm) for 24 hours in the month. K is the soil
erodibility value,100 K = 2,292 {2,1 M1,14 (10-4)(12 – a)
+ 3,25 (b – 2) + 2,5 (C–3)}where, M is (% dust+ % very
fine sand ) (100 - % clay) , a is the % organic matter, soil
structure is a class b and class c is the permeability of
the soil. LS is the value and slope length factor, L is the

the value of CP is done with the situation on the ground
approach to the research of the Land Research Center
of Bogor (Arsyad, 2010), Hammer (1980) and the
Ministry of Forestry (2009). Erosion limit value that can
be tolerated (Edp) is a value that does not exceed the
rate of erosion rate of soil formation. In this study, Edp
calculated by the equation of Hammer (1981) namely,
Edp =

Soil depth x Depth factor
Land used old

(0,00138 S2 + 0,00965 S + 0,0136). Determination of

Figure 1. Map sampling points

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Result and Discussion
Erosion Prediction (A) and the Tolerable Erosion
(Edp)
The analysis showed erosion in the Ayung watershed
from very light to very heavy with a range of 0.98 to
1717.12 tons/ha/year (Table 1). Very light and light
erosion occurs on Paddy field land use and forest, heavy
to very heavy erosion occurred on the plantation land
use mixed-crop, cultivated and shrubs. Very light to light
erosion occurs in the central part of the Ayung
watershed midle to downstream of Petang village,
Bongkasa, Abiansemal, Kesiman to the south to the
mouth of the river Ayung in coastal Padanggalak to use
the Paddy field, there is also in the upper watershed to
the use of forest. Heavy to very heavy erosion starts

from the Petang Village, Plaga to the north to the upper
reaches of the Ayung watershed, Buahan, Langgahan,
Kerta, Bayung Cerik, Blancan, Kintamani, Manikliyu,
Bunutin, Gunung Bau, Awan, Daup, Serahi, Plaga,
Belanga, Ulian, Mengani, Catur, and Belantih, with the
use of cultivated mixed-crop, and shrubs. Very heavy
erosion in the upstream Ayung watershed occur in
mixed-crop, cultivated land not terrace so that rain water
does not infiltrated, but becomes run-off that eventually
lead to erosion. Land use change from orange to coffee
planting area with a spacing of less dense, so the low
land cover. Citrus commodities seem less appropriate in
terms of water absorption, the potential erosion in the
rainy season. Existing terraces are not maintained
without reinforcement patio plants and left without proper
management. Ayung watershed upstream section
located on undulating to very steep topography of the
slopes 8% to above 45%, even areas with slope >25% is
used for plants without soil and water conservation
measures. River banks along the Ayung river
conservation area should be used awoke area of tourism
supporting facilities which in turn damage the
environment.
The results of the analysis for the tolerable erosion
(Edp) values obtained ranged from 22.60 to 57.00
tons/ha/year (Table 1). Use cultivated land, mixed-crop,
and scrub cause actual erosion (A) is greater than the
tolerable erosion (Edp), to decrease the actual erosion
does not exceed the tolerable erosion, the need-based
conservation efforts of local wisdom through crop and
land management (CP) to make appropriate core
topography, land use suitability based commodities
research area and arrange a time to plant based on the
Balinese calendar (Sasih)
Soil and Water Conservation Based on Local
Wisdom
Upstream watershed ecosystem in the form of forests
plays an important role in maintaining and hydrological
processes to prevent erosion and sedimentation.
Exploitation of forest resources and land use changes in

the upper that are not considered of environment aspect
to degrade the watershed ecosystem. watershed ability
to hold and keep the water depends on the soil type and
condition of vegetation that grows on it, therefore, the
loss of vegetation cover in the area of water seepage or
protected areas in the upper watershed can interfere
with the function hydrology DAS.
Overcome of that, do soil and water conservation
based on local wisdom that is: arrange a time to plant
Paddy field based Balinese calendar, namely: Sasih
Kalima,
Kaenam,
Kapitu
(November-DecemberJanuary), because of the influence of climate change, so
that water distribution is done by Subak not cause crop
failure. Increasing crop density in mixed-crop of orange
plants and coffee plants to add to the closure of the land
and made the individual terrace, and arrange orange
fruiting to decrease climate change and overcoming the
need for water. Cropping pattern corn with legume or
horticultural crops cultivated on land use, the addition of
crop residues used as mulch or organic material,
construction the level terrace or cotour terrace according
topography planting crops commonly grown amplifier
terraces in the study area, as well as set the time of
planting to overcome with climate change, arrange a
time to plant a second crop get water, while to scrub
should do reforestation as the diffusion region to prevent
erosion as conservation region. Planting trees in border
river or cliff, then at that location sacred by praying and
giving Balinese cloth (cloth poleng or checkered black
and white) to put on the tree, and regulation form
prohibition of permitting or tightening the construction of
tourism facilities along the border Ayung river
Indah (2012), constructing flat terrace on the slope of
the land with slopes less than 3% by digging the soil in
accordance with the mineral soil stacked high and to the
outside edge, so that the water can be retained and
consolidated embankment planted with grass. Terrace
gulud made on land with a slope of 10-50 % , which is
intended to prevent the loss of soil, while the individual
terrace to the dip slope of 30-50% for acreage irrigated
farming. Additionally important is the form of restriction
or tightening regulations permitting of supporting the
development of tourism in the border area of the river or
rive cliff along Ayung Watershed
Based on suggested, so can be simulated that is a
huge predict erosion (A) by changing the values of
stewardship and land plants (CP), using commodity
based suitable land at the research location as a
representation based conservation efforts local wisdom.
Estimation of erosion after committed conservation
efforts through changes in crop management and land,
to do the simulation with changing the CP, so erosion
decreased to less than the tolerable erosion (Table 1).
The simulation results of conservation efforts are
represented by changes in the value of the CP showed
that by improving crop management and conservation
action decreases erosion. On the use of a mixed-crop
and without conservation action (CP=0.2000) erosion
ranged from 457.88 to 1186.49 tons/ha/year, while after
the land improvement and crop management to increase

88

the density of citrus and coffee and making individual
terraces (CP=0.0030) erosion be 19.62 to 50.85
tons/ha/year, which means a decrease of 95.71%. The
use of cultivated land with crops of corn, without
conservation action (CP=0.0256) or (CP=0.0280)
erosion ranged from 54.84 to 517.63 tons/ha/year, while
after the land improvement and crop management is
intercropping corn crop with legum or sweet potatoes
with a level terrace or cotour terrace, crop residue as
mulch (CP=0.0030) erosion be 5.55 to 34.28
tons/ha/year, which means a decrease of 93.38%. Scrub
land use without conservation measures (CP=0.12)
erosion ranged from 1404.69 to 1717.12 tons/ha/year,
while after crop management and land improvement
making the land into forest or reforested (CP=0,0001)
erosion be 1.34 to 1.64 tons/ha/year, which means a
decrease 99.90%. This indicates that the land use is
very necessary attention to the cropping pattern, type of
commodity, time of planting, water distribution, soil and
water conservation action to reduce erosion and crop
failure. The use of land in accordance with the principles
of conservation of soil and water to prevent erosion, so
that the land productivity can be maintained.
According to Utomo (1994), Hardjoamidjojo et al.
(2008) and Indah (2012), terracing or repair existing

porch aims to reduce the length of slopes or out on the
road slope excavation or soil store up transverse slope
parallel to contour lines are equipped with channel
infiltration, drainage and crop terraces amplifier, thus
minimizing the occurrence of runoff and soil loss is
reduced. Making a terrace can be expected to give the
water a chance to soak into the ground (infiltration).
Further said that the addition of mulch can also reduce
the rate of erosion, because the mulch will keep the soil
from direct blows rainwater and surface runoff, so that
erosion can be reduced. It should also be done to
reduce the addition of plant density blows rainwater that
falls to the ground, the kinetic energy is reduced, so the
erosion can be reduced, and which need to be
considered in addition to the terrace is the time of
planting. Planting according Sasih or month in Balinese
calendar, in addition to addressing climate change also
prevent pests and diseases. According to Balinese
Hinduism, Sasih (planting time based Balinese
calender), Subak (irrigation organization), and swales
(Terrace) is soil and water conservation based on local
wisdom Bali have great influence on the growth and the
results obtained. One of the local wisdom in Bali, is
Paddy field with terrace ring and Subak system (Figure
2).

Figure 2. Paddy field with Terracering and Subak System
Source: Sri Sumarniasih (2013)

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Conclusion and Suggestion
Conclusion
Based on the research results of erosion that occurs
in a variety of land use in the Ayung Watershed can be
summed up as follows:
1) Prediction of erosion in the Ayung Watershed
from very light to very heavy ranged from 0.98 to
1717.12 tons/ha/year. Very light erosion
occurred in the use of Paddy field and forests,
while very heavy erosion occurred on the mixedcrop land use, cultivated land, scrubs, while
erosion is tolerable ranges from 22.60 to 57.00
tons/ha/year.
2) Soil and water onservation efforts based on local
wisdom namely: (a) increasing the density of
plants in the land use of citrus mix with coffee
plants, with individual terracing and set the time
of fertilization to overcome the climate change;
(b) cropping pattern crops corn or legume with
horticultural crops at cultivated land use, the
addition of crop residues used as mulch or
organic material, the contruction of level terrace
or cotour terrace according to the topography,
with the amplifier crops commonly grown in the
terrace area of research, and set the time of
planting to overcome with climate change; (c)
set the time of planting rice in Paddy field based
Sasih to overcome climate change, so that the
distribution of water by a water control system
running smoothly; (d) planting trees in border
river or cliff, then at that location sacred by
praying and giving Balinese cloth (cloth poleng
or checkered black and white) to put on the tree;
(e) regulation form prohibition of permitting or
tightening the construction of tourism facilities
along the border Ayung river.
3) Erosion in the Ayung Watershed decrease to
very light with a range of 0.98 to 50.85
tons/ha/year (decreased > 90%).
Suggestion
Use of land in Ayung river areas that are steep or
sharp slope returned to its function as a conservation
area.
Extension routinely on soil and water conservation
models based on local wisdom that is appropriate to
local conditions and prohibits the use of public land with
slopes above 25% as agricultural crops.
Gives understanding to the public of the importance
of watershed and increase community participation in
watershed management.
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