Balai Pengkajian Teknologi Pertanian Yogyakarta, Ringroad Utara Jalan Karang Sari Wedamartani, Ngemplak,
Sleman, Kotak Pos 1013, Yogyakarta 55010
ABSTRAK
Indonesia menghadapi situasi yang dilematis, yaitu pada musim kemarau kekurangan air dan pada musim hujan
kebanjiran. Masalah utama yang menyebabkan banjir, tanah longsor, dan sedimentasi badan air adalah hujan,
kecepatan laju pelapukan, adanya lapisan argilik (padat) pada tanah, dan penanaman tanaman semusim di musim
hujan tanpa bangunan konservasi air dan lahan. Tanah mudah tererosi oleh aliran permukaan dan terendapkan di
badan-badan air, sehingga mengakibatkan banjir dan menurunkan produktivitas tanah lahan kering. Cacing tanah
dapat membuat lubang di dalam tanah dan menurunkan kepadatan tanah, meningkatkan laju infiltrasi air, dan
memperbaiki kesuburan tanah melalui aktivitas biologi yang berlangsung secara terus-menerus sesuai daya dukungnya.
Teknologi resapan biologi dengan memanfaatkan cacing tanah endogaesis-geofagus sebagai agen pengendali dan
diikuti pemberian bahan organik secara vertikal melalui pengeboran sampai lapisan padat akan menurunkan aliran
permukaan dan erosi tanah.
Kata kunci: Tanah lahan kering, teknologi resapan biologi, cacing tanah endogaesis, konservasi tanah dan air
ABSTRACT
The prospect of biological infiltration technology development for upland farming system
Indonesia faces dilemmatic situation, such as drought during dry season and flood during rainy season. The main
problems in occurrence of flood, land slide and water bodys sedimentations are rain, weathering rate, soil argilic
layer, and planting annual crops during rainy season without water and land conservation construction. Soil is easy
to be eroded by run-off and sedimented in the water bodies causing flood and reduction of upland soil productivity.
Earthworm can make hole in the soil layer and will reduce soil compaction, increase water infiltration, and
improve soil fertility through continuous biological processes that fit the soil carrying capacity. Biological
infiltration technology by using endogeic-geophagus earthworm as soil processing agent and supplying organic
matter vertically through drilling up to compact soil layer may reduce run off and soil erosion.
Keywords: Upland soils, biological infiltration technology, endogeic earthworm, soil and water conservation