The real impact of degradation is erosion. One of the methods used to calculate the
erosion rate is the Universal Soil Equation (USLE) method. This method is an erosion model
designed to predict the average soil erosion in the long term from a farming area with a certain
cropping and management system. The predicted form of erosion is sheet or groove erosion,
but cannot predict deposition and does not take into account sediment yields from erosion of
ditches, riverbanks, and riverbeds (Arsyad 2010). According to (Wischmeier & Smith, 1978),
factors that affect the USLE equation are land use which plays a large role and is accompanied
by conservation actions that will be carried out.
Several methods of vegetative soil conservation techniques are any use of plants or
vegetation, or plant remains as a medium for protecting the soil from erosion, inhibiting surface
runoff, and increasing soil moisture content, as well as improving soil properties, both physical,
chemical and biological properties (Mulyandari & Susila, 2020). Mechanical soil conservation
techniques or also known as civil engineering are efforts to cultivate agricultural land in
accordance with the principles of soil conservation as well as water conservation. This
technique includes mounds, mound terraces, bench terraces, individual terraces, credit terraces,
contour bunds, garden terraces, stone rows, and stone terraces. Specifically for water harvesting
purposes, mechanical conservation techniques include the construction of water catchment
structures, rorak, and dams (Dariah et al, 2004).
One of the cross-regency watersheds on the island of Timor is Meto Batulesa. Meto
Batulesa watershed with an area of 8,961 Ha which is located between two regencies, namely
Kupang Regency and Kupang City. Based on the biophysics of the Meto Batulesa watershed,
the average rainfall at 3 rain stations is Naioni 1,704.4 mm/year, Oenesu 1,412.20 mm/year,
and Bakunase 1,294.4 mm/year, accompanied by the type of soil rensina which is susceptible
to hazards. Erosion and the slope ranges from 15-25% which is relatively steep and is supported
by the use of land in the form of secondary dry land forest, dry land and shrub agriculture, and
shrubs and open land. There is a change in land use to settlements and the shifting cultivation
system practiced by farmers in the upstream area as well as the existence of former manganese
mining by the community in the past. Upper Meto Batulesa watershed. This is thought to have
caused erosion that occurred greater than the rate of soil formation or erosion that was tolerated.
If the land management system in the upstream part of the Meto Batulesa watershed continues,
it will certainly create new critical lands, while according to (RPJM-12 Kupang City, 2016),
Naioni Village and Fatukoa Village are included in the protective area for the lower area with
the aim of maintaining and revitalizing water catchment areas or areas that function
hydrologically so as to ensure the availability of water resources.
The objectives of this research are to calculate the actual and tolerable erosion in the
Meto Batulesa watershed, to provide conservation recommendations based on estimates of
actual erosion and erosion tolerance in the Meto Batulesa watershed.
RESEARCH METHOD
The research location is located in the Meto Batulesa watershed, part of which is in the
Kupang district and also the city of Kupang with a watershed area of 8. 967.66 Ha. Research
(starting from May – June 2021). Field research for soil sampling using purposive sampling
methodor adjusted to the purpose so that the Staratifield Random Sampling method is used so
that it is distinguished from slope, land cover and soil type so that 19 land units were obtained.