Imposing Biopores in Agroforestry as an Alternative Measure of Climate Adaption in Semi-Arid Tropic of Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

A small scale agroforestry model integrated with land and water conservation was scientifically tested to alleviate drought impact in dry land agriculture in North Lombok. Biopores were imposed to the model as an integrated approach in climate change adaptation.  Northern part of Lombok is typologically less developed soils with high erosion, undulating, and under semi-arid climate is vulnerable to climate change. Measures of adaptation in such ecosystem should be carried out by (i) implementing best practice in land and water conservation, (ii) applying appropriate cropping system, (iii) considering local climate variability and (iv) using water efficiently as economic goods. These four components were incorporated in a scenario of small scale agroforestry. A participatory action research with three field experiments were conducted at Sukadana village, sub-district of Bayan, North Lombok. Some factors were imposed in the scenario, namely: (1) composted biopores of diameter 10 cm and 20 m depth, on farms and 40 cm depth, underneath of trees pit, (2) alley cropping in agroforestry, (3) characterization of local climate, and (4) water use efficiency. Three groups of farmers were selected by means of a purposive sampling to involve in two consecutive years of field experiments, i.e. 2012 and 2013. Output of research was a model of small scale agroforestry integrating cropping system, land and water conservation, as well as local climate characteristic. The model performed a significant contribution on improving performance and yields of agricultural crops as well as wood trees, mainly white teak (Gmelina arborea) growing well on biopores. Biopores underneath trees reduced water and soil particles loss through runoff, as well as increased carbon sequestrated. On farm lands biopores played a significant role in conserving soil moisture, increasing crop water use efficiency and providing essential nutrient for plants. Conserved water could be used by plants in a period of dry spell to avoid drought stress. The imposed biopores in agroforestry could be an adaptation measure to climate variability, and climate change on farm level in semi arid tropic of eastern Indonesia.

Keywords: water conservation, biopores, agroforestry and climate variability

DOI: 10.7176/JEES/5-10-5