Erosion that Causes Citarum River Sedimentation Resulting from Vegetable Plantation

Abstract

The Citarum River, as one of Indonesia's strategic rivers, faces a critical sedimentation problem. This sedimentation leads to river shallowing, reduced reservoir capacity, and exacerbates flood risks in downstream areas. One of the main sediment sources has been identified as land erosion in the upper Watershed (DAS) area. This research aims to analyze the erosion rate caused by vegetable plantation activities and assess its contribution to the sedimentation rate in the Citarum River. This study was conducted in the upper Citarum watershed, focusing on vegetable farming lands, which are generally located on sloped areas. The method used was the RUSLE (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation) model to estimate erosion rates, supported by field surveys and land-use data analysis from satellite imagery. The results indicate that the erosion rate on vegetable plantation lands significantly exceeds the tolerable soil loss limit, being substantially higher than other land uses such as forests or rice paddies. Factors such as intensive soil tillage, minimal ground cover, and the lack of soil conservation techniques (e.g., terracing) were identified as the primary causes. It is concluded that unsustainable vegetable farming practices are a dominant contributor to the high sedimentation in the Citarum River. Therefore, urgent intervention is required through improved agronomic practices and the implementation of soil and water conservation principles at the farmer level to reduce erosion rates and control river sedimentation.