Plot scale comparison of runoff generalization between forest and coffee combination cassava landcover in Kuta Jungak Village, Siempat Rube District, Pakpak Bharat Regency

It has become a public opinion that forests will always reduce the amount of surface runoff compared to other types of land cover. However, previous research reports that the runoff generalization process is still not fully explained. The activity of converting forests into agricultural land will also have an impact on surface runoff. This study aims to compare the magnitude of surface runoff on the plot scale between forest and coffee combination cassava fields. The surface runoff measurement plot with a size of 8 x 10 meters in the direction of the slope. The higher average surface runoff occurs in a forest plot that is equal to 0.286 ± 0.438 mm, while coffee and cassava plots produce an average surface flow of 0.022 ± 0.057 mm. Understorey and litter are influential in generalizing runoff in both plots. The understorey vegetation cover in the forest plot is lower than in the coffee combination cassava plot. This research confirms the results of previous studies that forests with less understorey vegetation conditions and less litter cover the soil surface can still produce high runoff results.