Bench terracing in the Kerinci uplands of Sumatra, Indonesia

ABSTRACF: Bench terracing's effect on erosion, soil characteristics, crop yields, and cropping area and socioeconomic factors that affect farmers views and use of bench terraces were evaluated in the Kerinci uplands of Sumatra , Indonesia. Bench terraces reduced soil loss 70% (P<0.05) on enclosed runoff plots in comparison to unterraced fields under the same cropping pattern. Erosion under bench terraces was not significantly different from two grass bund treatments that are less laborand capital-intensive. Furthermore, bench terraces resulted in a 50% reduction in peanut yields (p< 0.0/) at the base of terrace risers in comparison to middle bench sites, a 13-31%loss in cropping area, and the exposure of chemcially and physically undesirable subsoils. High-income farmers were two and a half times more likely than middleor low-income farmers to construct bench terraces. However, neither high farm income nor government subsidies insured long-term terrace maintenance. Terracesare not widely maintained, even among high-income farmers, because they conflict with existing agroforestry-based land use practices that are less labordemanding. In contrast, agronomic methods of soil conservation, particularly grass bunds, are used widely by low-income farmers without payment of subsidies.