Abstract :
Critical soil is a condition in which the soil is overused and unable to fulfil its demand. There has been an increase on the soil?s criticality in District of
Manding, indicated by the dwindling thickness of solum and the volume of rock on the soil surface which was plentiful during the period of 2011 ? 2012. This
increasing criticality is assumed to be the result of soil management that is not in accordance with the principles of land conservation. The study is dedicated to determine the soil damages based on the topography in 2013, and to evaluate the soil criticality beginning in 2011 to 2013, as well as to recommend solutions to
improve the soil productivity in the District of Manding. The soil sample collection is performed on the soil layers of 0 ? 20 cm, 20 ? 40 cm, and 40 ? 60 cm using
random sampling method. The soil sampling points is determined in accordance with the sampling previously done in 2011 and 2012 based on the use of land.
Then, the samples are classified according to their topography. The observation of samples includes density, total porosity, the degree of water release, solum
thickness, and the volume of rocks. The study shows that the territory development in the District of Manding during the year of 2011 ? 2013 was followed by the improvement of soil condition, indicated by the increases on the quality of density, total porosity and the volume of rocks. Solum thickness and soil permeability increased on its criticality. In other words, if not treated
immediately, the soil will potentially become more critical. The study recommends soil productivity enhancement by adding organic substances, terracing, crop
planting rotation and revegetating the land by planting plants suitable for the surrounding area.
Keywords: Critical soil, soil damage, Manding