Estimasi Biomassa dan Karbon Serasah di Kawasan Aliran Mata Air Panas Jaboi Kecamatan Sukajaya Kota Sabang

Tropical forests play an important role as carbon sinks and biomass stores, including through the litter produced by vegetation. Litter contributes to nutrient cycling, maintains soil fertility, and is an important component of ecosystem carbon reserves. This study aims to estimate the biomass and carbon content of litter in the Jaboi Hot Spring Flow Area, Sukajaya District, Sabang City. The study was conducted in June 2025 using a 100 m long line transect method with four transects, each consisting of 18 1 x 1 m plots. Leaf litter samples were collected, their wet weight was measured, dried in an oven for 48 hours, and their carbon content was calculated based on the percentage of organic carbon of 0.47. The results showed a total litter biomass of 8.106 kg/m² with an average of 2.026 kg/m², and a total litter carbon of 1.2 kg/m² with an average of 0.3 kg/m². The highest values were found at Station 3 (2,354 kg/m² and 0.160 kg/m²) and the lowest at Station 1 (1,691 kg/m² and 0.080 kg/m²). Variations in values are influenced by soil physical-chemical factors, vegetation density, and climatic conditions, which influence production and decomposition rates. These results emphasize the importance of monitoring biomass and litter carbon to support forest management and conservation. In addition to providing a quantitative overview of litter biomass and carbon content, this study also highlights the role of litter strategies in maintaining the ecological function of tropical forests. Litter not only contributes to nutrient recycling but also serves as an indicator of ecosystem health, particularly in the context of climate change and land degradation. Therefore, regular litter measurement and monitoring can form the basis for formulating conservation policies, forest restoration, and carbon emission mitigation. Integrating litter biomass data with other ecosystem parameters, such as vegetation diversity and soil microorganism activity, is expected to provide a more comprehensive understanding of sustainable natural resource management.