Abstract
Coffee is one of Indonesia's main export commodities, with most of its production coming from the people's agroforestry system. Land management, especially the pruning of shade trees, affects the soil quality and productivity of Arabica coffee. This study aims to examine the local knowledge (ethnopedology) of male and female farmers on land management and soil quality on pine-coffee agroforestry land on the slopes of Mount Arjuno. The research was conducted with a descriptive qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with 27 farmers (23 men and 4 women) and measurements of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil on representative land. The results showed that there were differences in knowledge and perception between male and female farmers in plant care, shade tree management, organic waste utilization, and pest and disease control. Male farmers tend to focus on plant care techniques and the use of waste as compost, while female farmers emphasize more on the use of waste as firewood and traditional methods of pest control. Both understand dark and loose soil as an indicator of fertility, but there is still a knowledge gap in the eight soil quality indicators. The low level of education and lack of participation in socialization are the main factors in the limitation of this understanding. Continuous assistance and policies that are in accordance with the socio-economic conditions of farmers are needed to increase understanding of land management and soil quality.