FLORISTIC AND SOIL CHARACTERISTIC AT THE RPH SENTUL-PROBOLINGGO PROTECTED LOW LAND FOREST, EAST JAVA

This research was conducted to identify the character of protected forest in RPH Sentul area about vegetation structure, soil biophysical and environment condition of lowland forest area with low rainfall. The research was conducted by explorative method with plot making for tree plant, sapling and ground cover to inventory and determines the forest vegetation structure inside the area, also by measuring the environmental parameters (temperature, humidity and light intensity) and making soil sampling for analyzed biophysical condition. The analysis is done descriptively both on vegetation condition and physical condition of land and its environment. The inventory carried out in the sample plot shows that there are 84 identifiable species from 39 different Families, either as trees, sapling or ground cover, with Moraceae as the largest contributor. The diversity index of the three types of vegetation shows a medium categorized, while the index of evenness indicates a good categorized that is close to one. Based on the existence of exotic species, especially on ground cover, within protected forest areas, this area has been degraded although not large. However, the physical condition of the soil and environmental conditions in the forest still indicate that this area is still quite good when used as a reference area on rehabilitation program with similar geographical conditions.