THE ROLE OF TREE ROOT FOR INCREASING INFILTRATION CAPACITY

Population growth, urbanization and the construction of residential centers, resulting in the changing function of green open spaces into urban activity centers such as business, residential, social facilities equipped with various supporting facilities in the form of civil works with rigid construction materials and also using embankment from waterproof soil, Plays a major role in reducing the absorption function and causing increased surface flow. Increasing infiltration capacity with various impregnation system technologies, technically or otherwise, according to Sunjoto (2012)[16], can provide benefits such as; (a) minimizing the downstream hydrograph peak, (b) reducing the dimensions of the drainage network, (c) preventing local flooding, (d) minimizing pollution concentration, (e) stabilizing the groundwater level, (f) preventing sea water intrusion, (g) prevent land subsidence and sinkhole, and (h) water conservation. Various technological innovations have been developed, in an effort to cope with land cover problems that impact on the lack of urban catchment areas. According to Harianto (2008) in Arfan (2012)[1], the use of sand lens coating is quite effective as a coating for storage of water in the soil. Other researchers (Khire et al (1999), Stormont, J.C, (1995) in Arfan (2012)[1] used a capillary barrier layer in an attempt to increase the capacity of water absorbed into the soil. As an alternative to increasing infiltration capacity, natural water absorption technology is applied to the soil naturally, using tree roots which are expected to increase infiltration capacity, decrease surface runoff, and provide groundwater affixes, so the preservation of groundwater can be maintained.