Karakteristik Lahan untuk Kesesuaian Tanaman Apel (Malus sylvestris Mill.) di Kecamatan Sindang Dataran, Kabupaten Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu

<p><strong>[<em>Land Characteristics for Suitability of Apples</em> (<em>Malus sylvestris</em> Mill.) <em>in Sindang Dataran District, Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu</em>]</strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p>Penilaian kesesuaian lahan merupakan tahap pertama dan penting dalam usaha pengembangan suatu komoditas pertanian. Kecamatan Sindang Dataran, Kabupaten Rejang Lebong merupakan salah satu lokasi yang direncanakan menjadi daerah pengembangan apel dengan temperatur udara mencapai 23oC dan ketinggian tempat bervariasi antara 785 – 1.129 lebih m dpl. dengan kondisi tanah yang cukup subur. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menentukan kelas kesesuaian lahan untuk tanaman apel. Penelitian dilakukan dengan metode survey dan observasi. Parameter yang diamati meliputi karakteristik lahan dan syarat tumbuh tanaman apel. Evaluasi kesesuaian lahan yang digunakan ialah kesesuaian lahan kualitatif, yaitu yang hanya didasarkan kondisi fisik lahan. Metode evaluasi kesesuaian lahan dilakukan dengan mengikuti prosedur dari FAO (1976), yaitu evaluasi kesesuaian lahan ini dilakukan dengan cara mencocokkan (matching) data antara karakteristik lahan dengan persyaratan tumbuh tanaman apel dan hasilnya didasarkan pada nilai terkecil (hukum minimum) sebagai keputusan kesesuaian lahan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kesesuaian lahan tanaman apel yang berada di Kecamatan Sindang Dataran, Kabupaten Rejang Lebong, dari faktor iklim termasuk S2 (cukup sesuai), sementara dari faktor ketersediaan hara termasuk S3 (sesuai marjinal). Hal yang menjadi faktor pembatas adalah rendahnya P tersedia, tetapi dapat diatasi dengan pemupukan sehingga dapat naik kelas menjadi S2. Melalui usaha pemupukan P maka Kecamatan Sindang Dataran memiliki potensi sebagai daerah pengembangan tanaman apel yang cukup sesuai.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong></p><p>Karakteristik lahan; Kesesuaian lahan untuk tanaman apel; Malus sylvertris Mill</p><p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>Land suitability assessment is the first and important stage in the development of an agricultural commodity. Sindang Dataran District, Rejang Lebong Regency is one of the locations that is planned to be an apple development area with air temperatures reaching 23oC and altitude varying between 785–1,129 meters above sea level with fairly fertile soil conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the land suitability class for apple plants. The research was conducted using survey and observation methods. Parameters observed included land characteristics and growing conditions for apple plants. Land suitability evaluation used qualitative land suitability, which is only based on the physical condition of the land. The land suitability evaluation method is carried out by following the procedure from FAO (1976), namely the evaluation of land suitability is carried out by matching data between land characteristics and the requirements for growing apples and the results are based on the smallest value (minimum law) as a land suitability decision. The results showed that the suitability of the land for apple crops in Sindang Dataran District, Rejang Lebong Regency, from climatic factors including S2 (quite suitable), while from nutrient availability factors including S3 (marginal according to). The limiting factor is the low available P, but it can be overcome by fertilization so that it can be promoted to S2. Through P fertilization efforts, Sindang Dataran District has the potential as a suitable apple crop development area.</p>

Soil Suitability for Growing Horticultural Crops in Kanamadi South Sub-Watershed of Karnataka

The suitability of the land resources in the watershed for various crops is necessary to choose the right crop and variety suitable for the area. In carrying out this assessment, the specific land requirements of a crop are compared with the characteristics of land resource mapped in the sub- watershed with this objective investigation was carried to assess land suitability for growing horticultural crops in Kanamadi South sub-watershed of Vijayapura district of Karnataka. The soil survey was conducted using 1:7920 scale, LISS IV satellite imagery. The soils were shallow to deep with clay loam to clay in texture. The soils were low in nitrogen and organic carbon, low to medium in phosphorus and sulphur, medium to high in potassium. Iron, copper, zinc and manganese were sufficient. Land suitability evaluation revealed that soils were moderately suitable for growing fruits such as guava (73.75% TGA), pomegranate (70.73% TGA), sapota (85.65% TGA). In case of flowers, major part of the study area was marginally suitable for crops such asrose (65.26% TGA) and jasmine (91.72% TGA). Around 11.55 per cent of the area was evaluated as unsuitable for growing fruit crops. The consideration of depth and nutrient status of soil in sub-watershed area is ideal to grow the horticultural crops like fruit crops with soil conservation measures to obtain food sustainability and nutrition level of people living the study area.

Suitability assessment for oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and coconut (Cocus nucifera) cultivation in coastal plain sands of South Southern Nigeria

Some soils of coastal plain sands in South Southern Nigeria were assessed for oil palm and coconut cultivation. This research was carried out to evaluate the soils of the study area using rigid grid soil survey methodology at detailed scale. The study area (128.11 ha) was delineated into four soil mapping units based on soil type. A pedon was sunk in each mapping unit and described according to FAO. Three soil orders, including Entisols (Ahiara), Inceptisols (Kulfo) and Ultisols (Orlu), were identified. Parametric and limitation methods of land suitability evaluation were used. Major limitations to assessment were climate (mean annual temperatures) and soil physical properties (texture/structure). Aggregate suitability rating (both actual and potential) showed that Ultisols (pedons 3 and 4, covering 56.73 ha) was moderately suitable (S2) for coconut and marginally suitable (S3) for oil palm, Inceptisols (pedon 2, covering 54.25 ha) was marginally suitable (S3) for coconut but not suitable (NS) for oil palm, and Entisols (Pedon 1covering 17.13 ha) was not suitable (NS) for any of the crops. Thus, area with Entisols should not be used for cultivation of any of the crops due to major limitation in texture. Moreover, both assessment approaches captured the major limitations. Therefore, the use of any of the approaches employed in this study and for these crops becomes a matter of choice as both of them showed no major differences in the application of their procedures.

Land suitability evaluation for surface irrigation development using parametric evaluation approach: The case of Gudina Wacho watershed, Western Ethiopia

Evaluating land suitability of a given watershed is vital to predict potential and limitation of the land for surface irrigation. The present study was evaluated the suitability of Gudina Wacho watershed for surface irrigation development using parametric evaluation approach. The watershed was classified in to four lands mapping units, based on three soil profile pits were opened at each land mapping unit. Soil samples from each profile pit have been taken to analyze each selected soil physical and chemical properties. Slop analysis of the watershed was computed from the DEM using GIS technique. Results of the land suitability evaluation for surface irrigation showed that, a total area of 3064 ha (72.6%) was slightly suitable (S3) and area of 1154 ha (27.4%) was currently not suitable (N1). The limiting factors were slop, soil texture and drainage. For all land mapping units, chemical soil parameters such as CaCO3, ECe and pH, and the physical parameter (soil depth) were not limiting factors for surface irrigation in the study watershed. Therefore, the area is potential for irrigation production with some limitations and under proper management it can benefit the local community to meet the food demand. In order to sustainably develop the area for irrigation development; land leveling operation or soil conservation work has to be incorporated to break surface slope and to make it suitable for surface irrigation.

LAND SUITABILITY EVALUATION FOR BANANA IN JENAWI DISTRICT, KARANGANYAR, INDONESIA

The superior banana varieties in Karanganyar Regency, including Jenawi District, have the potential to be developed, but banana development is still constrained by the lack of information regarding land suitability. This study aims to to obtain the land suitability class for banana and its limiting factors, to arrange land management for its development. This research was a descriptive explorative study through a field survey approach, supported by laboratory analysis. Determination of land suitability classes is carried out by matching land characteristics with plant growth requirements. The actual land suitability class for banana plants is not suitable (N) and marginal suitable (S3). The inhibiting factors for banana suitability were low temperature, high rainfall, low P2O5 content, steep slopes, and high erosion hazards. Land improvement effort that can be done include elaborate drainage structure, liming and ameliorant adding, P-fertilizing, planting in line with contour and cover crop planting. Potential land suitability classes for banana are not suitable (N), marginal suitable (S3) and moderately suitable (S2). Jenawi District has sufficient land potential for banana development. Banana development can be carried out on land with moderately suitable potential land suitability by improving the land limiting factors. Improvement dipilih dari SMU 3 dan 4.

Characterization and Land Suitability Evaluation for Cocoyam in Southern Nigeria

The soils on diverse landforms in Ikot Esidem, Southern Nigeria were characterized and their suitability evaluated for three varieties of cocoyam. The study area was stratified into flood plains, inland valleys, gentle slopes and crest. The results indicate that sand (30-78%) dominated pedons of gentle slopes and crest while silt (25-55%) and clay (19-51%) dominated the pedons of flood plains and inland valleys. The soils of flood plains and inland valleys were moderately acid (pH 5.0-5.7), medium to high in organic carbon (6.3-20.5 g/kg) and medium to high in base saturation (BS) (46-90%). The gentle slopes and crest units were strongly acid (pH 4.0-5.1), low in organic carbon (4.0-11.3 g/kg) and base saturation (20.5-34.7%). The land suitability evaluated the flood plains and inland valleys as moderately suitable and the gentle slopes and crest as not suitable for Dasheen Type Taro. The flood plains and inland valleys were also evaluated moderately suitable, whereas gentle slopes and crest were marginally suitable for Eddoe Type Taro. Efficient water control drainage and erosion control will enhance cocoyam cultivation depending on terrain type.