Determination of the Agricultural Land Potential Index Using a Geographic Information System: A Case Study of Aceh Tengah Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Agricultural problems that often arise are due to a lack of suitable and strategic agricultural land for its use, which results in poor agricultural production in the area. A land potential index that classifies existing land potentials from high to low class can be used to overcome this. This study aims to build an agricultural land potential index using a geographic information system in the Regency of Aceh Tengah, Indonesia, using a geographic information system. The method used in this research is a survey approach to collect information in the form of rainfall data, slope, lithology, soil type, land use and administrative maps of the Aceh Tengah Regency. The land potential index is obtained by overlaying the slope parameters, lithology, soil type, hydrology, and susceptibility to erosion into a land map unit that can classify it into five classes of a land potential index. The results of this study indicate that the Regency of Aceh Tengah is included in the very wet climate type. Maximum erosion was 1,213.6 tons per ha per year. The land potential index with very low criteria was 23.38% (102,002.42 ha) with a slope greater than 40%. The land potential index with very high criteria has an area of 3,807.80 ha (0.87%) with a maximum slope of 15%. A land potential index with very high criteria was found in the Linge, Atu Lintang, Lut Tawar, Pegasing, Bintang, Jagong Jeget, Kebayakan, Ketol, and Celala districts with an area of 2,014.26 ha, 1,266.33 ha, 174.81 ha, 148.07 ha, 77.86 ha, 73.63 ha, 46.77 ha, 4.14 ha and 1.94 ha, respectively. Meanwhile, the land potential index with very low criteria is found in all districts except Kute Panang and Atu Lintang.