Land suitability evaluation for forestry plants in Tao Lake, Padang Lawas Utara District, North Sumatra

Abstract

Land use planning process was used to provide alternative and possible land uses as well as management activities needed to ensure land use sustainability. This study aims to evaluate the actual and potential land suitability classes for forestry plants (Mangifera indica, Syzygium aromaticum, Durio zibethinus, Acacia mangium, Nephelium lappaceum, Pometia pinnata, Paraserianthes falcataria) and to map the actual and potential land suitability in Tao Lake, Padang Lawas Utara District, North Sumatra. The evaluation used the matching method and the spatial analysis. The land unit was determined based on spatial analysis which consists of 8 land units and 4 land unit classes. The research showed that based on the actual and potential land suitability classes, land units I to VIII are highly suitable (S1) for Pometia pinnata. Meanwhile, land units I, II, III, V, VI, VII are highly suitable (S1) for Acacia mangium and Paraserianthes falcataria), while land units IV and VIII are moderately suitable (S2) for the same. Land units I, II, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII are highly suitable (S1) for Nephelium lappaceum, while land unit III is moderately suitable (S2) for the same. For potential land suitability classes, land units I, II, V, VI, VII are highly suitable (S1) for Durio zibethinus and land units III, IV and VIII are moderately suitable (S2) for the same. The actual and potential land suitability for Mangivera indica including non-suitable (N) class covered an area of 290,496 ha, while the actual and potential land suitability for Syzygium aromaticum including moderately suitable class (S2) covered an area of 290,496 ha.