Potential development of tropical fruits on Kundur Island, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Kundur Island has incredible potential for tropical fruits in Riau Islands Province. Land utilization for tropical fruit planting must be supported by land resource data, such as maps of characteristics and land suitability, to optimize tropical fruit production. This study aimed to evaluate the land suitability and determine the dominant limiting factors for tropical fruit growth and development. Land suitability was evaluated by matching the land characteristics, soil, and climatic requirements for durian, rambutan, and duku. The land suitability classes for durian, rambutan, and duku on Kundur Island are mostly marginal (S3), covering an area of 28,361 ha (90.51%), while the rest are moderately suitable (S2) and unsuitable (N). The limiting factors are drainage, root conditions influenced by peat thickness, nutrient retention, nutrient availability, depth of sulfide material, and erosion hazards. Improvements can be made by managing drainage, using cover crops, fertilization, and providing soil ameliorants. Treatments to increase land suitability must be implemented to enhance the potential of durian, rambutan, and duku plantations to be suitable (S1) or moderately suitable (S2). Land potential development for durian, rambutan, and duku is conducted by prioritizing environmental aspects and land sustainability.