The land suitability evaluation of upland rice in the low dryland of Bengkulu Province

Abstract

The problem with dry land is that it has a low fertility rate which causes low land productivity, so that production is low. This study aims to determine the suitability of upland rice land and soil fertility status in 3 sub-districts, namely Air Periukan, Pondok Kelapa, and Kerkap. The parameters observed were land characteristics which included climate data and soil physical and chemical properties. Data analysis was carried out by matching each land characteristic with the conditions for upland rice growth. The conclusion was based on the smallest value (minimum law) as a land suitability decision. The results showed that the suitability of the upland rice field in Air Periukan District, Pondok Kelapa district, and Kerkap district are included in S3 classes. Furthermore, the limiting factors for those districts are different. In the Air Periukan District, water availability and nutrient retention as limiting factors. However, only water availability is a limiting factor in Pondok Kelapa district. The land suitability in the Kerkap district for upland rice land has a limiting factor regarding nutrient retention and nutrient availability. The suggested alternative for soil cultivation in the research area is increasing C-organic and CEC, improving other nutrient content by providing manure, straw compost, and giving balanced inorganic fertilizers.