Land Units Research Articles

Land use management solutions in response to climate change: Case study in the central coastal areas of Vietnam

Abstract Vietnam is highly susceptible to climate change, which has significantly affected its agricultural production. Therefore, sustainable land use that adapts to climate change is a crucial research topic. This study was conducted in Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province in central Vietnam, an area particularly vulnerable to climate change. The results indicate an increasing trend in temperature and rainfall, with flooding being the primary impact of climate change on agriculture, while drought has a moderate impact. This study assessed the suitability of land in the Loc Ha district to facilitate land use planning in line with climate change conditions until 2035. The land suitability analysis in Loc Ha district reveals that the district has 12 soil types across 8 soil groups, divided into 55 land units with varying characteristics. Adapting land use management to the climate change situation is an effective solution for agricultural development in the research area and across Vietnam in the future.

Influence of Planting Distances, Boron Application and Varying Fertilizer Levels on the yield Performance of Shallot (Allium Cepa var. Aggregatum) Across Season in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

Shallots are gaining importance in the Ilocos region, due to their culinary uses in traditional cuisine, medicinal properties, and export potential. However, the reduction of inherent soil fertility and the manifestation of multiple nutrient deficiencies have led to low yields which is 13.70% lower than the national average. Consequently, researchers and farmers are aware in the improvement of shallot production in the region. This study, conducted from March, 2023 to February, 2024, at Mariano Marcos State University using a Strip-Split-Plot design with three replicates and analyzed using STAR. Planting distances as vertical plot, boron application as horizontal plot, and fertilizer level as the subplot. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of planting distances on yield performance of shallots, and to develop better nutrient management strategies for optimal shallot production. To optimized shallot productivity per land unit area, particularly during the off-season, it is recommended to adopt closer planting distances of 15cm x 10cm combined with the application of 30-30-30 kgha⁻¹ NP₂O₅K₂O and 5 tha⁻¹ of organic fertilizer. This technique has been shown to produce higher yields, reaching up to 17.39 tha⁻¹. Additionally, pure organic fertilizer application at a rate of 7.5 tha⁻¹ during the off-season is also recommended, as it has demonstrated high yields of 16.12 tha⁻¹ when using the same planting distance of 15 cm x 10 cm. This approach not only increases yield but also improves soil health, making it a sustainable option for long-term cultivation. For the regular season, planting distances of 20 cm x 10 cm and 15 cm x 15 cm, applied with 60-60-60 kg ha⁻¹ NP₂O₅K₂O and 2.5 tons ha⁻¹ of organic fertilizer, are recommended, as they have produced yields of up to 29.4 tons ha⁻¹. While pure inorganic fertilizer results in high yields during the regular season, a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers is preferred to enhance soil health and prevent soil d

How closely do ecosystem services and life cycle assessment frameworks concur when evaluating contrasting animal-production systems with ruminant or monogastric species?

Life cycle assessment (LCA) and ecosystem services assessment (ESA) are often used for environmental assessment. LCA has been increasingly used over the past two decades to assess agri-food systems and has established that ruminant products have higher impacts per kg of protein than products from monogastric species. Conversely, ESA is used less but is likely to rank ruminant systems higher than monogastric systems, as the former often include grasslands that can provide high levels of regulating ecosystem services (ES). Here, we applied both methods to a selection of contrasting meat-oriented animal-production systems that included either ruminants or monogastrics (6 of each). We considered 16 environmental impact categories in the LCA and two functional units: 1 kg of human-edible protein (HEP) and 1 m2yr of land occupied. We used the life-cycle inventory step of LCA to characterize the land occupation of the systems, i.e. the land cover types used, such as croplands and grasslands. Based on these land covers and quantification of the ES they provide, we performed ESA. We estimated that ruminant systems had higher environmental impacts than monogastric systems per kg of HEP for all 16 LCA impact categories studied. For example, for ruminants and monogastrics, mean greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were 280 vs. 32 kg CO2-eq., respectively (P = 0.002), and mean fossil energy use was 351 vs. 189 MJ, respectively (P = 0.009). The trend was the opposite for impacts per m2yr, with mean GHG emissions of 0.50 vs. 0.57 kg CO2-eq. (P = 0.485) and mean fossil energy use of 0.71 vs. 3.63 MJ (P = 0.002) for ruminants and monogastrics, respectively. We also estimated that ruminant systems had a higher capacity to supply regulating ES than monogastric systems did, with mean scores of 2.4 and 1.2, respectively (P = 0.002), due to multiple types of grasslands in ruminant systems. Applying both LCA and ESA to a range of contrasting animal-production systems was a novelty of this study, and ESA indicated that ruminant systems have higher positive environmental contributions than monogastric systems. The study also found that LCA and ESA frameworks can agree or disagree on the assessments of animal-production systems depending on functional unit used (i.e. agreement per unit of land occupied but disagreement per unit of HEP).

Varietal differences in the yield and quality of noodles produced from early-season rice and associated crop traits

Abstract Early-season rice often faces limited market competition due to its lower quality, which diminishes farmers' incentives to cultivate it. Developing specific early-season rice varieties tailored for rice noodle production represents a practical solution to this challenge. However, limited information exists on the varietal differences regarding the yield and quality of noodles produced from early-season rice and their determinants. To address this gap, this study conducted field experiments with 15 early-season rice varieties during 2022 and 2023. The results revealed significant varietal differences in rice noodle yield per unit of land area and cooking and eating (texture) qualities of the noodles, with the variety Zhuliangyou 4024 standing out for its ability to produce rice noodles that are both high yielding and of superior cooking and eating qualities. Correlation analysis showed the yield of rice noodles per unit of land area was significantly related to grain yield per unit of land, which in turn was linked to grain weight. Additionally, the analysis showed the cooking loss rate of rice noodles and their chewiness were significantly correlated with both amylose and amylopectin content, whereas the hardness, springiness, and resilience of cooked rice noodles were significantly correlated only with amylose content. However, partial correlation analysis indicated that all these quality traits were significantly correlated solely with amylose content when controlling the influence of other chemical properties. These findings indicate that selecting early-season rice varieties with high grain weight and high amylose content can lead to the production of high-yield and high-quality rice noodles.

The Share of Data in Maritime Communications is Increasing

Communication is of great importance for the safe and delay-free navigation of ships. Especially life/property safety, navigational warnings, weather forecast reports, storm warnings, navigation maps, etc. Timely transmission of information to ships is only possible with effective maritime communications. In addition, communication is of great importance in making appropriate navigation plans based on the information received from the ships. In recent years, the share of data communication in individual and corporate communications has been increasing. In order to benefit from the great conveniences and opportunities provided by data communication in maritime communication systems, very radical decisions have recently been taken within IMO. These regulations made at the international level paved the way for data communication in close-range maritime communication systems. In line with these regulations, broadband data communication between the ship and the land will begin to be made via VHF devices in the next few years. Another development that will improve broadband data communication in maritime communication systems has been in Near Orbit Satellite systems. The technical features of these systems, the number of which has been increasing in recent years, are extremely suitable for data communication between ship and land. Among these, the Starlink system completes its network in space faster than other satellite systems. It is inevitable that the Starlink system, whose global satellite structure will be completed to a large extent by the end of 2025, will be used to a large extent in data communication between ships and land and between ships with each other. With the use of broadband data feature in the near future, it will be possible for ships to navigate much more safely, efficiently and with a reduced risk of accidents. For this purpose, maritime enterprises, ship personnel and land units must be informed about these developments and their communication infrastructure must be established by taking these systems into consideration.

Enhancing soil quality for sustainable agricultural practices in Subak rice fields

Understanding the soil quality of Subak rice fields in Bali is crucial for maintaining agricultural sustainability. This study aimed to explore aspects of soil quality, identify limiting factors, and offer guidance on sustainable land management. Utilizing survey methods, laboratory analysis, and soil quality determination, soil samples were selectively collected from each land unit (LU). LU selection was based on overlays of Subak zonation, soil type, slopes, rainfall, and elevation using Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques. Key soil quality indicators were assessed, including bulk density, texture, porosity, moisture content, pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, and nutrients (N, P, K). Overall, soil quality in the study area is classified as good in all LUs, but with significant variations in Soil Quality Index (SQI) values, suggesting the need for tailored management recommendations. Limiting factors include soil texture, organic carbon content, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and biomass C. Recommended soil management practices include single plow tillage and the application of manure, urea, and SP-36 fertilizer on paddy fields. This approach aims to enhance land productivity sustainably while upholding environmental conservation and the principles of Subak, which have historically maintained a balanced and sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

Integrated systems for the production of food, energy and materials as a sustainable strategy for decarbonization and land use: The case of sugarcane in Brazil

The projected escalating use of renewables to meet the Paris Agreement goals has raised concerns about land-use pressures, particularly from biomass-based systems. This study introduces the concept of Integrated Food, Energy, and Materials Systems (IFEMS) as a strategy to optimize land-use efficiency for decarbonization. To evaluate the land-use efficiency of IFEMS and other renewable resource-based systems, a novel parameter termed decarbonization density (DD) is proposed, which aggregates all services that reduce GHG emissions and remove carbon from atmosphere per unit of land. A case study on an archetypical integral sugarcane utilization system in Brazil is analyzed, indicating that the simultaneous production of food, energy, and materials can synergistically aid decarbonization efforts. The estimated DD for the baseline scenario is 20 tCO2e/ha, while in the innovative scenario (SC-innov), it rises to 145 tCO2e/ha. Most of this increase stems from including the production of fermented meat as a substitute of beef, which accounts for three quarters of DD's value in SC-innov, indicating a high potential of this technology for contributing to decarbonization. These findings suggest that IFEMS may represent a land-use strategy at least as efficient as other renewable energy systems, with the potential to grow as biomass conversion technology advances into more complex systems. However, these advances also pose the challenge of integrating diverse product streams for different markets, which will likely require the coordination of multiple stakeholders within an industrial ecosystem rather than a single-actor model.

Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Differentiation and Influencing Factors of Land Use Efficiency in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration

Optimizing urban land use is of significant practical importance for promoting economic development, enhancing the standard of living for individuals residing in metropolitan areas, enhancing urban infrastructure and public services, driving urban transformation and upgrading, and attaining synchronized progress of the economy, society, and environment. This paper uses the super-efficiency SBM model to measure the urban land use efficiency (ULUE) of 13 cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration from 2005 to 2020 and explores the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of ULUE in this urban agglomeration using analysis of spatial data and application of geographic detector methods. The results show that (1) from 2005 to 2020, the ULUE of the BTH urban agglomeration had an initial rise followed by a decline; however, the overall efficiency score is above 1, suggesting an overall effective state; (2) a distribution pattern with Beijing as its core was established, exhibiting greater ULUE in the northern region and poorer efficiency in the southern region, with significant correlation characteristics in efficiency values between adjacent cities; and (3) capital input, labor input, social welfare, and ecological environment are all influencing factors that promote the improvement in ULUE in the BTH region, and the interaction of any two factors explains the ULUE in this region better than a single factor. The empirical research results can provide useful references for improving the input–output ratio of land units and further spatial planning and policy formulation in the BTH region.

Climate change induced heat and drought stress hamper climate change mitigation in German cereal production

ContextAgricultural production and climate change strongly influence each other and there are significant efforts to minimize negative impacts in both directions. In particular, breeding progress has succeeded in reducing the carbon footprint (CFP) of cereals over time. However, there is widespread certainty that climate change-related weather extremes have led to stagnation of cereal yields in many global production regions. Research questionWe assume that climate change-related yield stagnation is also evident in variety trials in Germany, which has to date only been shown for on-farm yields. Furthermore, we expect that the stagnation in yields also leads to a stagnation in the downward trend of CFP, and that heat and drought stress in particular increase the CFP of cereals. In addition, we hypothesize that the site-specific soil quality largely determines stress induced increases in CFP. MethodsWe conduct a partial life cycle assessment (LCA) with German variety trial data from 1993 to 2021 and determine the greenhouse gas emissions per unit of land (GHGL), as well as the CFP of winter wheat, winter rye, and winter barley. Further, we evaluate the time trends of yield, GHGL, and CFP using linear and quadratic plateau models. In addition, we calculate spatio-dynamic weather indices (WIs) for moderate, severe and extreme heat and drought stress. Using mixed models, we estimate the explanatory power and effect size of heat and drought WIs on the CFP. Finally, we present the spatial differences of heat and drought on the CFP at different soil qualities. ResultsWe show yield plateaus in all crops and stagnating GHGL trends, resulting in a stagnation of the downward trend of CFP, especially for rye and barley. We highlight that heat and drought increase the CFP of all crops. However, the impact of heat and drought on the CFP varies greatly with soil quality across all crops. ConclusionsWe conclude that climate change-induced weather extremes are major challenges not only for cereal production and food security but also for climate change mitigation in the agricultural sector, highlighting the importance of high-yield locations, alongside variety selection and resource-efficient management, for climate change mitigation. SignificanceThis study is the first that proves significant yield stagnation in German variety trials. Moreover, this study is the first to analyze the impact of heat and drought stress on cereal CFP, with novel results that proof that climate adaptation will become a crucial aspect of climate change mitigation in field crops.

Soil Fertility Status of the Two Eruptions of Mount Tangkuban Parahu and Mount Tampomas in Tanjungsari District Sumedang Regency

Soil fertility is one of the important factors to optimize plant growth and productivity. This study aims to analyze the status of soil fertility through soil physical analysis (texture) soil chemistry (pH H2O and KCl, C-organic, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, P2O5, and K2O) in several land units of Tanjungsari District, Sumedang Regency. The method used to determine sample points is purposive sampling method by considering several land units, namely soil type map, soil parent material map, topography map (slope), land use map, and rainfall data. Soil fertility status is determined by the matching table method between the results of soil chemical analysis with soil fertility status index that refers to the Soil Research Center (PPT) 1995. The results of the matching table data analysis showed that the research area almost entirely included low fertility status criteria except for the pine forest land unit on a moderately steep slope including medium fertility status criteria. The factors of base saturation, k-potential (K2O), and C-organic are the limiting factors of soil fertility status in the Tanjungsari District of Sumedang Regency, including the low to medium category.

EVALUASI KESESUAIAN LAHAN TANAMAN JAGUNG (Zea Mays L) DI KECAMATAN MALUA KABUPATEN ENREKANG

This study aims to determine the actual and potential land suitability of maize crops and its limiting factors in Malua District. The method used in this research is survey method and descriptive data analysis and determination of land suitability class based on FAO method. The results showed that the actual land suitability of maize crops in Malua District, Enrekang Regency, land units 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 and 12 are marginally suitable (S3) with nutrient availability factor (P2O5). While the potential land suitability is quite suitable (S2) with the limiting actor of rooting media (soil texture).

MENENTUKAN NILAI ERODIBILITAS TANAH (K) PADA JENIS TANAH DI SUB DAS JENELATA

The purpose of this study is to determine the value of soil erosion for each type of cultivation in several land units (K) in Jenelata Subdistrict, Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi Province. The Jenelata watershed is part of the Jeneberang watershed, located at 05º15'40'' - 05º25'50'' S and 119º34'45'' - 119º49'48'' E, with an area of approximately 23,733 hectares. The Jenelata watershed lies between 25 and 1375 meters above sea level. Most of the residents in the Jenelata watershed earn their livelihoods from farming and gardening. The types of land use in the Jenelata watershed include rice fields, mixed gardens, production forests, and grasslands. In the Jenelata watershed, the dominant trees are mahogany, white teak, and bamboo, while the dominant food crops/plantations are rice, corn, cassava, and cocoa. The results of the study show that cultivation activities have a significant impact on soil erosion, and the values of soil erosion were obtained from field data

EVALUASI KESESUIAN LAHAN TANAMAN BAWANG PUTIH (Allium stivum L.) DI KECAMATAN MONCONGLOE KABUPATEN MAROS

The study aims to determine the actual and potential land suitability and limiting factors of garlic in Moncongloe District, Maros Regency. The research was conducted from August to October 2021 in Moncongloe District, Maros Regency, and Soil Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muslim Indonesia Makassar. The method used in the research was survey method and descriptive data analysis and determination of land suitability class based on FAO method modified by the Ministry of Agriculture. The results showed that the actual land suitability of garlic is not suitable (Nwa.eh) for land units 6, 7, 8, and 9, as well as not suitable (Nwa) for land units 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22. While the potential land suitability is quite suitable (S2tc.wa) for all land units in Moncongloe District, Maros Regency. The inhibiting factors are average temperature (tc) and water availability (rainfall).

Evaluating land suitability for kemiri (Aleurites moluccana) as a multi-purpose tree species in community agroforestry land within Langkat District, North Sumatra

Evaluating land suitability for Aleurites moluccana in community agroforestry land within Langkat District, North Sumatra, is crucial for promoting sustainable development, enhancing livelihoods, and preserving ecosystems while honoring local traditions and cultures. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate and map the land suitability for A. moluccana within Langkat District, located in North Sumatra, Indonesia. To gather the necessary data, this study employed a survey method, involving the collection of soil samples from ten distinct land units within the field. The assessment of land suitability was carried out using the matching method. Geographic Information System (GIS) technology was utilized to create maps illustrating the distribution of land suitability, while a Global Positioning System (GPS) was employed to accurately record the coordinates of the collected soil samples. The findings revealed that within Gunung Ambat, Simpang Kuta Buluh, Rumah Galuh, and Telagah Village, the actual land suitability classes for A. moluccana were classified as moderately suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3). The prevailing limiting factors in this region were temperature (tc) and the characteristics of the root zone medium (rc). Consequently, this influenced the potential land suitability classes for A. moluccana, resulting in classifications ranging from highly suitable (S1) to moderately suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3). By implementing land suitability evaluation for A. moluccana in community agroforestry land, promoting sustainable land use, enhancing livelihoods, and conserving natural resources.

The viability of photovoltaics on agricultural land: Can PV solve the food vs fuel debate?

Policies aiding biofuels have supported farm income and rural communities but have also put pressure on food security with questionable benefits related to carbon emissions. Photovoltaics (PV) are poised to become central to the overall energy decarbonization strategy, but because of land requirements they are likely to be developed on farmland, reigniting concerns related to food security. In this work, we study strategies for co-producing food and energy from corn croplands. We find that while traditional PV displaces crops, they can harvest orders of magnitude more energy per unit of land than biofuels. Additionally, systems with elevated PV panels (called PV Aglectric, Agrivoltaics, or Agrophotovoltaics) that allow for crop production underneath them can increase energy production and reduce carbon emissions with minimal impact on crop production. This technology can ease the trade-off between farm income, energy production, crop production, and energy decarbonization. Adoption of PV Aglectric systems may be hindered by high capital costs, but this barrier could be overcome with policy support, especially when crop prices are highly volatile.

More Heavy Precipitation in World Urban Regions Captured Through a Two‐Way Subgrid Land‐Atmosphere Coupling Framework in the NCAR CESM2

AbstractCurrent global climate models (GCMs), limited to grid‐scale land‐atmosphere coupling, cannot represent subgrid urban‐rural precipitation contrasts. This study develops an innovative two‐way subgrid land‐atmosphere coupling framework in the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2) to explicitly resolve land‐atmosphere interaction over subgrid individual land units. Results show that urban heat island (UHI) leads to the urban rainfall effect (URE), which in turn alleviates overestimated UHI over China in CESM2. The URE manifests as a shift toward more heavy precipitation and less light precipitation in world urban areas than in surrounding rural counterparts. This feature is consistent with available observations. In heavy precipitation situations, the UHI promotes atmospheric instability and enhances atmospheric water vapor holding capacity, resulting in more heavy precipitation in urban areas. Conversely, in light precipitation situations, the UHI and decreased evaporation from urban impermeable surfaces diminish atmospheric relative humidity, suppressing light precipitation.

Capital deepening and land average grain yield convergence: Evidence from China

The shift of agricultural labor force to non-agricultural sectors has paralleled China's economic development, leading to a substantial rise in labor costs relative to capital. Consequently, the agricultural production has witnessed a shift towards capital-intensive practices. The capital deepening coincides with the significant increase in China's grain output while the main cause of capital deepening in China's grain production is poorly understood. This study examines the effect of increasing in various capital investments on the grain yield growth and growth convergence in China's main production areas, based on the data collected from the data set of the Compilation of Cost-Benefit Data of Agricultural Products (CCBDAP). Results show that the increases of chemical fertilizer, pesticide and machinery input have played key roles in the increase of grain yield. For early indica rice, japonica rice, wheat and maize, the average land output bears a β convergence. These findings suggest that more capital investments are supposed to accelerate the growth of grain yield per unit of land, take the opportunity of practicing the cross-provincial balance system of occupation and compensation of cultivated land. Moreover, strategic adjustments to the spatial distribution of grain cultivation are recommended to maximize the utilization of limited arable land resources while upholding national food security objectives.

Identification of the Effectiveness of Land Cover in Some Areas in Borisallo Village for Conservation Measures

Indonesia has excellent land potential for the development of the agricultural sector with various levels of topography that are different for each region. Every slope of the land varies, there are nutrients that are a source of food for plant growth. This research aims to determine the effectiveness of land cover in Borisallo Village, Parangloe District, Gowa Regency. This research will be carried out from October 2023 to April 2024. Analysis of the physical properties of the soil will be carried out at the Soil Physics and Conservation Laboratory, and analysis of the chemical properties of the soil will be carried out at the Soil Chemistry and Fertility Laboratory, Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University. In the preparation stage, literature study and data collection were carried out, then primary data and secondary data were collected. After that, the data is processed into a land unit map. Then soil samples are taken according to the points determined based on the land unit map. After taking soil samples, laboratory analysis is then carried out to analyze soil permeability, organic C, bulk density and porosity. Even though there is land cover, several areas in Borisallo village still require conservation measures to prevent landslides and erosion, especially on land that has a slope. This can be seen from the permeability value which is included in the slow category.

Productivity and Profitability of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L.) Based Intercropping System for Sorjan Bed System

Cauliflower, scientifically known as Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L., is a highly adaptable vegetable that offers significant nutritional advantages and is cultivated to a varying extent in the Barishal region. An experiment was conducted in Banaripara Upazila, Barishal district, to inspect the selection of a suitable intercrop for cauliflower, with the goal of maximizing the usage of Sorjan bed space and increasing economic benefits for farmers. The study covered two consecutive years, specifically 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. The study included a combination of intercropping treatments, namely Cauliflower as sole crop (T1), Cauliflower + Red amaranth (T2), Cauliflower + coriander leaf (T3), Cauliflower + lettuce (T4), Cauliflower + radish leaf (T5) and Cauliflower + spinach (T6). A randomized complete block design with three replications was used to carry out the study, with treatment effects observed in 3×2.4 m2 of land units. The cauliflower seeds were sown on a nursery bed at October 30th, 2021, and October 29th, 2022. Twenty days older seedlings were undertaken a hardening process for a duration of 2 days. To ensure proper growth, the cauliflower crop received nutrients including N, P, K, S, Zn, B and cow dung at rates of 120, 60, 100, 24, 3.6, 2.1 kg and 3 tons per hectare, respectively. Spanning two consecutive years, the combination of cauliflower and coriander leaf provided the highest land equivalent ratio, with values of 1.68 and 1.62, respectively. Besides, in view of BCR, cauliflower intercropped with spinach resulted the highest BCR values of 1.61 in the first year and 1.50 in the second year. Cauliflower + spinach intercropping system resulted in net returns of 217,410 and 183,950 BDT, respectively. Therefore, it can be suggested that farmers can cultivate their land with a combination of cauliflower and spinach in the interest of maximizing profitability in Sorjan bed cultivation. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(2):166-177, 2024

Nutrient status and soil fertility index as a basis for sustainable rice field management in Madiun Regency, Indonesia

<p>Agricultural development, specifically for crops, contributes significantly to national development. However, problems with water and low soil fertility are obstacles to this development. This study evaluated the nutritional status and soil fertility index as the basis for determining the direction of rice field management in Madiun Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The research method was conducted by surveying the soil characteristics followed by laboratory analysis. Soil samples were collected using stratified proportional sampling from 19 land units with 31 samples. The soil fertility index was determined using a principal component analysis test and calculated by dividing the weights by the minimum soil fertility index indicators. The study results show that the nutritional status of total N in the study area is low to high (0.13%–0.59%) and total P is very low to very high (12.18–73.66 ppm), whereas the status of exchangeable K is very low to very high (0.01–0.67 cmol.kg<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>), Cation Exchange Capacity is low to high (12.8–36.0 cmol.kg<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>), and organic carbon is low to very high (1.98%–6.54%). The soil fertility index ranges from medium to extremely high. The influential indicators are total P, total N, exchangeable K, and organic carbon. It is recommended that the rice field management system implement a “sustainable agricultural intensification” system that combines the two systems “intensification” and “sustainable agroecosystem.” This system still uses proportional inorganic and organic fertilizers (manure, compost, and agricultural waste).</p>