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Cultivation of Rice (Oryza sativa), Corn (Zea mays) and Soybean (Glycine max) Based on Land Suitability

Suntoro SUNTORO*1, Mujiyo MUJIYO1, Hery WIDIJANTO1, Ganjar HERDIANSYAH1
* Corresponding author
1Universitas Sebelas Maret, Faculty of Agriculture, Study Program of Soil Science, Surakarta, Center Java, INDONESIA

E-mail: suntoro_uns@yahoo.co.id
Pages: 9-16

Abstract. Agriculture is the most dominant sector in Magetan district, as indicated by the extent of wetland (282.5 km2) and dryland (406.35 km2) areas. Therefore, planning for agricultural crops development, specifically rice, corn and soybean, must match levels of land suitability. This research aims to evaluate land suitability for rice (Oryza sativa), corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) as a basis for food crop cultivation. The research is represented by a field study in the Magetan district of East Java, consisting of four action stages: (1) formulation of land units; (2) designation of observation points for the stratified proportional sampling of each land unit; (3) field survey; and (4) laboratory analysis. Land evaluation was made in accordance with: Land Evaluation for Rainfed Agriculture Guidelines. Results show that land suitability for rice is classified into the following categories: 37.2% highly suitable (S1), 58.0% as moderately suitable (S2) with soil depth and organic carbon soil content as limiting factors, and 4.8% as marginally suitable (S3), with altitude and low organic carbon as limiting factors. Organic fertilizer from livestock can be applied to maintain and increase soil fertility. Land suitability for corn is classified as highly suitable (S1) - 28.5%, moderately suitable (S2) - 20.0%, with coarse materials and rocky outcrops as limiting factors, and marginally suitable (S3) - 51.5%, with drainage, coarse materials, and surface rocks as limiting factors. For soybean, land is classified as highly suitable (S1) - 24.3%, moderately suitable (S2) - 20.4%, with coarse materials, pH, soil depth, surface rocks, and rocky outcrops as limiting factors, and marginally suitable (S3) - 55.2%, with drainage, coarse materials, soil depth, surface rocks, and rocky outcrops as limiting factors. Corn and soybean can be cultivated on wetlands in the third planting season with a duration of 3 months. Rice, corn, or soybean crops can be grown on rainfed land using multiple cropping, or agroforestry systems between perennial crops.

K e y w o r d s:  cultivations crops, GIS, land evaluation, land management, suitability