Science Journal of Agricultural Research and Management
March 2012, Volume 2012, ISSN: 2276-8572
© Author(s) 2012. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research Article
Land Suitability for Oil palm in Besitang Watershed,Nort Sumatra, Indonesia
Rahmawatya,*, Teodoro R. Villanuevab, Myrna G. Carandangb, Renato L. Lapitanb, Nathaniel C. Bantayanb, and Antonio J. Alcantarac,
aDepartment of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Sumatera Utara University, Jl. Tri Dharma Ujung No. 1 Kampus USU, Medan, 20155, North Sumatra, Indonesia
bInstitute of Renewable and Natural Resources, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines
cSchool of Environmental Science and Management, University of the Philippines Los Banos, College, Laguna 4031 Philippines
Accepted 16 March 2012; Available Online March 31, 2012.
doi: 10.7237/sjarm/124
Abstract:
This study was conducted to assess land suitability for oil palm under different land system in Besitang Watershed, Langkat, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Land suitability classification was evaluated based on matching method that reference and criteria was adopted from the Land Suitability for Agricultural Plants by the Centre for Soil and Agroclimate Research, Bogor-Indonesia. The process of land suitability classification is the appraisal and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for defined uses. Actual land suitability class of oil palm under the different decision zones is moderately suitable, marginal suitable, and not suitable. There are several limiting factors for oil palm in Besitang Watershed, namely: slope, oxygen availability (drainage), nutrient retention, flood hazard, and root zone medium. Based on map of land suitability for oil palm in this area, the decision zone that is located in upland stream sub-watershed, generally is limited by slope, in the middle stream is nutrient retention, and the lower stream is nutrient retention and flood hazard. For oil palm, rating can be improved by fertilization, terracing, and ditch/channel drainage.
Keyword: Land suitability, Land system, oilpalm, Besitang Watershed