Land Suitability Evaluation of Arabica Coffee (Coffea Arabica L) Plantation in Subdistrict Aie Dingin, Lembah Gumanti, Indonesia

Abstract

Coffee production in Aie Dingin was relativity low (450/kg/ha/year), therefore, it is needed to know the problem of the coffee plantation there. The research was aimed to study land suitability class for arabica coffee crop and to analyze the correlation between productivity of arabica coffee plantation and land suitability evaluation in Aie Dingin, Lembah Gumanti. This study used matching method with composited sampling at 3 depths (0 – 20 cm, 20 – 40 cm, and 40 – 60 cm) for 12 sampling points from 6 out of 10 available units of land in the area. Therefore, the total samples taken were 36 soil samplings. The research was conducted in field and laboratory. Field research involved, physical analysis of land such as slope, erosion class. Laboratory analyzed consisted of: 1) cation exchange capacity 2) organic carbon, and 3) pH. The data resulted showed that coffee crop was potential to be planted in the research location, but there were difficult restrict factors especially slope level >30% and of rainfall amount. The alternative way to control land degradation in this research location is by planting protecting crops.