Land use planning for Areca-based farming system toward Sustainable agriculture development in Krueng Simpo sub watershed

Abstract

Low land productivity is the main problem of upland farming systems in Sub DAS Krueng Simpo. This is likely due to inadequate agrotechnologies and soil and water corservation technigues on upland farming systems. Therefore, it is presumed that the existing upland farming systems is not sustainable. Objectives of this research were 1) to identify and to evaluate land use characteristics and agrotechnologies on upland farming systems, (2) to develop alternatives of sustainable upland farming systems. Identification and upland farming systems were conducted useing survey method, evaluation of land use was conducted through land capability evaluation using method of Klingebiel and Montgomery, and developing alternatives of improved upland farming systems were carried out using USLE model. Results of this research showed that land use in the area was dominanated by underbrush, fallowed by forest and mixed garden with undulating topography and high erosion as limiting factors. All type of land-uses are generally suited to their land capability classes. Upland farming systems were generally dominated by areca-based farming systems with predicted erosion rate was ranged from 15.5 – 90.9 tons/ha/year; it was much greater than the local tolerable soil loss (TSL, 26.9 tons/ha/year). Total farmers income on upland farming systems was much lower than the income that can suppart worth life living standard (KHL, Rp 16.000.000/household/yr). Improved areca-based farming systems with appropriate agrotechnologies including balance fertilization, countruction of ridge and traditional terraces as well as raising livestocks can decrease erosion to less than local tolerable soil loss and to increase farmers income to more than worth life living standard.