Land suitability evaluation according to agroecological zone information for agricultural commodity development in coastal area of Tegal Central Java Indonesia

Abstract

The Agroecological Zone (AEZ) is an information system to determine the potential of land resources. Based on that, the suitability of plants and their land management technology can be identified. The evaluation of land suitability of coastal areas in Tegal District was carried out using matching method between growing requirements for commodities and land characteristics of AEZ data. AEZ identification results show that the coastal area consists of three zones, namely Zone A, alluvial plains with Typic Endoaquepts and Aeric Endoaquepts soil types; Zone B, Fluvio-marine plains with Typic Endoaquepts soil types; and Zone C, coastal areas with Typic Udipsamments soil types. Based on the agroecological characteristics, the coastal area is suitable for crops development and fisheries. The suitable agricultural commodities namely rice, water melon, sugar cane and jasmine, which correspond to class 1 (S1) for zones A and B; red chilies and shallots, class 2 (S2) which is suitable for zones A and B. While zone C is identified as less suitable for food crops or horticulture, due to limiting factors such as poor oxygen availability and poor root conditions.