Physical Potentials and Constraints of Tidal Peat Swamps for Agriculture (Case Study of Rasau Jaya District, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia)

Abstract

Tidal swamps which are widespread in lowland areas have the potential to be used for agricultural activities. The amount of rain potential available in this type of land can be used to supply water for irrigation purposes so that plants grow optimally. However, the tidal potential especially on the peat swamps area may have a negative impact, namely the occurrence of nutrient leaching from the soil, which is harmful to plants. Rasau Jaya, a tidal lowland area with peat swamp soil characteristic, is an area allocated for rice and corn cultivation. The study was conducted with the aim to determine the physical potential and constraints of land and water management in Rasau Jaya for the cultivation of both types of plants. This research was conducted through field observations and measurements as well as laboratory tests and model scale to evaluate the characteristics of existing land quality based on Land Suitability Classification by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The result of this study shows that characteristics of water availability in Rasau Jaya is classified as Class S1 Highly Suitable for rice and corn crops, while existing conditions of land in Rasau Jaya III are generally classified in the S2 class Moderately Suitable for rice and corn crops. Appropriate land management is needed to increase land productivity for the cultivation of the Rasau Jaya's assigned priority crops.