The Nutrient Management Improvement of Rice Culture in the Freshwater Swampland

Abstract

The new challenge for Indonesian food security in the future depends on the productivity of rice on the sub-optimal land, including freshwater swampland. It is a specific and unique characteristic of rice culture. This study aims to analyze opportunities for innovating technology applied to improve the availability of nutrients based on the existing nutrient in freshwater swampland. The soil survey method by purposive and random samplings used to the composite soil sampling in the two sub-district in Banyuasin District, South Sumatera Province, then analyzed in the laboratory. Data collected analysis through descriptive statistics. The results showed that Rice cultivation in the freshwater swampland was a profitable venture. Unavailability of P nutrients for rice plants was the main problem on acidic soil (pH 3.32-4.12), caused by increased the solubility of Fe and Al. Hence the adoption of farmers to various technological innovations such as liming, fertilization, and amelioration to increase soil pH is the key to success in rice culture in the freshwater swampland besides growing tolerant varieties.