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ground to surface of land. This land suitable for paddy rice and other crops fraction.
o Somewhat Excessively Drained: Land has hydraulic conductivity
high and water holding capacity is low. This land suitable only for some plants that without irrigation.
o
Poorly drained:
Land has hydraulic conductivity low and water holding capacity is low to very low. Wet ground for long time on surface.
The land suitable for paddy rice and some plants other. o
Excessively Drained: Land has hydraulic conductivity high to very high and water holding capacity is low. The land not suitable for crops
without irrigation. Rubber plants require water drainage is well. The flood condition is not
conducive to the growth of rubber plants. Soil drainage range of good well and moderately well is ideal range for rubber plants. At soil drainage is poorly and
excessively drained the growth and production of rubber is very low Thomas, 2008.
2.3 Land Suitability for Rubber Plantation
Land suitability is the ability of a given type of land to support a defined use. The process of land suitability classification is the evaluation and grouping of
specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for a defined use. The principles of sustainable development make land-use suitability analysis become
increasingly complex due to consideration of different requirementscriteria. It includes consideration not only inherent capacity of a land unit to support a
specific land use for a long period of time without deterioration, but also the socio-economic and environmental costs Hananto, 2007.
The concept of sustainable agriculture or farming involves producing quality product in an environmentally benign, socially acceptable and
economically efficient way Addeo et al., 2001 in Hananto, 2007, i.e. optimum utilization of the available natural resource for efficient agricultural production.
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Each plant species requires definite soil and site conditions for its optimum growth. Although some plants may be found to grow under different soils and
extreme agro-ecological conditions, yet not all plants can grow on the same soil and under the same environment. Most of the plant species need well drained,
moderately fine to medium texture soils, free of salinity and having optimum physical environment Mishra, 2007.
The land suitability classification, using the guidelines of FAO 1976 is divided into Order, Class, Sub Class, and Unit. Order is the global land suitability
group. Land suitability Order is divided into S Suitable and N Not Suitable. The process of land suitability classification is the appraisal and grouping of
specific land in terms of their suitability for defined uses. Suitability can be scored based on factor rating or degree of limitation of land use requirements when
matched with the land qualities. In other words land suitability evaluation is a comparison and matching of land utilization type requirements with land unit
characteristics. Land suitability classes reflect degrees of suitability. That is defined as the following:
Class S1 Highly Suitable: Land having no significant limitation or only
have minor limitations to sustain a given land utilization type without significant reduction in productivity or benefits and will
not require major inputs above acceptable level. Class S2
Moderately Suitable: Land having limitations which in aggregate are moderately severe for sustained application of the given land
utilization type; the limitations will reduce productivity or benefits and increase required inputs to the extent that the overall
advantage to be gained from the use, although still attractive, will be appreciable compared to that expected from Class S1 land.
Class S3 Marginally Suitable: Land having limitations which in aggregate
are severe for sustained application of the given land utilization type and will so reduce productivity or benefits, or increase
required inputs, that any expenditure will only be marginally justified.
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Class N Not Suitable as the range of inputs required is unjustifiable.
Ritung, 2007 Land quality is the complex attributes of lands and contains one or more
land characteristics. Important land characteristics in any land evaluation include topography, soil, and climate. These, especially topography and soil, are
important components in determining land units. Important land characteristics in any land evaluation include topography, soil, and climate. These, especially
topography and soil, are important components in determining land units. The relationship of land quality and land suitability classification is described in Table
4. Table 4 Classification of Land Suitability for Rubber Plantation
Hardjowigeno et al., 1999
Land Qualities
Land Suitability Classification S1
S2 S3
N
Temperature ºC
26-30 30-34
24-26 22-24
Td Rainfall
mmyear 2500-3000
3000-3500 2000-2500
3500-4000 1500-2000
Td
Soil Texture SL, L, SCL,
SiL, CL, Si, SiCL
LS, SC, SiC, C
Str C Td
Slope 8
8-15 15-25
25-45 Soil Drainage
well drained Moderately
Well, Somewhat
poorly drained Somewhat
excessively drained
Poorly drained,
excessively drained
Elevation asl
200 200-450
450-600 600
Note: Td = Inoperative S = Sand
Str C = Structured Clay
Si = Dust L = Clay
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2.4 Geographical Information System
