EVALUASI KESESUAIAN LAHAN TANAMAN JAGUNG (Zea mays L.) DI KECAMATAN KABANJAHE KABUPATEN KARO SUMATERA UTARA

Abstract

Land suitability evaluation is basically to predict the potential for productive and sustainable land resources. The aim of this research is to evaluate the suitability of agricultural land for corn (Zea mays, L) in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The research was conducted in Kabanjahe District, Karo Regency, from April to June 2024. This research method used a matching method, namely comparing land characteristics as parameters measured in the field and laboratory with criteria for land suitability classes for corn plants. The results of the research show that the actual land suitability class for corn plants in Kabanjahe District, Karo Regency, North Sumatra using the matching method is in the land suitability class S3 "Marginal Suitable" with the limiting factors of rooting media (rc) soil texture and nutrient retention (nr) pH H2O, however, this limiting factor can be improved by adding organic material and liming with low input so as to increase the potential land suitability class to S2 "quite suitable".