Upland farming pattern planning to support sustainable agriculture in Konaweha subwatershed of Southeast Sulawesi (Indonesia)

The objectives of this research were (1) to evaluate the suitability of land use with land capability classes, land management, crops and agrotechnology that can be applied by farmers, and (2) to make planning of cropping pattern and agrotechnology for sustainable upland farming in Konaweha Subwatershed. The research was conducted at Konaweha subwatershed in South East Sulawesi. Research method consisted of preparation, pre-survey, main survey, analysis of data and result presentation which composed of land utilization evaluation, erosion prediction, tolerable soil loss (TSL), agrotechnology and social economic analysis, and alternative recommendation of cropping pattern and agrotechnologies. Results of this research showed that land capability classes of the area consisted of class I, II, III, IV and VI. Almost all of land utilization in this area were suitable with land capability classes. Evaluation of cropping pattern and agrotechnology in that area showed that erosion in almost all cropping pattern and the use of agrotechnologies was smaller than the local tolerable soil loss, except in cropping pattern A on land class VI. Together with economic analysis agrotechnology evaluation suggest the following recommendation: (a) cropping pattern A and B could be continued except on class VI; (b) mixed garden for cropping pattern C, D, E, and F on land class II need manure 3 ton/ha + urea and TSP (60 kg/ha) + minimum tillage, cropping pattern D on land class III needs manure, gulud terrace and cover crop (Calopogonium sp.) 10 kg/ha + minimum tillage or organic matter (straw) 4 ton/ha + minimum tillage, and cropping pattern A on land class VI (5a) needs improvement of cropping pattern and agrotechnologies with gulud terrace, manure 3 ton/ha + urea and TSP (60 kg/ha) + minimum tillage; (c) cropping pattern G on land class II (2f) needs conservation and manure 3 ton/ha + urea, TSP and KCl (50 kg/ha), and cropping pattern H needs manure 2 ton/ha + urea and TSP 50 kg/ha + 1 ton/ha lime.