Sorghum
is an alternative crop because it has various benefits that is comparable to
the other crop. Sorghum does not require intensive care to grow but it has a
high level of adaptation in various environmental conditions. Sorghum has begun
to be cultivation in Jombang, one of region in Jombang which has begun to
develop sorghum is in Tembelang. The result of prasurvey showed that sorghum
plants in Tembelang have already harvested with productivity yield of around 5
tons / hectare. The purpose of this research is to optimalize land productivity
of sorghum plants, therefore it is needed to evaluate the land suitability for
sorghum plants in that region.
The
type of this research is survey. The population in this study is all land in
Tembelang District. Samples were taken using the sample purposive method to
obtain six units of land analysis. Data collection techniques include field
measurements, laboratory tests, and documentation. The data analysis technique
used is the matching analysis by comparing the growth conditions of sorghum and
land characteristics in Tembelang District. Land characteristics in Tembelang
District are evaluated based on existing units of land.
The
results showed that the level of land suitability for sorghum plants in Tembelang
Distric are in the sub-classes S3n and S3rn, which are marginal according to
the limiting factors in the form of nutrient availability and soil texture. S3n
sub-classes are in the land units F.I.A.LH, F.I.A.S, and F.II.A.LH. The area of
land included in the S3n sub-class is 19851,559ha. S3nr sub-classes are in
the land units F.I.A.TL, F.II.A.S, and F.II.A.TL. The area of land included
in the S3rn sub-class is 570,453ha. Improvement efforts that can be done to
improve the limiting factor is by providing organic fertilizer regularly.
Keywords : land suitability, sorghum plant