KESESUAIAN LAHAN KABUPATEN SOPPENG UNTUK PENGEMBANGAN KOMODITI KAKAO BERDASARKAN PENDEKATAN PARAMETRIK

Cacao is one of prime estate crops of Soppeng Regency and have been cultivated on 12.962 ha (8,64 % of the total area). In order to achieve optimal productivity, the development of this commodity should be based on the land evaluation classes or rate of land suitability, therefore it could be gain both economic value and sustainable, as well as to avoid reduction of land productivity and protection again environment damaged.\ud The objective was to identify the land characteristics of Soppeng Regency and the rate of their suitability for cacao.\ud The methods used are Free Survey with following steps : (1) Spatial information analysis of land resources characteristics. (2) Slope classes analysis (3) Assesment of land unit for : a) site for field observation (representative site, land form, elevation, slope, geology, land use and drainage), and b) Soil profile (horizon and thickness, matrix colors and mottled, texture, structure, consistence, mottling, pores, root depth and horizon boundary). (4) Field survey for soil sample analysis were texture, pH (H2O) and pH (KCl), C-organic, total Nitrogen, avalaible P2O5 , exchangeable anions (Ca, Mg, Na, K), exchangeable Al+++ and H+, Cation Exchange Capacity, Base Saturation and Salinity. (5) Land resources characterization (climate and soil). (6) Assesment of land requirements (climate and soil) and (7) Land suitability analysis with parametric approaches (climate and soil characteristics, climate and soil requirements, scoring and land index measurements).\ud The result shown that land resources characteristics of Soppeng Regency is mostly B and C of climatic type with flat to undulating / hilly topography. Mostly well drained, a part are weakly imperfected ??? poorly drainaged, sandy clay loam, silty clay, silty loam, clay loam, loam, sandy clay, sandy loam, dan clay. Soil depth is mainly >90 cm with stoned appearance <15 %. Cation Exchange Capacity is mainly >24 cmol/kg clay, base saturation >35% of sum of cations, sum of anions >7,5 cmol/kg clay, pH (H2O) 6,0 ??? 6,5 (neutral) and C-organic >2-5%. Land suitability analysis defined a great part of Soppeng Regency was indicated as marginally suitable (S3) up to moderately suitable (S2) for caca