KARAKTERISTIK LAHAN SAWAH DAN BUDIDAYA PADI DI KABUPATEN GOWA

The aim of the study is to provide an information of soil characteristics of the field rice as well as a practices of rice field cultivation at Gowa regency, South Sulawesi. The study was conducted using a method of free survey on field rice through field observation and soil sampling. Fifty soil samples were collected and analyzed at laboratory for soil texture, pH, organic carbon, N total, P2O5, K2O, sum of bases and salinity. The results of the study showed most of the field rice of the area were found on alluvial plain with flat topography and on volcanic plain with rolling to hilly topography. The geology were mostly consists of alluvium deposits as well as volcanic stone. The land characteristic related to soil fertility and nutrients status as follow: C organic content, N total and base saturations commonly low; available P, K and Mg were medium; exchangeable Calcium and cation exchange capacity were high and slightly acid soil pH. Their land suitability were evaluated mostly as moderately suitable (S2) and some were marginally suitable (S3) Total area of rice field of Gowa regency is 34.003 ha where 53,3 % were planted twice a year. The total rice productions is 200.390 ton GKG with average productivity of 5,22 ton GKG ha-1. Planted rice variety mostly Cilliwung, Celebes, cisadane, IR-64 and IR-42. Fertilizer used were commonly urea, TSP, SP-36 and KCl whether alone or in combinations with total doses were 150-300 kg ha-1 which is consists of urea (100-200kg kg ha-1 season-1), TSP (50-100 kg ha-1 season-1), KCl (0-200 kg ha-1 season-1), Za (50-100 kg ha-1 season-1) and SP-36 (0-50 kg ha-1 season-1). The frequency of fertilizers application were done three times for urea, once for TSP and SP-36 and KCl 1-2 times