Evaluasi Kesesuaian Lahan untuk Tanaman Perkebunan di Wilayah Galela, Kabupaten Halmahera Utara, Propinsi Maluku Utara

This study aims to determine land suitability class for of plantation crops, namely, coconut, clove, and cocoa in Galela region, North Halmahera, North Maluku. The determination of land suitability is determined by using the comparison method between the quality of the land on the condition of plant growth, the criteria using two methods, namely Simple Limitation Method (SLM) and Sys Criteria. The result showed the actual land suitability for coconut and clove using SLM system was obtained into two classes, S3 (marginally suitable) and N (unsuitable); whereas the potential land suitability was obtained into three classes i.e S2 (moderately suitable), S3 and N, for cocoa the actual and potential land suitability was obtained into classes N. While, according to Sys Criteria, the actual land suitability for coconut and clove the obtained two classes i.e. S2 and S3, the potential land suitability for coconut into three classes i.e S1 (very suitable), S2, and S3, for clove into two classes S2, and S3, while for cocoa the actual and potential land suitability was obtained into classes S3. The generally, limiting factors in the cultivation of plantation crops in Galela region, North Halmahera, North Maluku include rooting media, nutrient retention, nutrient availability, erosion hazard, drainage, sodicity, and water availability. The supply of volcanic ash material from Mt. Dokuno positively affect the growth of plantation crops in Galela region. The approach method with Sys Criteria is well suited to determine the suitability of plantation land in the Galela region