Fertility assessment of land for coffee plantation development in the Argopuro mountain area in Jember district East Java Indonesia

Agriculture Production Department, Politeknik Negeri Jember, Mastrip street PO.BOX 164 Jember, Indonesia.

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Abstract

Coffee plantations in the Argopuro Mountains region of Jember Regency, East Java, are relatively old, having been planted during the Dutch colonial era. The purpose of this study was to assess soil fertility and land suitability for coffee cultivation in this region. Soil surveys and soil sampling were conducted at 50 locations across the coffee plantations. Soil samples were analyzed at the Jember State Polytechnic Soil Laboratory. Laboratory analysis are soil texture, organic carbon, soil pH, CEC, and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Soil fertility status was determined based on soil fertility value criteria from Bogor Soil and Climate Research Center, Indonesia, and land suitability for coffee plants was determined based on the criteria of the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Center. The results showed that the coffee land in the survey area is classified as low to moderate in fertility. The soil development has entered the senile stage to final stage. Land suitability for coffee cultivation ranges from Very Suitable (S1) to Moderately Suitable (S2). For future, organic matter management and increased N, P, and K nutrients are required. The research are very necessary for the improvement and development of coffee plants in the future.