Soil fertility management of rainfed rice fields in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Rice is a staple food for the Indonesian people and is a national strategic commodity for national food security. Rainfed area is a potential land to support national rice production, by improving soil management through balanced fertilization based on the soil characteristics. This study aims to determine the soil fertility and alternative management implemented in 2019 and 2020 in Sukaraja and Pondok Kelapa sub districts, Bengkulu Province. Soil fertility status for CEC, base saturation, C-organic, total P and total K taken based on the classification of the value of the combination of these chemical properties. The results showed that the soil fertility status of the rainfed rice fields in Sukaraja and Pondok Kelapa sub districts was low. The limiting factors for soil fertility for Sukaraja sub district are alkaline saturation, total K-total and P-total for Pondok Kelapa sub district. The limiting factors are all elements related to nutrient status assessment, namely CEC, base saturation, total P, total K and C-organic. Alternative soil management is carried out in an integrated manner by providing balanced organic and inorganic fertilizers. The provision of soil amendments such as straw compost, manure, biochar and agricultural lime/dolomite, especially for acid reacting soils, aims at increasing soil fertility before fertilization is applied.