Land Suitability Assessment for Lemongrass Cultivation at a University Technopark in Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia
Dibyanti Danniswari*, Qurrotu Aini Besila, Nur Intan Simangunsong, Reza Fauzi, Muhammad Fauzi Adi Nugroho

Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Technology, Universitas Trisakti
*dibyanti[at]trisakti.ac.id

Abstract

A technopark is being developed at the Nagrak Campus of Universitas Trisakti to support the university-owned research and development activities. The university is researching lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) as a material for health and sanitation products. Given the importance of lemongrass in supporting Universitas Trisakti research innovations, lemongrass is an irreplaceable element in Nagrak Campus Technopark. This study aims to analyze the land suitability of Nagrak Campus Technopark for lemongrass cultivation. The method used in this study is a survey method with descriptive analysis. The soils in the potential cultivation area were sampled and brought to the laboratory for physical and chemical properties analysis. These soil characteristics were evaluated by matching the actual field condition to the specification of ideal lemongrass cultivation. The results showed that Nagrak Campus Technopark is marginally suitable (S3) for cultivating lemongrass. The limiting factors include water availability (high rainfall), rooting conditions (very smooth soil texture), nutrient retention (low base saturation), and nutrient availability (low phosphorus content). Some efforts should be made to improve the land quality and ensure good quality lemongrass crops, including planting during low rainfall months and adding coarse material, Calcium, and high phosphorus fertilizers to the soil.

Keywords: Land suitability analysis, land preparation, lemongrass, soil properties

Topic: Hydrology, hydrogeology, and geology engineering