Farmer preference for marginal land use and their impact on soil quality

Abstract

Abstract Changes in forest land use into dry lands have become a concern of the global community because of environmental damage. The research objectives were to determine land use priority for agricultural development and its impact on soil quality. The research was conducted in Baras District, Pasangkayu Regency, West Sulawesi. The socio-economic survey was conducted using a focus group discussion technique. Stratified soil surveys were carried out on priority land uses. Analysis of the physicochemical properties of soil was carried out at the Soil Science Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tadulako. Support for the development of farmer institutions, ease of product marketing, financial benefits for farming, and the availability of quality seeds are the dominant factors influencing people’s preference for the priority of developing oil palm farming. Respectively, Soil quality indexes in oil palm blocks aged 3 years, 6 years, and 24 years were 0.5584 (moderate), 0.3072 (slightly poor), and 0.4362 (moderate). Soil quality decreased early in plant growth up to 6 years of age, but improved with effective soil organic carbon management up to 24 years of age.