Land Suitability Analysis for Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L) Cultivation Using Technical Soil Evaluation Criteria in the Rembangan Sub Watershed Jember Regency

The development of cocoa plants requires data and information regarding land potential and land suitability class assessment based on the physical and chemical properties of the soil in order to achieve optimal productivity. The objective of this study was to provide information on land suitability for cocoa cultivation in the Rembangan Sub-watershed. The research was conducted using a descriptive-exploratory method, with soil sampling carried out through a purposive random sampling technique, and by collecting both primary and secondary data. Land evaluation was performed using the matching method. Soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory, followed by matching land qualities with land characteristics. The results showed that the land characteristics in the Sub watershed area were divided into two actual land suitability classes: S3 (marginally suitable) convering 88.65% of the area and N (not suitable) convering 11.35% with limiting factors including soil texture, base saturation, pH H₂O, total nitrogen (N-total), available phosphorus (P₂O₅), available potassium (K₂O), slope gradient, and erosion hazard. Improvement efforts that can be implemented include the application of dolomite, urea fertilizer, SP-36 fertilizer, KCl fertilizer, as well as the construction of terraces and infiltration pits (rorak). After improvement measures were applied, the potential land suitability classes became S2 (moderately suitable) convering 52.46% of the area, S3 (marginally suitable) convering 36.19%, and N (not suitable) convering 11.35%.