Journal of Tropical Soils
Vol. 31 No. 2: May 2026

Land Evaluation and Suitability for Development of Sorghum (Sorghum Bicholor L.) on Peat Land

Juniarti Juniarti (Andalas University)
Nofrita Sandi (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University Andalas, Indonesia)
Afrima Sari (Unknown)
Asdi Agustar (Unknown)
Dyah Puspita Sari (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 May 2026

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is an annual cereal crop with high adaptability to marginal and acidic environments, making it a promising option for peatland development in Indonesia. This study evaluated land suitability for sorghum cultivation in West Sumatra, Indonesia, using purposive sampling and field survey methods at the regency scale, in accordance with the FAO land evaluation criteria. Land characteristics were analyzed based on climatic, soil, and hydrological parameters. The results show that three peatland types in the study area are classified as moderately suitable with nutrient retention limitations (S2nr). These peatlands are characterized by average temperatures of 25–27 °C, annual rainfall below 2,000 mm, relative humidity below 75%, good drainage, peat depths exceeding 60 cm, and acidic soil conditions (pH 4.4–5.1). Low availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium was identified as the primary limiting factor for sorghum cultivation. Overall, the findings indicate that peatlands in West Sumatra have substantial potential for sustainable sorghum development, provided that appropriate soil fertility and nutrient management strategies are implemented.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

tropicalsoil

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Environmental Science

Description

Journal of Tropical Soils (JTS) publishes all aspects in the original research of soil science (soil physic and soil conservation, soil mineralogy, soil chemistry and soil fertility, soil biology and soil biochemical, soil genesis and classification, land survey and land evaluation, land development ...