Pola Tanam Kabupaten Sumba Tengah yang Sesuai Dengan Curah Hujan Setempat

Abstract

Cropping pattern is a strategy of cropping system arrangements which aims to attain effective and efficient crop production in its actual environmental conditions. It consists of crop type selection, planting period, and crops spatial arrangement in the farms. This study was conducted to determine the proper local cropping pattern in the Regency of Central Sumba by utilizing its precipitation trends during the period of 1997 to 2012. We used the water balance analysis to estimate the sufficiency of water availability to support the production of the proposed main crops (rice and companion crops). We subsequently calculated the cropping index for each crop by using the information of annual water supply. There was 16.13% of the total land area which could only be cultivated once a year. The cropping season occurred likely from December to April. The area included Mamboro (14.96%), Umbu Ratu Nggay (1.05%), and Umbu Ratu Nggay Barat (0.12%). The remaining area may implement two cropping seasons in a year. There were two cropping pattern alternatives. The first included wetland rice production from November to March and later companion crops production from April to July. This area scattered in Umbu Ratu Nggay Barat (2.91%), Katikutana Selatan (1.53%), Mamboro (2.60%), and Umbu Ratu Nggay (38.23%). The second option comprised wetland rice cultivation from November to March and subsequently upland rice or companion crops production from April to July. This area consisted of Umbu Ratu Nggay (12.40%), Katikutana (3.78%), Katikutana Selatan (19.50%), and Umbu Ratu Nggay (2.91%).