Case Study of Maize Planting On Marginal Dry Land in The Rainy Season in Lampung

Abstract

Nationally Lampung Province is the third largest maize producer after East Java and Central Java. Prime land for planting maize in this region is marginal dry land. Productivity of dry land in the region has declined due to intensive use for growingfood crops, especially maize and cassava. Objective of the study was to study the prospects of further development of maize on marginal dry land of acid soil in Lampung province. Reduced productivity of dry land caused by land degradation, one due to decreased water holding capacity. It can be argued that because the results of the soil analysis showed the soil of these areas have loworganic matter content and soil texture while also rich faction of sand (sandy loam). The condition was exacerbated by the daily rainfall distribution is uneven due to climate change, which resulted in plants often experience water stress. Results of the study proved, namely maize varieties Bima 2 and Bima 3 on dry land in East Lampung during the rainy season 2011/2012 was relatively unsuccessful due to the production of maize <50% optimal production.