Suitable and available land for cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in the island of Lombok, Indonesia

Abstract: Cashews have a potential economic value for local people, and as a conservation plant that is appropriate for small islands, which usually have limited resource capacities. The research for this paper was conducted on Lombok Island, Indonesia with the objective to delineate the potential areas for cashew, based on land availability and land suitability. Land availability was analyzed by taking into account the land use and land cover maps interpreted from SPOT-6 imagery, a Forest Areas Status map and a map from the Official Spatial Land Use Plan. The evaluation of the land’s suitability for cashews was conducted at a land mapping unit resulting from a soil survey, carried out at a scale of 1:25,000. The suitability analysis was done using a maximum limitation method, where the suitability level was defined by the lowest soil characteristics which determined the plant’s requirements. The land evaluation criteria were established in previous research, which included this island as an area of criteria establishment. The research results show that the land on this island has suitability status for cashews ranging from S2 (moderately suitable) to N (not suitable). The limiting factors include water availability, nutrient retention, available nutrients and rooting media, some of which can be improved. According to the available and suitable land, an area of 4,075.6 ha can be assigned as first priority, 18,167.3 ha as second priority and 43,582.8 ha as third priority for cashew expansion areas.