IDENTIFIKASI KESESUAIAN LAHAN UNTUK JATI (Tectona grandis Linn.f) DI PT. MELAPI TIMBER, KALIMANTAN TIMUR Identify Suitable Land for Jati (Tectona grandis L.f) in PT. Melapi Timber, East Kalimantan

Land evaluation of a tract of land, for its suitability to be planted with a particular plantation species is an important step for species choice in plantation forest. A weight factor matching (WFM) approach of this study, was used to identify suitable land for jati ( Tectona grandis L.f) in PT. Melapi Timber, East Kalimantan. Land suitability is affected by climate, soil and topograph. According to WFM, the results indicated that important variables which limit T. grandis in the research area were pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), potassium (P) and soil depth condition. The study results show that 4 of 5 land units are marginally suitable (S3) for T. grandis cultivation in PT. Melapi Timber. Key words: Land evaluation, suitability, Tectona grandis L.f., weight factor matching (WFM)