Ngadas Village in Malang Regency, which is the last crossing to Mount Bromo, now has the first tentative map initiated by the Real Work Lecture Team (KKN) of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Brawijaya (FP UB).
This village has an area of 395 hectares, with 14 hectares of residential area and 381 hectares of agricultural area, the majority of which are used for cultivating potatoes, the village’s leading commodity. With the aim of increasing potato production, FP UB KKN Team designed a land mapping program.
The land mapping program began on Monday (08/07/2024), guided by Dian Islami Prasetyaningrum, S.S., M.Pd as Field Supervisor and Dr. Kurniawan Sigit Wicaksono, S.P., M.Sc from the Department of Soil, FP UB.
After coordinating with the Village Head, Mujianto, the team was given permission to measure soil pH using a pH meter. Mujianto said, “I allow the installation of pH meters in the ground for land mapping needs. Farmers here are familiar with pH meters, but they don’t believe the results yet”.
Dr. Kurniawan gave a briefing and practice of checking the coordinates of the tie points, as well as measuring soil pH using the Avenza Maps application, Garmin Handheld GPS, and pH meters at predetermined points.
The mapping lasted for four days. On the first day, the team identified 15 red points for pH measurements and 4 yellow points as tie points. The second day obtained 17 red dots and 9 yellow dots, the third day obtained 13 red dots and 1 yellow dot, and the fourth day identified 4 red dots and 1 yellow dot. This data will be visualized in a tentative map consisting of a satellite image map, a land use map, and a soil fertility map of Ngadas Village.
This program was closed with a presentation of the results to the Ngadas Village apparatus and the Poncokusumo District Agricultural Extension Agency (BPP) at the Ngadas Village Cultural Hall on Monday (07/15/2024).
“The first map is a satellite image map showing important buildings in Ngadas Village, such as SDN 2 Ngadas, the Ngadas Village Office, and the Paramitha Vihara. The land use map shows buildings, forests, settlements, and fields. Finally, the soil fertility map with a pH range between 6.2 and 7.4 shows soil neutrality that supports potato production. Volcanic ash from Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru also increases soil fertility,” explained Dr. Kurniawan.
Wahyu Lis Setyaningsih, S.P from the BPP of Poncokusumo District added that sampling is usually done after harvest to avoid chemicals that affect the acidity level of the soil. “This tentative map is representative and needs further recommendations regarding the provision of fertilizer to farmers,” said Wahyu.
Measuring pH in the rainy season at the same coordinate points is also recommended to increase the validity of the tentative map. This land mapping program is a source of pride for FP UB KKN Team in Ngadas Village because it has succeeded in creating innovations that have a positive impact to the community. [KKN Team/Hilya/Irene/ UB PR/ Trans. Iir]
