Land characteristics and land suitability assessment for Styrax sp. in Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia

Kemenyan ( Styrax sp. ) is a latex-producing plant in North Sumatra Province that needs to be developed to maintain its sustainability. At this time, Styrax sp. began to be planted together with other crops. This study aims to determine the characteristics of the Styrax sp. plant growing land from the aspects of soil physics, soil chemistry, soil biology, climate and rainfall. Secondly, to evaluate and map the land suitability of Styrax sp. in Humbang Hasundutan Regency. This study uses a survey method by taking soil samples purposively based on the land unit. This study was conducted in three villages and three sub-districts in Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra Province. Among them are Aek Nauli Village, Pollung Sub-district, Hutagurgur Village, Dolok Sanggul Sub-district, Pusuk I Village, Parlilitan Sub-district. The matching method was used to evaluate the suitability of Styrax sp. The Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were performed to map the actual and potential land suitability of Styrax sp. The results showed that the actual land suitability for Styrax sp. was moderately suitable (S2) in Aek Nauli (Land unit VI), Pusuk I Villages (Land unit XXI), and Hutagurgur Village (Land unit XXIX). On Land unit VI, the limiting factors are rooting media (rc) and nutrient retention (nr). On Land unit XXI, the limiting factors are rooting media (rc), retention nutrient (nr) and erosion hazard (eh). On Land unit XXIX, the limiting factor limiting factors are water availability (wa), rooting media (rc), nutrient retention (nr) and erosion hazard (eh).