Hydrotophography Approach on Aquaculture Development at The Reclaimed Tidal Lowlands

Abstract

There are 1.8 million ha of reclaimed lowlands for transmigration financed by the government of Indonesia scattered in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua. An estimate of more than 1 million main house holds and additional ones living on each of 0.25 home plots. Each of the family has at least 2.0 ha of land planted with rice, corn, beans or tree crops. Experiences in Telang I, Muara Telang sub-districts, and Telang II, Tanjung Lago subdistricts, schemes in Banyuasin districts of South Sumatra have shown that rice-rice-corn, rice-corn-water melon cropping pattern can be achieved depend on the hydrotophographical (A, B, C, D type) condition of the areas. At the lower area of type A where the tidal water can easily penetrate to the land ( land less than 1.50 m above the mean sea level) food crops such as: rice-rice-corn per year can easily be grown. Land with type B of 1.50-2.00 m above mean sea level where only high tide in the rainy season can flood the soil surface has rice – ratton rice - corn or rice- water melon- corn cropping pattern in one year. Increased farmers income and standard of living have made the improved houses or even the new ones are made. Earthen soil to rice the house floor was taken around the home plots resulting the formation of small to medium size water ponds depth of 1-1.5 m. These water ponds are later used for aquaculture with different degree of success. Water table fluctuation of the soil together with the rainfall and tidal data are very usefull for managing the pond water quality for fish culture in this regards. The hydrotophography concept is useful for planning, organizing, actuating and controlling the quality of fish culture on such areas.