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Drivers of Agricultural Sustainability in Karst Landscapes: The Roles of Conservation, Farmer Adaptation, and Local Innovation

Keywords:
Karst Agriculture; Conservation Practices; Farmer Adaptation; Local Innovation; Sustainability Agriculture Assessment
Abstract

Karst landscapes pose severe agricultural challenges due to shallow soil depth, rapid water loss, and high climate sensitivity. This study, conducted from August to October 2025, investigates the main factors that support sustainable farming in the karst environment of Rongkop, Indonesia, focusing on conservation practices, farmer adaptation, and locally developed innovations. Data were collected from forty farmers in eight villages through structured interviews and field observations, and the analysis applied multiple regression combined with a multidimensional sustainability assessment. The regression results show that conservation practices contribute strongly to sustainability with a coefficient of 0.551 and a high level of statistical significance, while farmer adaptation provides an even stronger effect with a coefficient of 0.570 and similarly strong significance. Local innovations contribute positively as well, with a coefficient of 0.150, although the effect is not statistically significant. The sustainability index for the farming system reaches 0.676, with ecological performance at 0.712, economic performance at 0.662, and social performance at 0.675. These findings indicate moderate sustainability with persistent economic vulnerability. The study concludes that strengthening adaptive capacity, expanding conservation-oriented support, and improving the practical uptake Community innovations are critical steps to enhancing agricultural resilience in karst regions.

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Published
2026-05-01
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