Tidal swampland is one of the suboptimal lands need technology to increasethe yield of maize crops and soil quality. This study aimed to determine the effect of plant spacing and types of P fertilizer on the chemical properties of soil and maize yields, was carried out in type C tidal swampland, and arranged in factorial Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD). The first factor was the plant spacing, consisting of legowo and zigzag planting system. The second factor was the application of P fertilizer types, namely 1000 kg ha−1 RPR, 250 kg ha−1 SP-36, 1000 kg ha−1 Guano Phosphate, and without P. The results showed that the treatments of P fertilizer type could increase the pH value and available P-nutrient content. Total N content at legowo plant spacing was higher than at zigzag spacing. The highest available K content in all treatments was at 60 days after planting. The zig zag spacing is significant in increasing maize yield by 30% compared to legowo spacing. The provision of RPR fertilizer increased maize yield significantly up to 20%. Therefore, the zigzag spacing and the provision of RPR fertilizer are recommended for maize cultivation in type C tidal swamplands.

In the future, Indonesia will become increasingly dependent on dryland agriculture. New adaptive technology innovations able to transform drylands into arable land throughout almost the entire year have been developed to anticipate global climate change in tropical areas. This article reviews the results of research on the importance of climate and water management technology to increase the crop index and productivity in Indonesia. We found that irrigation treatment at 80% of the FAO-recommended rate resulted in the highest maize stover yield (around 13.65–14.10 t h−1). Irrigation treatment at 60% of the FAO-recommended rate for soybeans (at 0.24 litre s−1 h−1) produced good-quality soybean seeds. The use of existing water resources can increase the planted area from 1.25 to 1.67 and increase the cropping index during the second planting season in the same area. Agricultural systems based on water management can improve their crop index and productivity, and anticipate climate change to increase farmers’ incomes and wellbeing. Support measures in the form of regulations, legislation, acts, programmes, and policies from central and local governments for land use and management are crucial. The development of infrastructure by establishing water management institutions at the village/farmers’ group levels to allocate irrigation water is a leverage point to develop dryland agricultural systems appropriately and judiciously to assist in sustainable development.

The paper emphasizes key lessons learnt about a research intervention implemented from 2006 to 2009 to solve water access conflicts in the Klaten irrigated rice production area (Central Java, Indonesia). To make stakeholders’ involvement easier, to empower them and build their capacity, action research was carried out according to a flexible and iterative approach. Each step involved a cycle of diagnosis, action planning, implementation, evaluation and learning. The paper shows the need to facilitate the functioning of a multi-stakeholder platform through the creation of a monitoring mechanism in order to ensure, on the one hand, stakeholders’ involvement within the action-research process and on the other hand, foster brainstorming and mutual learning among participants. The paper brings to the fore the usefulness of assessing findings of multidisciplinary and participatory appraisals through modeling and geo-referenced mapping tools in order to facilitate collective learning, negotiation and technical and institutional innovation. Finally, through the assessment of the evolution of the farmers’ association, whose creation was a project outcome, the paper reflects about key issues and key steps that have contributed to carry on successfully the developed methodology.

Climate change has been affecting agricultural water resources dynamics spatially and temporally. This article presents analysis results of climate change impact on agricultural water availability in Cimanuk Watershed, Indonesia. STREAM was utilized to model agricultural water availability through FAO MOSAICC web application. Climate spatial data time-series were generated using 3 Global Climate Model (GCM), i.e.,: CanESM2, CNRM-CM5, and MPI-ESM-MR following two climate change scenarios of RCP4.5 and 8.5. Model inputs were split into three periods of 1981–2010 (historical), 2010–2039 (near-future), and 2040–2069 (far-future). Historical data model validation showed the efficiency coefficient of the observed and simulated discharge data ratio was 0.68. The results showed a decreasing volumetric water availability from all generated climate data and scenarios, identified by comparing the discharge normal distribution of the historical and future data periods. Whereas, trend analysis of RCP4.5 scenario showed increasing maximum discharge of Cimanuk river using CanESM2 and MPI-ESM-MR GCM’s data, with a Mann–Kendall coefficient of 3.23 and 3.57. These results indicate a different agricultural water balance status within the watershed area, particularly a “very critical” water balance in Indramayu and Majalengka, “critical” in Garut, and “close to critical” in Sumedang Regency.

Rice production in swampland can increase farmers’ income through intensification activities based on local wisdom. This study aims to determine the household income of farmers by implementing the Innovation Technology “Panca Kelola”. This technology has components namely: water management, land preparation, ameloriation and fertilization, high yielding variety and pest control. The method of data collection is done through a survey with direct interviews to farmers using a questionnaire. The results showed that the implementation of Technology Innovation “Panca Kelola” has economic prospects to be developed on a large scale with R/C> 1 and MBCR> 2. The increased income of cooperator farmers was 60.73% (IDR. 20,363,987,- household−1 year−1) compared to non-cooperative farmers.