Site Characteristic of Medicinal Plants for Domestication in South Kalimantan, Indonesia

. Medicinal plants are an important part of community life, especially as a source of livelihood. Generally 80% of the world's population relies on medicinal herbs. People was living around forest areas have local knowledge in the utilization of forest plants, one of them is for traditional medicine, conducted since the days of our ancestors and passed down from generation to generation indirectly. Some ethnic groups in Hulu Sungai Selatan Region and TapinRegion were dependent existence of herbs as ingredients to support health and to maintain fitness. They believe in the efficacy of traditional herbs and they are relying on the forest. Based on research of RISTOJA 2012 is that Dayak BukitEthnic in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regionfound 62 medicinal plants, and 60 potions derived from medicinal plants from forests, while the research results of RISTOJA 2015, on Ethnic Harakitin Tapin found as many as 111 species of medicinal plants and 93 potions, of which 82% are derived from forests. Most of them has not done cultivation yet. In reality only 20% of medicinal plants are cultivated, it indicates that the research and development of native medicinal plants is very low. In order to prevent the extinction and commercialization of medicinal plants it is essential to develop the cultivation of medicinal plants either in situ or ex situ. Some result of researchesstates that domestication is a method to maintain the productivity of natural medicinal plants. Departement of Forestry Republic of Indonesia stated that the direction of the preparation of medicinal plants need to pay attention to the technical aspects, especially the abiotic environment, including soil type, pH, soil structure and soil fertility. Based on that, as an initial step in order domestication of some medicinal plants used by the people of Malinau and Harakit, South Kalimantan, it is necessary to do a study of physical and chemical properties of land from the original habitat of plants, so that later can be developed elsewhere, with state media planting that resembles the original. It is very important because in the cultivation of medicinal plants avoided the use of fertilizers and chemicals. The results showed that soil permeability of medicinal plant habitat ranges 0.17 to 4.66 cm /hour, it is included the slow-to-moderate category. Bulk density ranges from 0.94 to 142 g / cm3, including medium density. Particle density of 2.28 to 2.84 g / cm3 were moderate, porosity everything including special (minimum 25%). Total N content from 0.07 to 0.18 was high, organic C from 1.17 to 3.74%), including low to moderate P content from 9.48 to 47.49 mg / 100 g, including low until high. The degree of acidity (pH) of the soil ranged from 4.29 to 6.45, including acid to slightly acid, it does show that medicinal plants can grow in less fertile soil.