Green development in agriculture: technology-driven solutions to boost soybean productivity on tidal lands in Jambi, Indonesia

The growing threat of climate change, soil acidity, and unclear rainfall especially in tidal lands that are vulnerable to face in the agricultural sector. This study evaluates climate-resilient soybean cultivation practices in sulfuric acid, tidal Type C areas in Jambi, Indonesia. Field experiments were conducted from May to August 2019 in Bandar Jaya Village using a randomized complete block design with three replications per treatment. The treatment of each plot was 10 m × 5 m (50 m²), with a total experimental area of 1.5 ha. Three treatments were tested: 1) Integrated Crop Management 1 (ICM-1) with soil tillage, organic fertilizer 1000 kg ha - ¹ manure + dolomite, and balanced chemical inputs; 2) ICM-2 without tillage but with identical fertilization; and 3) traditional agriculture with low inputs farmer practices. The results showed that ICM-1 produced 2.69 tons ha - ¹, 2.07 times higher 107% increase than traditional methods 1.30 t ha - ¹, increased profit by IDR 9,840,000 ha - ¹, and achieved a Marginal Benefit-Cost Ratio (MBCR) of 2.20, confirming its economic and agronomic advantages. ICM-2 produces 2.10 t ha - ¹ but is less effective in managing waterlogging. ICM-1 enhances the resilience of climate ecosystems by increasing soil aggregation and economical and appropriate nutrient utilization, in line with the climate-based sustainable agriculture framework. However, expansion requires accessibility of production inputs, seeds adaptive to abiotic stress, and responsive and sustainable technical assistance—especially for small-scale agribusinesses that do not have the ability to respond to environmental changes. In summary, ICM-1 offers a model that is an economical and environmentally friendly approach that is easily expandable to soybean production in climate-sensitive tidal swamplands, contributing to sustainable food access and in increasingly extreme climatic conditions as low-carbon agribusiness development.