System proximity index ratio (SPIR) accuracy in forecasting the sustainability of crop-livestock farming systems in Indonesian paddy fields

Abstract

The crop-livestock farming system in paddy fields is integrated between rice crops and beef cattle (rice-beef cattle CLFS). Rice plants will produce straw and rice bran that can be used for animal feed, and livestock will produce compost/manure that can be used for rice nutrition. Some other benefits of implementing CLFS are increasing crop productivity, increasing the value of farmers' income, farming cost efficiency, and preserving the environment. The probability of the sustainability of CLFS application in paddy fields can be measured by calculating the system proximity index ratio using the SPIR formula. This research aims to demonstrate the accuracy of the SPIR formula in predicting the probability of CLFS sustainability in paddy fields. This study compares CLFS programs in several regions in Indonesia. It uses an independent sample t-test analysis tool with one-way rejection criteria to see the difference in SPIR scores on sustainable and unsustainable CLFS. The results showed that the SPIR formula could predict the sustainability of the CLFS program in Indonesia. However, further studies are needed to prove its ability to predict CLFS sustainability in other parts of the world.