Evaluation of the Sustainability of the Corn Cultivation System in the Dryland of Bima City, West Nusa Tenggara

Maize (Zea mays L.) cultivation in Bima City, Indonesia, is a major livelihood in dryland areas, yet its productivity remains unstable due to environmental and management constraints. This study, conducted from May to July 2025, employed a Multi-Aspect Sustainability Analysis (MSA) to assess sustainability status and identify key driving factors. Data were collected from 42 expert respondents, including extension workers, NGO practitioners, and farmer group leaders. Four aspects were analyzed soil fertility and land quality, hydrology and microclimate, crop management, and soil and water conservation—comprising 24 factors assessed using ordinal indicators (0–3). The sustainability status was categorized as critical (quadrant IV), with an overall mean score of 41.47. Sub-district scores ranged from 34.31 to 46.41. Driving factors included phosphorus and potassium content, rainfall and seasonal pattern adaptation, crop rotation, waste utilization, terracing, and degraded land rehabilitation. These results emphasize the urgent need for integrated, multi-aspect interventions to strengthen resilience and sustainability in Bima’s dryland maize systems.