Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
Not a member yet
437 research outputs found
Sort by
The Effect of Active Paper Packaging Enriched with Oleoresin from Solid Waste of Pressed Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. Placement Methods on Quality of Refrigerated Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa)
Full text linkStrawberry is a popular and nutritious fruit. However, its improper post-harvest handling leads to quality degradation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of active paper packaging placements methods on strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) quality during refrigerated storage. Strawberry quality was determined based on the physical (weight loss, hardness, color), chemical (pH, total titratable acid, total soluble solids and vitamin C content) and microbiological (total plate count) properties. The results of this study indicated that different placement methods of active paper packaging had no significant effect on the physical and chemical qualities; but it did affect the microbiological quality of the strawberries. At the end of the experiment (12 days), the microbial content of C (the bottom and walls), D (covering all surfaces) and E (cut into pieces) samples were significantly lower than the A (without active paper packaging) and B (the bottom) samples. The Total Plate Count (TPC) values of the control and B samples were higher than the maximum acceptable limit of 6 log10 colony-forming units (CFU) g-1, while the other samples remained below the limit. These results indicated that a larger surface area of active paper that had contact with the strawberries provided better protection against microbes. Due to their microbial properties, C, D and E treatments maintained the strawberry quality for up to 12 days, compared with 9 days for control and B treatments. Active paper packaging containing oleoresin from solid waste of pressed Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. can be applied to extend the shelf life of strawberries during refrigerated storage
Banana Cultivars Microshoot Induction and Plantlet Formation Using Cytokinin and Auxin
Full text linkBanana is a horticultural plant with very high potentials, which contains carbohydrates and vitamins that are useful in fulfilling people's food and nutritional needs. Hence, this study aims to produce superior banana seedlings and develop a protocol for their mass production using a plant in vitro culture technique. This was a two stage-experiment i.e. microshoot production and plantlet formation. The result showed that Gebyar cultivar produced more shoots than the Kepok Kuning cultivar, with an average of 4.25 microshoots explant-1. However, Kepok Kuning produced more leaves than Gebyar, with an average of 4.64 leaves plantlet-1. Banana shoots cultured on the media containing Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at a concentration of 2.5 µM produced the highest leaves number. Meanwhile, those cultured on the media containing 1-Naphthalenesacetic acid (NAA) at a concentration of 7.5 µM produced the highest roots number. A Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) up to 30 µM and the one supplemented with 7.5 μM of NAA are suitable for Kepok Kuning and Gebyar cultivars micropropagation with regard to microshoot induction and plantlet formation, respectively
Abundance and Diversity Index of Weeds in Oil Palm and Vegetable Intercropping in Rainforest Zone of Nigeria
Full text linkThe problem of severe weed infestation often arises during the early phases of establishment of oil palm field due to the spacing requirement and growth habit of young oil palm plantation until later years when the canopy closes. This study was conducted at Ala, Akure-North Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria, to investigate the composition of weed species and their distribution in fruit vegetable-juvenile oil palm intercrop. The fallow alleys within the immature oil palm were intercropped with 2 accessions of tomato (NGB 01665 and NG/AA/SEP/09/053) and eggplant (NGB 01737). The sampling of the weed species was carried out with a quadrat (0.25 m2). Weed species parameters and the Diversity Index (D) were quantitatively analyzed. The results revealed that members of Asteraceae and Poaceae gave the highest weed species at 3 and 6 weeks after intercropping (WAI) (17.857% and 19.04%) respectively. A total of 23 and 16 were found at 3 and 6 WAI, while the least diversity index of 0.734 was recorded in the immature oil palm/tomato (NGB 01665) plot at 6 WAI. Farmers should be persuaded to simultaneously intercrop fruit vegetables within the alley of juvenile oil palm, particularly at the earlier years prior to closure of the oil palm canopy
Socio-Economic Determinants of Smallholder Tree Plantation in Basona-Werana Woreda in the North Shoa of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
Full text linkTree growing by smallholders is an emerging livelihood strategy in Basona-Werana Woreda of the North Shoa Zone of Amhara Regional State. The objective of this study was to identify socio-economic determinants of the smallholder tree growing in the study area. Data were collected from the household survey, key informants and focus group discussions. The binary logistic regression model was employed to identify the socio-economic determinants of smallholder tree growing behavior. According to the study, about 55% of tree growers generated their livelihood income from tree planting whereas 72% of non-growers generated income from livestock. Family size of the household and age positively and significantly affected tree planting decisions at P < 0.10 and P < 0.01, respectively. Meanwhile, livestock ownership and distance to the market were negatively and significantly influenced the decision to tree planting at P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, correspondingly. Similarly, total household income positively and significantly (P < 0.01) affected tree planting decisions. This study concluded that the socio-economic circumstances of smallholder farmers must be taken into account in the formulation of initiatives and policies aimed at encouraging smallholders to grow trees in their farming systems to improve livelihood and sustainable agricultural production
Investigation and Analysis on the Factors Influencing the Use of E-Commerce for Marketing SMEs’ Dairy Products: A Case Study at SUSDAGTEL SMEs in Bengkulu, Indonesia
Full text linkDuring the pandemic, inadequate knowledge in e-commerce is one of the obstacles in the e-commerce system. As a result, it is critical to examine the determinants of dairy product marketing using e-commerce during social distancing. This study aims to analyze the factors of SMEs’ dairy product marketing using e-commerce during social distancing. The research was conducted in Bengkulu, with 31 respondents who were members of the milk, meat and eggs association (SUSDAGTEL). The respondent groups were selected purposively to identify the factors using e-commerce. The data analysis was carried out quantitatively, which is determining the influencing factors with partial least square tools. The results of hypothesis testing have shown that external factors and technological factors do not affect the use of e-commerce in marketing SMEs’ dairy products, while both the performance of SMEs and the orientation readiness affect the use of e-commerce in SMEs. The SME performance has a significant effect on the use of e-commerce with a P-value of 0.000. The organizational readiness factor has a significant effect on the use of e-commerce with a P-value of 0.009. SME actors are elevated to the highest level of priority in the strategy's implementation. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in advancing the use of e-commerce in dairy product marketing
Effects of Harvesting Period on Phytochemicals of Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum, WK 1204 Variety)
Full text linkWheatgrass is a plethora of essential phytochemicals considered to exhibit numerous benefits on human health. Therefore, the study of phytochemicals with varying stages of growth is essential. This study aims to determine the optimum harvesting period of wheatgrass based on its phytochemical content. During the growth of wheat seed (WK 1204 variety), the phytochemicals such as chlorophyll, total phenol content, flavonoids and tannins were extracted by 80% acetone and 80% methanol from wheatgrass harvested on days 6, 7, 8, 9 12 and 15, respectively. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, chlorophyll and flavonoid contents significantly (p<0.05) increased and reached the maximum level on day 9. Total phenol content was found to be increasing significantly (p<0.05), while the tannin content was decreasing considerably (p<0.05) on day 15. The optimum harvesting period was found on day 9. The DPPH radical scavenging activity, chlorophyll and flavonoid content significantly (p<0.05) increased and reached the maximum level, i.e., 92.27±1.92%, 6.63±0.053 mg g-1 and 183.64±33.49 mg QE g-1, respectively, on day 9 of cultivation. The total phenol content was found to be increasing significantly (p<0.05) from 291.67±5.69 mg GAE g-1 on day 6 to 446.67±5.77 mg GAE g-1 on day 15, while the tannin content was declining significantly (p<0.05) from 11.74±0.29 mg GAE g-1 on days 6, 7 and so on to 3.36±0.47 mg GAE g-1 on day 15. Therefore, the optimum harvesting period of wheatgrass was found to be day 9 in terms of phytochemical analysis
Analysis of Marketing Margins and Farmers’ Shares on Corn in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia
Full text linkAn increase in corn productivity is not always followed by an increase in farmer income and welfare. The sustainability of farms must be supported by its economic viability including the marketing aspect. This study aimed to analyze the marketing of corn in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. This research applied qualitative and quantitative methods. Marketing channel and marketing margin were analyzed descriptively, while farmer share was analyzed quantitatively using variance analysis (ANOVA). The results have shown three types of corn marketing channels, namely: 1) channel I, consisting of farmers-consumers, 2) channel II, covering farmers-collectors, traders-retailers and traders-consumers and 3) channel III, including farmers-collectors and traders- feed industries. Channel II has the highest marketing margin, followed by channel III and I, respectively. The intermediaries determine marketing costs that affect marketing margin and farmers’ shares. Channel I has the highest farmers’ shares, followed by channel III and channel II, respectively. The results of the significant difference test have revealed a difference in farmers’ shares in the marketing channels; and hence, the choice of marketing channel significantly determines the farmers’ shares. Therefore, farmers should shorten the marketing chain and strengthen their bargaining position by activating groups. Meanwhile, the government can play an active role so that farmers can have an access to strengthening capital and marketing
The Relations of Internal and External Factors with Women Farmers’ Participation in Rice Farming Activities
Full text linkThe participation of women in the agricultural sector has increased in the last two years, attributed to the population growth and household economy. Therefore, this research examined the internal and external factors to the women farmers’ participation. This research was conducted in Situ Gede Village, West Bogor Sub-district, Bogor City and involved women farmer group consisting of 36 members. The primary data were gathered by interviewing respondents using a questionnaire, while the secondary data were obtained from literature review and various related institutional sources. The data were examined using the Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation analysis to investigate the relations between the internal and external factors to women farmers’ participation. The results of this study have revealed the internal factors related to women farmers’ participation, such as age, farm experience and decision making. Meanwhile, the external factor related to the participation of women farmers is the access to counseling, meaning that some of these aspects need to receive the government’s attention, especially in terms of access to education related to the counseling method, time and substance of counseling
Yield and Nutritional Quality of Green Leafy Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under Soilless Culture System Using Various Composition of Growing Media and Vermicompost Rates
Full text linkSoilless culture system (SCS) production is preferred because it is more hygienic and highly nutritious and free of chemical pesticides. However, the application of organic fertilizers in SCS for green vegetable cultivation is still rarely used. This study was to test various growing media compositions and vermicompost rates on green lettuce's nutritional quality. Four types of growing media (using the mixture of cocopeat, zeolite, rice husk biochar and sand) and five levels of vermicompost rates (50-250 g pot-1) were tested. The greatest total fresh weight and marketable yield were found using 55% cocopeat, 30% rice husk biochar and 15% sand with a vermicompost rate of 250 g pot-1. The highest nutritional quality of green lettuce as measured by the highest content of chlorophyll A, B, the total chlorophyll and calcium (Ca) was found in the composition of cocopeat 55%, zeolite 30% and sand 15%. As was, the highest mineral content of of potassium (K) and phosphorus (P). Good quality lettuce was found in growing media using 30% biochar with a vermicompost rates of 200-250 g pot-1 and growing media using 30% zeolite with a vermicompost rates of 150-200 g pot-1. Thus, the admixtures of biochar and zeolite into the cocopeat substrate for the soilless culture system of green leafy lettuce significantly affected yield and nutritional quality
Effects of Spent and Deoiled Bleaching Earth Filler-Based NPK Fertilization on the Soil Nutrient Status and Growth of Soybean (Glycine max (L. ) Merrill)
Full text linkThe bleaching process at the crude palm oil (CPO) refinery stage is one of the processes sufficient to determine the quality of the cooking oil produced. CPO is refined to eliminate the unacceptable substances before consumption. The process produces spent bleaching earth (SBE) and deoiled bleaching earth (DBE) classified as hazardous and toxic material waste. However, according to several studies, SBE and DBE have the potential as filler materials in NPK fertilizers. This study aimed to study the effect of SBE and DBE filler-based NPK fertilization on the soil nutrient status and growth characteristics of soybean, thereby determining if the SBE and DBE materials can be used to replace some of the filler components in the NPK fertilizers. The study was a single factor experiment arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) consisting of four blocks as replications. The treatments tested were fertilization of 10% bentonite clay mineral filler-based NPK (control), 5% bentonite clay mineral + 5% SBE filler-based NPK and 5% bentonite clay mineral + 5% DBE filler-based NPK. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and tested using LSD test at a 95% confidence level. The results showed that the SBE and DBE materials could partially replace the filler components in bentonite clay filler-based NPK fertilizers, which were shown to have the same effect on soil chemical properties and levels of heavy metals after treatment, levels and uptake of N, P, K, Ca and Mg in plants tissues and growth characteristic in the form of total dry weight