Caraka Tani: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
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Diversity of Knowledge-Sharing Behavior to Encourage the Practice of Robusta Coffee Red-Picking (Case Study of Temanggung Robusta Coffee Farmer, Indonesia)
Full text linkRed-picking is the key to good coffee quality and is essential for increasing farmers’ income, added value, competitiveness, and development. Knowledge-sharing is one solution to improve the knowledge confidence of farmers and the reach of dissemination of red-picking practices. This research aims to determine the diversity of knowledge-sharing behavior related to red-picking practices according to farmers’ socio-economic status. This research was conducted in a constructivist paradigm with a qualitative approach and case study strategy. According to specific characteristics, seven primary informants were determined by staged, purposive, and peer group discussions. Temanggung coffee stakeholders take part as supporting informants. Interviews, focus group discussions, social media and document observations, expert discussions, peer group discussions, literature reviews, and documentation were used to collect research data. The data were analyzed qualitatively using the NVivo 12 Plus. Research has found that diversity of knowledge-sharing tends to encourage red-picking practices. The research findings also stated that group farmers with an area of land ≤ 1 ha, younger generation group farmers, group farmers with roles as gathering traders, and group farmers who use social media have more diverse knowledge-sharing behaviors. The practice of red-picking can be encouraged by supporting farmers in carrying out knowledge-sharing activities with other farmers with different characteristics. This study implies that the resulting findings will enrich the concept of knowledge-sharing by describing how people utilize social and offline media in sharing knowledge to encourage red-picking practices
Jakaba Undercover: Taxonomic Riddle and Potency in Indonesian Agriculture
Full text linkExcessive use of chemical fertilizers leads to serious environmental and health issues, while organic biofertilizers offer a sustainable solution. Jakaba or “jamur keberuntungan abadi,” a local liquid organic fertilizer derived from fungi, is increasingly used by Indonesian farmers. However, its taxonomy and potential applications require further investigation. Moreover, the effects of jakaba on Fusarium and its impact on maize growth remain unexplored. This study aims to characterize jakaba comprehensively, evaluate its anti-Fusarium properties, conduct pathogenicity tests, and assess its effects on maize growth. Morphological analysis of fresh jakaba fruiting bodies was conducted, and molecular identification was performed based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1/4 regions. The antagonistic test was done using plant pathogenic fungi (Fusarium sp.). In addition, jakaba was evaluated for its impact on the vegetative growth of maize. Observations identified jakaba as belonging to the genus Corallomycetella, characterized by coral-shaped fruiting bodies with an orange hue and a white tip. The hyphae are septate, spore hyaline, and ellipsoid. The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) analysis revealed that jakaba was Corallomycetella repens, with a query cover of 99% and a phylogenetic tree 96% bootstrap (BS) value. Jakaba exhibits antibiosis activity against Fusarium sp., with an inhibition rate of 5.64%. Although C. repens has been previously identified as a cause of root rot in Indonesia, the current study reveals that jakaba is not pathogenic to maize. Furthermore, the application of jakaba’s liquid organic fertilizer at a concentration of 40 ml l-1 significantly increased plant height, leaf length, leaf width, and stem diameter compared to other treatments. These findings highlight jakaba potential as a biofertilizer
Enhancing Agroecology in Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Cultivation with Centrosema pubescens Ground Cover: A Study from Central Bangka, Indonesia
Full text linkPepper cultivation in Bangka Island primarily takes place on sandy land. Legume cover crops, such as Centrosema pubescens, which has been widely used as a ground cover, are anticipated to improve land quality by maintaining soil temperature and humidity, increasing soil organic carbon content, increasing soil porosity, and improving soil fertility. This research aims to analyze the agroecosystem of pepper plants, by comparing the use of the cover plant C. pubescens as a soil treatment and the absence of using these cover plants as a control. The research was conducted in farmers’ pepper gardens in Perlang Village, Central Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Province. The research employed a randomized block design, with C. pubescens and natural vegetation as treatments, each replicated 3 times. The variables measured were soil temperature and humidity; abundance of microorganisms; weed density, frequency, and dominance; chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and anthocyanin content of pepper leaves; photosynthesis rate; transpiration rate; stomatal conductance; soil chemical and physical properties. The results showed that C. pubescens as ground cover could reduce the dominance of the Bidens pilosa weed (relative dominance of 36.16%) but led to an increase in the dominance of Chromolaena odorata (relative dominance of 38.7%). C. pubescens ground cover could also maintain stable soil temperature and moisture, and increase P, K, Ca, and Mg soil content by 100%, 100%, 43.6%, and 48.3%, respectively. Furthermore, pepper plants grown with C. pubescens exhibited 25%, 23.7%, and 16% higher chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content, respectively, compared to those grown without the cover crop
Nutrient Potential Mapping of Soils for Tea Plants Through Laboratory and Geostatistical Approaches
Full text linkThe assessment of nutrient potential is crucial for enhancing tea production and achieving sustainable agricultural goals. Thus, the present study was carried out to assess and map the soil nutrient potential for tea plants through laboratory and geostatistical methods. A total of 74 random soil samples with 3 replications were collected from 0 to 9 cm (topsoil) and 9 to 18 cm (subsoil) depths from Oodaleah Tea Garden (OTG) which belongs to Fatikchhari Upazila of Chattogram District in Bangladesh. All the laboratory analyses were done following standard procedures and maps of individual soil indices were prepared through the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation technique using ArcGIS 10.7 software. The integration of maps for nutrient potential was performed following the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The mean concentrations of organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AvP), available potassium (AvK), and available calcium (AvCa) were found higher at 0 to 9 cm compared to 9 to 18 cm soil depth with significant (p < 0.05) difference among the sampling sites. The maps of individual soil parameters revealed distinct spatial differences at 0 to 9 cm and 9 to 18 cm soil depths. The total study area covered 5.99 km2. Integrated nutrient potential mapping showed that moderately suitable (44.15%) accounted for the largest proportion, followed by highly suitable (26.03%), generally suitable (21.67%), marginally suitable (7.06%), and unsuitable area (1.08%) of the tea plantation suitability evaluation. The integrated map of nutrient potential will aid in better management of the tea soils
Physiological Responses of Indigenous Vegetable of Sintrong (Crassocephalum crepidioides) due to Exposure to High Temperature
Full text linkSintrong is an Indonesian indigenous vegetable with leaves used for vegetables, digestive disorders, and burns. Changes in the environment due to an increase in temperature affect the growth and quality of sitrong, and its existence in the nature is threatened. This study aims to obtain information about the effect of exposure to high temperatures on the physiological character and flavonoid content of indigenous sintrong vegetables and obtain accession of sintrong, which can be developed as a functional vegetable. The Nested randomized group design was applied with two factors, temperature differences as the main plot and accession as a second plot. Four replications were conducted for each accession in the Cikabayan experimental garden of IPB. The results showed that exposure to high temperatures up to 32 °C increased the speed of flowering age, which was 4.76% and 7.14% faster and showed a high wilting rate of 36.66%, but decreased leaf area index up to 30.30% and 42.42% at the conditions above ambient temperature exposure (control). Flavonoid content did not show any effect due to exposure to high temperatures. The flavonoid content reached 1695.38 and 1834.83 mg QE 100 g-1. Bogor 1 accession showed the best performance so that the plants can be developed for functional vegetables. Based on the research findings, sintrong should be harvested earlier before flowering to obtain high leaf production and good-quality vegetables
The Influence of Soil Nutrients Availability on Banana Bunchy Top Disease Incidence in Banyumas Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia
Full text linkThe banana bunchy top is one of the important diseases on bananas, presumably coupled with the influence of soil properties, despite no fixed information regarding their relationship. Therefore, this study aims to map the soil nutrient contents at some banana plantation center and determine the effect of nutrient availability on the incidence of banana bunchy top disease (BBTD). This study set a purposive sampling according to the banana cultivation distribution to gain soil samples and data on BBTD incidence. Soil samples were analyzed for macronutrient content, including N capacity using the Kjeldahl method, Bray method for P analysis, and CH4OAc methods for K analysis. According to the investigation, the range of total N was 0.2% to 0.75%, showing BBTD incidence from 5.8% to 9.47%, respectively. In line with the total P, BBTD incidence increased from 8.03% to 9.62% in the P content of 15 to 35 ppm. In contrast, in the total K of 0.5 to 1 cmol(+) kg-1, the BBTD incidence tended to decline from 9.68% to 9%. It was concluded that BBTD incidence would increase with the higher levels of N and P but decrease with the higher K. In Banyumas Regency, BBTD incidence increased in the altitude range of 100 to 300 m above sea level, then decreased at a higher altitude. BBTD incidence also exhibited an unstable response to pH changes. Bunchy top disease incidence was the highest between pH 5 and 8. This could be a guide to soil management to reduce BBTD incidences
Comparison of Different Techno-Functional Properties of Raw Lemon Pomace and Lemon Pomace Powder, and Development of Nutritional Biscuits by Incorporation of Lemon Pomace Powder
Full text linkLemon is one among the fruits of a highly respectable class known as citrus, well known for its nutritious juice and beverage products, rich with a range of micro and macro elements, and functional bioactives. After extraction of juice, the pomace left has great potential as a sustainable agricultural processing by-product, due to its vast application in the food, feed and pharma industries. Lemon pomace powder was prepared from the by-product obtained after the extraction of juice from the lemon. Dried lemon pomace powder contained fiber (60.12 g 100 g-1), moisture (10.67 g 100 g-1), protein (4.89 g 100 g-1), fat (2.17 g 100 g-1), sugar (4.81 g 100 g-1) and ash (3.21 g 100 g-1), indicating higher amounts of ash, fat and fiber contents than wheat flour. The water-holding and oil-holding capacities of lemon pomace powder were noticed 5.9 and 3.2 g, respectively. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) of powder were decreased while redness (a*) was increased in powder as compared to raw pomace. Water activity was decreased, while dry matter and pH of pomace powder were significantly increased as compared to raw pomace. Microbiological analyses revealed lower mold, yeast and total viable counts in lemon pomace powder as compared to raw lemon pomace. Dried lemon pomace powder was replaced with wheat flour at concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% in biscuits. The biscuits were evaluated for chemical and sensory properties. Data revealed that the incorporation of lemon pomace powder improved the chemical and sensory properties of biscuits significantly. Highly acceptable biscuits with good sensory properties were obtained by incorporating 10% lemon pomace powder, with the potential use of promoting health
Identifying Institutions and Strategic Programs to Increase Sugarcane Production in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia
Full text linkThe decline in the productivity of the national sugarcane commodity has become an issue in the last ten years. When domestic demand for sugar is increasing, the decline in productivity indicates a crisis in sugarcane production. At the same time, the involved institutions and strategic programs to encourage sugarcane production have not been well identified. The research aims to determine the institutions that are expected to play a role and the strategic programs that are prioritized in increasing sugarcane production in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. This study uses Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) to formulate complexity, hierarchy (levels) and classification among elements. The results showed that of the 14 sub-elements of the acting institutions studied, five institutions were key actors for increasing production, namely banking institutions; universities; agricultural, plantation and fisheries offices; industry, trade, cooperatives, & Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs') offices; and private companies. Then, from the 13 sub-elements of the strategic programs, there are five strategic programs that also serve as the key programs, namely extension/assisting farmers; addition of plantation labor; providing access to capital; variations of profit-sharing and buying systems of sugarcane; and accuracy of time and adequacy of the supply of raw materials to the mills. This means that these institutions must play an important role, as well as strategic programs that must be carried out effectively to address the issue of sugarcane production in the country. Thus, researchers recommend involving all stakeholders in conducting strategic programs with the key actors as the leading driving institutions
Potato Virus Y and Shallot Latent Virus of Kajoran Horticultural Production Center, Magelang Regency, Indonesia: Molecular Characterization Case Study
Full text linkKajoran Sub-district is a horticultural production center that supplies horticultural commodities for Central Java Province, especially Magelang. However, plant viral diseases of Kajoran have not been studied. This paper aimed to identify plant viral diseases in this horticultural production center. Some samples were taken: three potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and three shallots (Allium cepa var. aggregatum), then tested respectively with RT-PCR, using two pairs of universal primers to detect Potyvirus and Carlavirus. The result showed two potato samples were infected by Potyvirus (potato virus Y/PVY) and three shallot samples by Carlavirus (shallot latent virus/SLV). GenBank accession no. OR180052 to OR180056 were assigned to the obtained partial sequences of the five isolates. The phylogenetic analysis makes the two new PVY Indonesian isolates in strain N group thus confirmed the presence of the first PVYN in Indonesia. The constructed SLV phylogenetic tree clusters the new three isolates with eight shallot isolates in a group and separated it from isolates from other plant species. The tested PVY isolates shared 95.2 to 100% nucleotide identities among them, while 78.9 to 98.5% identities were estimated among compared SLV isolates. This study expands our understanding of the genetic variation of PVY and SLV in Indonesia, potentially leading us to find the perfect management for the viruses
Arthropod Community Structure Indicating Soil Quality Recovery in the Organic Agroecosystem of Mount Ciremai National Park’s Buffer Zone
Full text linkThe Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC) buffer zone is designed to support conservation efforts. However, agriculture in this area is dominated by conventional farming that excessively uses synthetic fertilizers, which threatens soil quality. Introducing an organic fertilizer and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is expected to enhance soil quality recovery in this area. This study aimed to analyze the differences in soil arthropod communities between organic and conventional agriculture and a forest in the TNGC buffer zone to assess soil quality improvement generated by the application of the organic fertilizer and PGPR. Soil arthropods were collected with Berlese-Tullgren funnels and pitfall traps. Several associated environmental parameters, including soil pH, C-organic, temperature, and moisture, were also measured. Data were analyzed using ecological indices (i.e., richness, diversity, evenness, dominance, similarity) and soil biological quality (QBS-ar). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was performed to examine the relation of arthropods with environmental parameters. In total, 957 individuals of soil arthropods belonging to four classes and 15 orders were recorded. Berlese-Tullgren and pitfall traps resulted in a similar tendency in most variables, with higher richness, diversity, and evenness values in the forest, followed by organic and conventional habitats. In addition, similarity and QBS-ar indicated that forest and organic communities were more similar than conventional community. C-organic, soil moisture and pH were considered the most deciding environmental parameters for arthropod assemblages. All measured variables in this study illustrated better soil quality in organic than in conventional agriculture. This study implicates the benefit of utilizing organic fertilizers and PGPR for soil quality restoration in agroecosystems