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The functional roles of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) in soils with P limitations are well documented. However, the protocol to produce effective AM inocula was still limited. This research aims at obtaining the effective AM culture in handling P constraints for maize growth on Andisols. The first experiment of pot culture I was to propagate and examine the effectiveness of AM isolates by using a factorial completely randomized design with two factors, A=media (A0: zeolite; A1: representative media=Andisol Tengaran; A2: typical media=a mixture of Andisol Tengaran+Tawangmangu; A3: typical media+Bio-RP nutrition; A4: Inceptisol) and I = AM inoculum source (I0: no inoculum; I1: AM from Andisol Tengaran; I2: AM from Andisol Tengaran + Tawangmangu; I3: AM from 8 soil types), with six replications. The second experiment investigated the consistency of mycorrhizal effectiveness by reculturing AM cultures generation I to pot cultures generation II with the same composition of the respective media. The combination treatments of A1I3, A2I2, A0I3, and A4I3 (AM cultures generation I), continued by A1I32, A2I22, A0I32, and A4I32 (AM cultures generation II) showed consistently the highest AM infectivity and effectiveness on maize growth and P uptake on Andisol-based media, and on the comparison media of zeolite and Inceptisol media, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of entomopathogenic fungi Lecanicillium lecanii is strongly related to the media in increasing the fungi sporulation, enhancing its effectiveness in infecting target pests. This study aims to obtain L. lecanii propagation media with the highest conidia production, and the increased virulence on Cylas formicarius. The first stage of alternative media selection consists of: Potato Dextrose Agar; maize, rice; bran. The second stage of infectivity of the best alternative media consists of 5 treatments in 5 replications: synthetic insecticide (C+); distilled water (C-); 107 conidia/ml; 108 conidia/ml; 109 conidia/ml. The results show that the best colony growth rate is (1.15 mm) on Maize media, and the highest conidia density is (4.2 x 108 conidia/ml) on Maize media is not significantly different from PDA (1.3 x 108 conidia/ml). The best germination rate is (74.31%) on Maize media, and the highest media weight (1.10 g) on Rice media is not significantly different from maize (1.45 g). The infectivity of L.lecanii affect the mortality of C. formicarius (74%) substantially at a concentration of 109 conidia/ml. The LC50 value obtained is 2.6 x 107 conidia/ml. Thus, maize media can be an alternative medium for mass propagation of L. lecanii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appropriate method of P fertilizer application is very important for the efficiency of P uptake and yield improvement. This research aimed to assess the growth response, seed product, and P uptake efficiency of soybean to the application of fast dissolved phosphorus fertilizer. Two consecutive potted experiments under greenhouse condition were conducted using Alfisols from Jumantono Karanganyar as planting media. The soybeans were planted and treated with six doses of P fertilizer. The treatments were designed in a completely randomized experiment with 5 replications. In the first experiment, the plants were harvested at the maximum vegetative growth for measurement of plant growth components and P uptake. In the second experiment, the plants were harvested at optimum grain maturity for seed yield and P efficiency measurements. The results showed that the application of fast dissolved-P fertilizer improved plant growth, seed yield and P uptake efficiency. Fast dissolved-P fertilizer was optimum at a dose of 100 kg/ha which was applied in a split application method at 0, 15, and 30 days after planting. However further field research is necessary to confirm the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]