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Conversion of tropical forest to agriculture results in reduced habitat heterogeneity, and associated declines in biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Management strategies to increase biodiversity in agricultural landscapes have therefore often focused on increasing habitat complexity; however, the large-scale, long-term ecological experiments that are needed to test the effects of these strategies are rare in tropical systems. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)—one of the most widespread and important tropical crops—offers substantial potential for developing wildlife-friendly management strategies because of its long rotation cycles and tree-like structure. Although there is awareness of the need to increase sustainability, practical options for how best to manage oil palm plantations, for benefits to both the environment and crop productivity, have received little research attention. In this paper we introduce the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme: a long-term research collaboration between academia and industry in Sumatra, Indonesia. The BEFTA Programme aims to better understand the oil palm agroecosystem and test sustainability strategies. We hypothesise that adjustments to oil palm management could increase structural complexity, stabilise microclimate, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs, thereby helping to improve levels of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The Programme has established four major components: (1) assessing variability within the plantation under business-as-usual conditions; (2) the BEFTA Understory Vegetation Project, which tests the effects of varying herbicide regimes; (3) the Riparian Ecosystem Restoration in Tropical Agriculture (RERTA) Project, which tests strategies for restoring riparian habitat; and (4) support for additional collaborative projects within the Programme landscape. Across all projects, we are measuring environmental conditions, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions.

Conversion of tropical forest to agriculture results in reduced habitat heterogeneity, and associated declines in biodiversity and ecosystem functions. Management strategies to increase biodiversity in agricultural landscapes have therefore often focused on increasing habitat complexity; however, the large-scale, long-term ecological experiments that are needed to test the effects of these strategies are rare in tropical systems. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)—one of the most widespread and important tropical crops—offers substantial potential for developing wildlife-friendly management strategies because of its long rotation cycles and tree-like structure. Although there is awareness of the need to increase sustainability, practical options for how best to manage oil palm plantations, for benefits to both the environment and crop productivity, have received little research attention. In this paper we introduce the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme: a long-term research collaboration between academia and industry in Sumatra, Indonesia. The BEFTA Programme aims to better understand the oil palm agroecosystem and test sustainability strategies. We hypothesise that adjustments to oil palm management could increase structural complexity, stabilise microclimate, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs, thereby helping to improve levels of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The Programme has established four major components: (1) assessing variability within the plantation under business-as-usual conditions; (2) the BEFTA Understory Vegetation Project, which tests the effects of varying herbicide regimes; (3) the Riparian Ecosystem Restoration in Tropical Agriculture (RERTA) Project, which tests strategies for restoring riparian habitat; and (4) support for additional collaborative projects within the Programme landscape. Across all projects, we are measuring environmental conditions, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions.

Recent expansion of oil palm agriculture has resulted in loss of forest habitat and forest-dependent species. However, large numbers of species—particularly insects—can persist within plantations. This study focuses on Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies): a charismatic indicator taxon and a potentially valuable pest control agent. We surveyed adult Odonata populations biannually over three years within an industrial oil palm plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia. We assessed the effects of rainfall (including an El Niño Southern Oscillation-associated drought), the role of roadside ditches, and the importance of understory vegetation on Odonata populations. To assess the impacts of vegetation, we took advantage of a long-term vegetation management experiment that is part of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme. We found 41 Odonata species, and communities varied between plantation core and roadside edge microhabitats, and between seasons. Abundance was significantly related to rainfall levels four months before surveys, probably indicating the importance of high water levels in roadside ditches for successful larval development. We found no significant effect of the BEFTA understory vegetation treatments on Odonata abundance, and only limited effects on community composition, suggesting that local understory vegetation structure plays a relatively unimportant role in determining communities. Our findings highlight that there are large numbers of Odonata species present within oil palm plantations and suggest that their abundance could potentially be increased by maintaining or establishing waterbodies. As Odonata are predators, this could bring pest control benefits, in addition to enhancing biodiversity within intensive agricultural landscapes. Abstract in Indonesian is available with online material.

Recent expansion of oil palm agriculture has resulted in loss of forest habitat and forest-dependent species. However, large numbers of species—particularly insects—can persist within plantations. This study focuses on Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies): a charismatic indicator taxon and a potentially valuable pest control agent. We surveyed adult Odonata populations biannually over three years within an industrial oil palm plantation in Sumatra, Indonesia. We assessed the effects of rainfall (including an El Niño Southern Oscillation-associated drought), the role of roadside ditches, and the importance of understory vegetation on Odonata populations. To assess the impacts of vegetation, we took advantage of a long-term vegetation management experiment that is part of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme. We found 41 Odonata species, and communities varied between plantation core and roadside edge microhabitats, and between seasons. Abundance was significantly related to rainfall levels four months before surveys, probably indicating the importance of high water levels in roadside ditches for successful larval development. We found no significant effect of the BEFTA understory vegetation treatments on Odonata abundance, and only limited effects on community composition, suggesting that local understory vegetation structure plays a relatively unimportant role in determining communities. Our findings highlight that there are large numbers of Odonata species present within oil palm plantations and suggest that their abundance could potentially be increased by maintaining or establishing waterbodies. As Odonata are predators, this could bring pest control benefits, in addition to enhancing biodiversity within intensive agricultural landscapes. Abstract in Indonesian is available with online material.

Pengembangan budidaya kentang perlu dilakukan untuk meningkatkan hasil produksi nasional, salah satu langkahnya yaitu dengan mengembangkan kentang di dataran medium 300 sampai 700 m dpl. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan teknologi budidaya kentang pada dataran medium melalui pengaplikasian pupuk kieserite (Mg) dan naungan. Pelaksanaan penelitian di mulai dari bulan Agustus 2016 sampai dengan bulan Desember 2016. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) faktorial yang terdiri dari dua faktor. Faktor pertama yaitu pupuk kieserite terdiri dari lima taraf : 0 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, dan 200 kg/ha. Faktor kedua yaitu naungan dengan kerapatan 60% dan tanpa naungan. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan penggunaan naungan dengan kerapatan 60% berpengaruh sangat nyata pada tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, serta berpengaruh sangat nyata terhadap jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel dan tidak berpengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman. Perlakuan pupuk kieserite (Mg) memberikan pengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman umur 42 HST, tetapi tidak berpengaruh terhadap tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel. Interaksi antara naungan dan pupuk kieserite (Mg) tidak memberikan pengaruh nyata pada tinggi tanaman, luas daun, jumlah cabang, jumlah umbi, dan berat umbi, hal ini diduga karena kurang sesuainya dosis dan intensitas pemberian pupuk kieserite (Mg) yang di aplikasikan., Pengembangan budidaya kentang perlu dilakukan untuk meningkatkan hasil produksi nasional, salah satu langkahnya yaitu dengan mengembangkan kentang di dataran medium 300 sampai 700 m dpl. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan teknologi budidaya kentang pada dataran medium melalui pengaplikasian pupuk kieserite (Mg) dan naungan. Pelaksanaan penelitian di mulai dari bulan Agustus 2016 sampai dengan bulan Desember 2016. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) faktorial yang terdiri dari dua faktor. Faktor pertama yaitu pupuk kieserite terdiri dari lima taraf : 0 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, dan 200 kg/ha. Faktor kedua yaitu naungan dengan kerapatan 60% dan tanpa naungan. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan penggunaan naungan dengan kerapatan 60% berpengaruh sangat nyata pada tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, serta berpengaruh sangat nyata terhadap jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel dan tidak berpengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman. Perlakuan pupuk kieserite (Mg) memberikan pengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman umur 42 HST, tetapi tidak berpengaruh terhadap tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel. Interaksi antara naungan dan pupuk kieserite (Mg) tidak memberikan pengaruh nyata pada tinggi tanaman, luas daun, jumlah cabang, jumlah umbi, dan berat umbi, hal ini diduga karena kurang sesuainya dosis dan intensitas pemberian pupuk kieserite (Mg) yang di aplikasikan.

Pengembangan budidaya kentang perlu dilakukan untuk meningkatkan hasil produksi nasional, salah satu langkahnya yaitu dengan mengembangkan kentang di dataran medium 300 sampai 700 m dpl. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan teknologi budidaya kentang pada dataran medium melalui pengaplikasian pupuk kieserite (Mg) dan naungan. Pelaksanaan penelitian di mulai dari bulan Agustus 2016 sampai dengan bulan Desember 2016. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) faktorial yang terdiri dari dua faktor. Faktor pertama yaitu pupuk kieserite terdiri dari lima taraf : 0 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, dan 200 kg/ha. Faktor kedua yaitu naungan dengan kerapatan 60% dan tanpa naungan. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan penggunaan naungan dengan kerapatan 60% berpengaruh sangat nyata pada tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, serta berpengaruh sangat nyata terhadap jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel dan tidak berpengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman. Perlakuan pupuk kieserite (Mg) memberikan pengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman umur 42 HST, tetapi tidak berpengaruh terhadap tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel. Interaksi antara naungan dan pupuk kieserite (Mg) tidak memberikan pengaruh nyata pada tinggi tanaman, luas daun, jumlah cabang, jumlah umbi, dan berat umbi, hal ini diduga karena kurang sesuainya dosis dan intensitas pemberian pupuk kieserite (Mg) yang di aplikasikan., Pengembangan budidaya kentang perlu dilakukan untuk meningkatkan hasil produksi nasional, salah satu langkahnya yaitu dengan mengembangkan kentang di dataran medium 300 sampai 700 m dpl. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan teknologi budidaya kentang pada dataran medium melalui pengaplikasian pupuk kieserite (Mg) dan naungan. Pelaksanaan penelitian di mulai dari bulan Agustus 2016 sampai dengan bulan Desember 2016. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) faktorial yang terdiri dari dua faktor. Faktor pertama yaitu pupuk kieserite terdiri dari lima taraf : 0 kg/ha, 50 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha, 150 kg/ha, dan 200 kg/ha. Faktor kedua yaitu naungan dengan kerapatan 60% dan tanpa naungan. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan penggunaan naungan dengan kerapatan 60% berpengaruh sangat nyata pada tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, serta berpengaruh sangat nyata terhadap jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel dan tidak berpengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman. Perlakuan pupuk kieserite (Mg) memberikan pengaruh nyata pada jumlah cabang tanaman umur 42 HST, tetapi tidak berpengaruh terhadap tinggi tanaman umur 14 HST, 28 HST, dan 42 HST, luas daun 42 HST, jumlah umbi persampel, berat umbi persampel. Interaksi antara naungan dan pupuk kieserite (Mg) tidak memberikan pengaruh nyata pada tinggi tanaman, luas daun, jumlah cabang, jumlah umbi, dan berat umbi, hal ini diduga karena kurang sesuainya dosis dan intensitas pemberian pupuk kieserite (Mg) yang di aplikasikan.