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Soybean productivity in paddy fields is influenced by variety selection and grass management practices. This study aimed to assess several soybean varieties and evaluate the impact of soil processing and weed control on Summed Dominance Ratio (SDR), as well as growth and yield of soybean seeds. Conducted in Sungai Kakap, Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, during 2021, the research employed a Randomized Block Design with 15 treatments and 3 replications. Treatments included various combinations of tillage methods, weed control techniques, and mulching. The study identified four soybean varieties Detap-1, Derap-1, Devon-1, and Dena-2 with large seed sizes and high yields. These varieties also exhibited resistance to common pests such as Etiella zinkenella, Riptortus linearis, and Spodoptera litura. Weed composition analysis revealed O. sativa and Ageratum conyzoides as dominant species. Weed dry weight was lowest in the perfect tillage + pre-emergence herbicide treatment and highest in the minimum tillage + weeds are not controlled treatment. The highest plant growth and seed yield were observed in the minimum tillage + pre-emergence herbicide and perfect tillage + pre-emergence herbicide treatments. Plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, and dry seed yield were significantly higher in these treatments compared to others. In conclusion, varieties Detap-1, Derap-1, Devon-1, and Dena-2 possess suitable physical characteristics for cultivation in Indonesia. The most effective grass management models identified were minimum tillage + pre-emergence herbicide and perfect tillage + pre-emergence herbicide. These findings contribute to optimizing soybean cultivation practices, emphasizing varietal selection and weed control strategies for improved crop performance.

ABSTRACT: This research examined the technological adoption of integrated management for healthy citrus orchards by farmers in Gunuang Omeh, a sub-district in Lima Puluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The adoption rate, characteristics of farmers at each level, influencing factors, and their association with fruit fly attacks, were measured. The data was obtained through a survey conducted purposively from June to December 2021 involving 351 farmers. The results of the analysis showed that the individual adoption rate was high, but for the handling of fruit flies in group was low, with the emphasis on the need for consolidation. The characteristics different at each level of adoption were: the distance from the farmer’s home to the orchard and the difficulty of access to credit. Several factors influence the adoption of this technology individually were from characteristics of the farmers (number of family members and experience); citrus orchard (distance to input, output, extension, plant age); also the difficulty to access information and credit. These results suggested that intervene policies that can be done: (1) facilitate access to credit for citrus farmers, especially for the needs of large plantations. (2) provide easy access to information related to fruit fly handling simultaneously or community-based cooperation, (3) provide ease of transportation access.

The potency and challenges of sorghum development in tidal swamplands in Indonesia have yet to be well studied. Thus, our study is the first to evaluate the land suitability, economic performance, and strategies for developing sorghum in the tidal swamplands in Central Kalimantan. We use the land suitability evaluation method, a gross margin and profit analysis, a break-even analysis, and a competitive analysis as the methods for assessing the potency and utilization of sorghum in this study. As a tool for decision-making, SWOT was also used, followed by a quantitative strategic planning matrix (QSPM) analysis. The results show that 578,511 ha of arable land is suitable for sorghum development. Economically, sorghum farming can generate IDR 12,894,000 per ha with a revenue-cost ratio of 1.72; the break-even price would be IDR 2447 per kg, around 42% lower than the current market price. Sorghum is also more competitive than cassava (Q = 0.76), sweet potato (Q = 0.58), and soybeans (Q = 0.61) and less competitive than maize (Q = 1.33). Based on the QSPM analysis, five alternative strategies were obtained for developing sorghum in tidal swamplands: (1) optimization of productivity; (2) improvement in the quality of human resources for farmers; (3) facilitation of partnership cooperation; (4) application of site-specific technology; and (5) optimization of waste utilization. These strategies show that the expansion of sorghum planting has potential in the tidal swamplands and economic value for the community.

The Indonesian government continues to develop a sustainable food self-sufficiency program by increasing national food security through an extension program. One of the instruments is by opening new rice fields. The area of new rice fields in Indonesia is 222,442 ha spreading on the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua. This new rice field is estimated to produce 1.2 million tons of rice per year. In the case of West Kalimantan Province, it has opened new rice fields cover an area of 23,384 ha, mostly in tidal lands. Expansion of newly-opened rice fields does not increase land productivity. Moreover, rice productivity in the newly-opened paddy fields is only an average of 2 t ha−1. The low rice productivity is caused by biophysical factors of land in agriculture, and social-economic, and institutional factors of farmers at the village level. Therefore, it is necessary to have a rice farming model in newly-opened rice fields involving farmer groups, researchers, agricultural extension agents, government agencies, the private sector, and banks. The purpose of this study was to present a sustainable rice farming model in the newly-opened tidal rice fields. The results of this study showed that application of the rice farming model in newly-opened tidal rice fields could increase rice productivity from 2 to 5.7 t ha−1 and farmer income of IDR 10.6 million, involving good collaboration among farmer groups and farmer economic organizations supported by banks for sustainability.

The study was aimed at obtaining a vermicelli formulation on a mixture of corn and rice flour, adding carrageenan and its economic analysis. The experiment applied a 2-factorial randomized block design, where factor 1 was a mixture of corn and rice flour (5 levels) and factor 2 was carrageenan concentration (5 levels), repeated three times. The data were analyzed using ANOVA provided in SPSS. When there were significant differences, the analysis proceeded with DMRT at a level of 5% to see differences among treatments. The results show that the higher the corn flour and carrageenan concentration, the higher the vermicelli’s ash and fat content. The formulation produces wet vermicelli with a good appearance. The production of vermicelli uses an extruder method. The selected vermicelli formulation was a mixture of 25% corn flour with 75% rice flour and the addition of 0.6% carrageenan. The characteristics of the wet vermicelli are moisture content of 42.84%, ash content of 0.21% on a wet basis (wb), and fat content of 0.43% wb. The organoleptic test of vermicelli was color 3.9 (liked), aroma 3.6 (liked), texture 2.6 (quite soft), taste 3.7 (liked), and general appearance 3.5 (liked). Economically, making vermicelli made of corn and rice flour is profitable because the R/C ratio value is greater than one, which is 2.27. The resulting wet vermicelli resembles wet noodles, large in size and yellow in color, so it can be recommended as gluten-free noodles, suitable for consumption by people with gluten allergies.

These last few years, scales pest infestation on the apple crop in Batu city is a problem that has yet to be controlled. Scales infestations are always there at the apple crop but different population levels at each stage of the apple crop growth. Patterns of population abundance of scales that are synchronized with the apple crop growth stages need to be understood and the basis for the control of scales infestation. The study was conducted in July 2012 until January 2013 in Bumiaji, Batu City. The study was conducted at two locations that have a different altitude, each in Binangun village the altitude of ± 900 meters above sea level and in the Tulungrejo village that have altitude ± 1.515 meters above sea level. Results from this study are the pattern of population abundance of scales are linear with the average level of high population caused not found parasitoid as a result of excessive use of insecticides and biodiversity is low. The pattern of population abundance of scales began to rise sharply in the phase of thinning and covering of apple fruit. If required the application of insecticide should be addressed at the time of first instar scales and adult males, but it must be carried out carefully so as not to kill non-target insects.

This research aims to assess the environmental factors that affect the abundance of scales populations on the apple crop. The study was conducted in July 2012 to January 2013. The study was conducted at two sites with different altitude. Bumiaji village's altitude is ±900 m and Tulungrejo village's altitude is ±1,515 m asl. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the environmental factors that affect the abundance of scales populations on the apple crop. Based on the results of the regression analysis, air temperature and humidity affect the abundance of scales populations in Binangun while rainfall and long solar radiation have no effect. Scales population abundance of the apple crop in Binangun was influenced by air temperature and humidity one week before. Based on the results of the regression analysis, air temperature, air humidity and rainfall affect the abundance of scales population in Tulungrejo while long solar radiation has no effect. Scales population abundance of the apple crop in Tulungrejo was affected by air temperature two weeks before, while humidity and rainfall were affected one week before. The higher air temperature scales, flea population level will increase. And the higher relative humidity, scales population levels will increase

Sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius (Fab.) is the main obstacle for sweet potato production in various countries. Root damage caused by C. formicarius larvae reduced root yield up to 100%. The aim of this study is to test the measures using mulch and entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana for controlling C. formicarius in endemic land of entisol type. The control measure tested was the use of straw mulch and plastic mulch as well as the application of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The research was conducted at the experimental station at Indonesian Legumes and Tuber Crops Research Institute, Malang from July to December 2018. The results showed that the measure for controlling C. formicarius using straw or plastic mulch combined with the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana produces root yields between 17 and 26 t/ha. Using plastic mulch as a cover for mounds with the application of the fungus B. bassiana is more effective and efficient in controlling C. formicarius than the insecticide deltamethrin. Plastic mulch can physically inhibit the process of laying eggs and the formation of C. formicarius larvae, while B. bassiana is toxic to eggs, larvae, and adults of C. formicarius. The efficacy of control measure using plastic mulch and the application of B. bassiana can reduce yield losses by up to 96.76%. Technological innovation using plastic mulch to cover the mound with the application of the entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana can be recommended to control C. formicarius on land endemic to the entisol type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]