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This research aimed to determine the effectiveness of several types of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) derived from plant waste and the dose of P fertilizer on the growth and yield of upland rice on degraded acid soil. The treatments consisted of two factors. The first factor (A) was several types of LOF consisting of A1 (control), A2 (LOF containing isolates of P-solubilizing bacteria), A3 (LOF-banana waste), and A4 (A2+A3). The second factor (B) was fertilizer doses consisting of B1 (50% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer), B2 (75% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer), and B3 (100% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer). The treatment combinations were arranged in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The research results showed that applying either LOF-banana waste or the mixture of LOF-banana waste and LOF-containing isolates of P-solubilizing bacteria improved plant height, the number of tillers, and N and P uptake by the plant. The rice grain yields among the treatments were not significantly different, but the highest rice grain yield (139.8 g/pot) was obtained at the treatment of the mixture of LOF-P isolate + LOF-banana waste (A2+A3 treatments). The 75% of the recommended dose of P fertilizer was not significantly different from 100% P fertilizer with LOF on growth and yield upland rice and nutrient uptake by the plant.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of starters made from cattle rumen and EM 4 on the decomposition of agricultural biomass wastes (rice straw, corncobs, and coffee husks).Method: Three types of starter i.e. starter from local cattle rumen (grass/straw feed), starter from the rumen of cattle farms (concentrate feed), EM 4 (factory product), and control (water) applied to three types of biomass waste (rice straw, corncob, and coffee husk) to observe the decomposition process using the litterbag method. An evaluation was carried out on the rate of decomposition of biomass. Parameters evaluated include decomposition rate, C and total-N content, as well as the C/N ratio.Results: The starter made from the rumen of grass-fed cows could decompose rice straw and coffee husks at an average that was not significantly different from using EM 4 starter with the speed ratio (k=-0.0852 vs. k=-0.0924) and (k=-0.0832 vs k=-0.0908) respectively. In corncobs, the decomposition speed with a starter of the rumen of cattle farms-concentrate feed was not significantly different from using EM 4 (k=-0.0916 vs. k=-0.1067). The decrease in the C/N ratio is also in line with the decomposition process and was faster with the adding of the starter.Conclusion: The starter made from the rumen of local cattle (grass feed) and from company cattle (concentrate feed) could decompose plant biomass waste (rice straw, corncobs, and coffee husks) with an average speed that was not significantly different from a starter from factories (EM 4).

Purpose Rice biomass waste can be used as a soil amendment. This study examined the effect of the application of rice husk biochar and straw compost on several soil properties and yields of rice and soybeans in tropical upland. Method Field experiments were carried out with two applications of rice husk biochar and straw compost on upland rice and soybean cultivation, respectively. Three-levels of rice husk biochar application (5, 10, and 20 t ha-1) and straw compost (5 t ha-1) along with the control. The changes in soil chemical properties like pH, C, N, CEC, P, K, Mg, Ca, Na, and physical properties including soil bulk density, particle density, total porosity, macropores, micropores, permeability, and soil water content at various pressures were measured. The grain yields of rice and soybean were also recorded.Results Total-C and exchangeable-K increased after the second application of rice husk biochar and straw compost. There was a significant improvement in total porosity and micro-pores, soil water content especially at PF 2.54 (0.33 Pa) and PF 4.2 (15 Pa), and increased soybean yield compared to control. Based on the overall results, we got a significant effect of rice husk biochar at higher doses (10 and 20 t ha-1).Conclusion The application of rice husk biochar (at doses 10 or 20 t ha-1) and straw compost 5 t ha-1 gave a positive effect on several soil properties including total-C, soil porosity, and soil water content, especially at pF 2.54 and pF 4.2, and also increased soybean yields.

The post-harvest process at the storage stage is one of the most critical processes for maintaining soybean seed quality. The type of packaging and the type of material stored will affect its shelf life. One type of packaging has specific properties that are different from other types of packaging. Therefore, this study used several types of packaging materials and soybean varieties to determine changes in its quality during storage. The treatments were arranged in a 5 × 4 × 7 factorial experiment in a randomised block design (RBD) with three replications, consisting of totally 140 treatment combinations involving five different types of packaging materials. Water content, the weight of 100 grains, seedling dry weight, electrical conductivity (EC), and germination percentage were assessed monthly. The factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare water content, the weight of 100 grains, EC, germination, and seedling dry weight. A qualitative descriptive analysis method was employed for the temperature and relative humidity of the storage room. The results showed that Grobogan had the lowest germination percentage of 84.85% compared to the other varieties (86.97-90.82%). Plastic sack resulted in the most inferior seed quality (82.00% for plastic sack vs. 88.23-90.17% for the other containers). A more extended storage period of soybean seeds caused a decrease in soybean quality for all varieties and packaging materials. Up to 6 months of storage at room temperature, the quality of soybean seeds remained high, with the lowest germination of 80%.

ABSTRACT The life history and population growth parameters of mealybug Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on two cassava varieties. The development, reproduction, and population growth parameters of the cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti Matile-Ferrero (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on two cassava varieties were studied in laboratory. The varieties tested were UJ-5 with high cyanide content (>100 mg per kg) dan Adira-1 with low cyanide content (27.5 mg per kg). Our research revealed that P. manihoti performances were highly affected by cassava varieties. Incubation period of eggs of P. manihoti were 7.93 ± 0.09 and 8.33 ± 0.11 days, nymphal development periode 12.32±0.13 and 15.67 ± 0.13 days, respectively on UJ-5 and Adira-1. Fecundity averaged 386.37 ± 5.83 on UJ-5 and 318.67±2.81 eggs on Adira-1. Intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were 0.258 ± 0.001 on UJ-5 and 0.220 ± 0.001 on Adira-1. Mean generation time (T) on UJ-5 and Adira-1 were 22.795 ± 0.050 and 25.532 ± 0.047 days, repectively. Our findings showed that variety UJ-5 was more suitable for development and population growth of the cassava mealybug.

Evaluation of parasitization of egg and larvae parasitoids to Putella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) on crucifers. Diamond back moth Plutella xylostella is an important pest of cabbage in Indonesia. Trichogramma (egg parasitoid) and Diadegma (larvae parasitoid) are the main parasitoid of diamond back moth. This study was conducted as survey methods in several region in West Java. The results indicated that level of parasitism by egg parasitoid (40.45%) was higher than larvae parasitoid (15.98%).