Search

Indigenous tree species play an important yet underestimated role in tropical ecosystems’ carbon sequestration, mitigating global climate change. Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum), an indigenous tree species, is studied for its carbon sequestration capacity in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, an environmentally diverse location. Our comprehensive investigation included aboveground and belowground biomass, soil carbon concentration, and understory carbon content. The study found that tamanu stands can store carbon in their biomass, understorey, and soil, i.e., 54.2, 0.5, and 64 tons/ha, respectively. It was also shown that soil stores the most carbon because the Tamanu planted in this study area is still relatively young and has a relatively large space. This study also revealed the understory plants’ often overlooked role, increasing these ecosystems’ carbon sequestration capability. The need for comprehensive conservation programs considering carbon storage above and below ground is highlighted. The above discoveries contribute to creating efficient local climate mitigation policies and the global effort to combat climate change.

Shallow soil is found in Gunungsewu karst area of Gunungkidul Indonesia, often referred as 'soilly rock'. Its the main problem are limited of growing medium and soil loss due to erosion. ‘Pot cultivation’ (PC) is term to describe technique of cultivating crop on small plot of soil between rock. Study aimed to determine 1) the practice of soil and water conservation (SWC) techniques of PC as a form of adaptation to soil condition, 2) the potency of PC for adaptation and mitigation of climate change in karst area. Research was conducted in Gunungsewu karst area, from January to August 2020. Study method was observation and interview. Results showed that practice of PC was carried out as form of adaptation to shallow soil in karst area. Soil is managed to fill the rocks, so sufficient as plant growth medium. Rock functions as a 'pot'. Rock 'pots' function like terraces in SWC. PC is effective way in increase of growing medium, preventing soil from erosion, preserving soil organic carbon, and as an action of adaptation and mitigation co-benefit. The results of this study are expected to be useful for development of karst area which have shallow soil.

Centella asiatica is an herbal plant with many health benefits due to the content of asiaticoside compounds. Factors affecting asiaticoside content are altitude, soil texture, and soil nutrient status. This research aimed to identify the effect of zeolite, P2O5 fertilizer, and soil media from different altitudes on C. asiatica. The research was conducted in a greenhouse from August 2017–June 2018. The experimental design was a factorial, completely randomized design with three factors and four replications. The first factor was soil media that originated from 100, 450, and 900 m above sea level (asl), the second factor was the dose of P2O5 fertilizer (0, 27, 54, and 81 kg ha−1), and the third was the dose of zeolite (0, 3, and 6 t ha−1). The results showed that applying zeolite minerals at all altitudes increased nutrient availability and soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) by up to 70%. The novelty of this study is that the soil from an altitude of 900 m asl, with a P2O5 fertilizer dose of 54 kg ha−1, has a loamy sand soil texture and produces the highest asiaticoside content (3.61%) and the largest plant dry weight (19.24 g). These results did not significantly differ from those obtained from the soil 450 m asl with a sandy loam soil texture (the most suitable soil texture for C. asiatica), that is 3.37% asiaticoside and 19.87 g plant dry weight. This study concluded that C. asiatica could develop in loamy sand soil by giving it 54 kg ha−1 P2O5 fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the future, Indonesia will become increasingly dependent on dryland agriculture. New adaptive technology innovations able to transform drylands into arable land throughout almost the entire year have been developed to anticipate global climate change in tropical areas. This article reviews the results of research on the importance of climate and water management technology to increase the crop index and productivity in Indonesia. We found that irrigation treatment at 80% of the FAO-recommended rate resulted in the highest maize stover yield (around 13.65–14.10 t h−1). Irrigation treatment at 60% of the FAO-recommended rate for soybeans (at 0.24 L s−1 h−1) produced good-quality soybean seeds. The use of existing water resources can increase the planted area from 1.25 to 1.67 and increase the cropping index during the second planting season in the same area. Agricultural systems based on water management can improve their crop index and productivity, and anticipate climate change to increase farmers' incomes and wellbeing. Support measures in the form of regulations, legislation, acts, programmes, and policies from central and local governments for land use and management are crucial. The development of infrastructure by establishing water management institutions at the village/farmers' group levels to allocate irrigation water is a leverage point to develop dryland agricultural systems appropriately and judiciously to assist in sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water regimes play a central role in regulating methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from irrigated rice field. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is a possible option, but there is limited information on its feasibility under local environmental conditions, especially for tropical region. We therefore carried out a 3-year experiment in a paddy field in Central Java, Indonesia to investigate the feasibility of AWD in terms of rice productivity, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, and water use both in wet and dry seasons (WS and DS). The treatments of water management were (1) continuous flooding (CF), (2) flooding every when surface water level naturally declines to 15 cm below the soil surface (AWD), and (3) site-specific AWD with different criteria of soil drying (AWDS) established to find out the optimum for GHG emission reduction. Gas flux measurement was conducted by a static closed chamber method. Rice growth was generally normal and the grain yield did not significantly differ among the three treatments both in WS and DS. AWD and AWDS significantly reduced the total water use (irrigation + rainfall) as compared to CF. As expected, the seasonal total CH4emission was significantly reduced by AWD and AWDS. On average, the CH4emissions under AWD and AWDS were 35 and 38%, respectively, smaller than those under CF. It should be noted that AWD and AWDS were effective even in WS due partly to the field location on inland, upland area that facilitates the drainage. The seasonal total N2O emission did not significantly differ among the treatments. The results indicate that AWD is a promising option to reduce GHG emission, as well as water use without sacrificing rice productivity in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Recently, large areas of tropical peatland have been converted into agricultural fields. To be used for agricultural activities, peat soils need to be drained, limed and fertilized due to excess water, low nutrient content and high acidity. Water depth and amelioration have significant effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) production. Twenty-seven soil samples were collected from Jabiren, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, in 2014 to examine the effect of water depth and amelioration on GHG emissions. Soil columns were formed in the peatland using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe with a diameter of 21 cm and a length of 100 cm. The PVC pipe was inserted vertically into the soil to a depth of 100 cm and carefully pulled up with the soil inside after sealing the bottom. The treatments consisting of three static water depths (15, 35 and 55 cm from the soil surface) and three ameliorants (without ameliorant/control, biochar+compost and steel slag+compost) were arranged using a randomized block design with two factors and three replications. Fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from the soil columns were measured weekly. There was a linear relationship between water depth and CO2emissions. No significant difference was observed in the CH4emissions in response to water depth and amelioration. The ameliorations influenced the CO2and N2O emissions from the peat soil. The application of biochar+compost enhanced the CO2and N2O emissions but reduced the CH4emission. Moreover, the application of steel slag+compost increased the emissions of all three gases. The highest CO2and N2O emissions occurred in response to the biochar+compost treatment followed by the steel slag-compost treatment and without ameliorant. Soil pH, redox potential (Eh) and temperature influenced the CO2, CH4and N2O fluxes. Experiments for monitoring water depth and amelioration should be developed using peat soil as well as peat soil–crop systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The increasing human population requires greater rice production. However, rice cultivation contributes to global warming through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Technologies for reducing GHG emissions in concert with the increased rice production from rice fields are needed. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of steel slag applications on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and rice yields. Two study sites were established at the experimental farm belonging to Indonesian Agricultural Environment Research Institute (IAERI) in Jakenan and a farmer’s field in Wedarijaksa sub-district, Indonesia. Both field trials were conducted during the dry season (DS) of 2009 and the rainy season (RS) of 2009/2010. During the DS, a randomized block design was arranged with two treatments (a control and a steel slag application at 1 Mg ha−1), which were replicated five times. During the RS, the experimental plot with 1 Mg ha−1of steel slag treatment was split into two small sub-plots to accommodate the additional 1 and 2 Mg ha−1steel slag treatments. The results showed that there was a decreasing tendency in the CH4emissions at both sites and during both seasons after steel slag applications, although there was no statistical significance. During the RS in Jakenan, steel slag applications at rates of 1 and 2 Mg ha−1decreased the CH4emissions by 9.1 and 10.7%, respectively. In Wedarijaksa, steel slag applications at rates of 1 and 2 Mg ha−1decreased the CH4emissions by 12.6 to 18.7%, respectively. The N2O emissions were decreased by 34 and 38% following slag applications at the 2 Mg ha−1rate during the RS in Jakenan and Wedarijaksa, respectively. The iron content of steel slag could be used to reduce not only CH4but also N2O emissions. Increased level of electron acceptors suppresses CH4and N2O emissions. The application of steel slag at 1 and 2 Mg ha−1increased rice grain yields by approximately 4.8–5.6% in Jakenan and 0.3–4.7% in Wedarijaksa. It might be better to apply steel slag at higher rates for more than two growing seasons to reach reduction in CH4and N2O emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]