AGRICOLA

Evaluation of soil quality of irrigated and rainfed rice fields In Maginti District, West Muna Regency

Darwis Suleman, Syamsu Alam, La Ode Rustam, Agus Setiawan — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0900

The decrease of soil quality as a result of anthropogenic activities is one of the challenges in achieving the sustainable plant productivity. Therefore, the analysis of physical, chemical and biological characters of soil needs to be carried out periodically in order to assess the changes in soil quality. Hence, several physical and chemical attributes of soil have been evaluated to determine soil quality of irrigated and rainfed rice fields as well as providing management directives to improve the soils in Maginti District, West Muna Regency. This study was performed in the form of a survey in which sample points were determined purposively for 2 types of land use, namely irrigated and rainfed rice fields. Six soil sample were collected from irrigated paddy fields, meanwhile in rainfed rice fields 3 soil samples were taken and each sample point consisted of 4 subsamples and then composited, so that 9 composite samples were obtained. The variables observed included: soil texture, pH, organic C, and total N, as well as P and available K. The results revealed that several chemical properties of irrigated soil were higher than in rainfed rice fields, such as soil pH (6.3), organic C (0.99%), total N (0.27%), and available P (40.54 kg ha-1), while available K was low (72.2 kg ha-1). The soil quality index of irrigated and rainfed rice fields was 0.56 (medium) and 0.36 (low), respectively, with the main limiting factor being the low organic C levels, especially in rainfed rice fields. Therefore, to improve soil quality, it is highly recommended to combine inorganic and organic fertilizers to maintain sustainable soil fertility.

Feasibility Analysis of Argopuro Robusta Coffee Farming

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:16:20 +0900

Coffee is one of Indonesia’s leading export commodities with high economic value in the global market. Coffee production continues to increase annually, including in Jember Regency, where coffee is predominantly cultivated under smallholder farming systems that rely on inherited land management practices. Coffee cultivation has become a long-standing cultural tradition among plantation farmers in several areas of Jember Regency. This study employed a quantitative descriptive method using income analysis, Revenue–Cost (R/C) ratio, and Benefit–Cost (B/C) ratio as indicators of farming feasibility. Assessing farm feasibility is essential to identify the prospects for sustainable coffee cultivation in the future. The research sample was selected using purposive sampling. The results show that the average total revenue of coffee farming reached IDR 67,860,023 per hectare per year, with production costs amounting to IDR 8,528,131 per hectare per year. Consequently, the net income of coffee farmers was IDR 59,331,892 per hectare per year, with an R/C ratio of 7.9 and a B/C ratio of 6.9. These findings indicate that Argopuro coffee farming in Jember Regency is economically feasible and provides significant profits, thereby supporting its sustainability as a smallholder agricultural enterprise.

Characteristics of Kepok Banana Cultivation in Various Planting Systems in East Kalimantan

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0900

Kepok banana is an important horticultural commodity widely cultivated in East Kalimantan due to its high adaptability and relatively stable economic value. In this region, Kepok banana is grown under various cropping systems, including monoculture and intercropping, which potentially influence cultivation practices and production performance. This study aimed to describe the cultivation characteristics of Kepok banana across different cropping systems in East Kalimantan, including planting practices, crop management, pest and disease control, and harvesting and production. The research was conducted in several regencies and districts of East Kalimantan using a survey and field observation approach. Data were collected through farmer interviews and direct observations of cultivation practices, and subsequently analyzed descriptively. The results showed that Kepok banana cultivation was predominantly based on sucker-derived planting materials, with limited use of tissue-cultured plantlets. The cropping systems applied varied between monoculture and intercropping, mainly with oil palm. Crop management practices remained largely conventional, characterized by herbicide-based weed control and variable rates of inorganic fertilizers. Fusarium wilt was identified as the major plant disease, with severity ranging from mild to moderate, while pest and disease management practices were generally not well integrated. Kepok banana productivity ranged from less than 10 to 30 tons per hectare, influenced by cropping system, management intensity, and local agroecological conditions. Overall, the study indicates that Kepok banana cultivation in East Kalimantan has substantial potential for improvement through the adoption of more standardized cultivation technologies, the use of healthy planting materials, balanced nutrient management, and integrated pest and disease management to enhance productivity and sustainability of Kepok banana farming

The Effect Of Price, Product Quality, and Sales Location On Rice Purchase Decisions In Wamanggu Market

Angga Langgeng Pramudia, Untari Untari, Nina Maksimiliana Ginting — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:03:08 +0900

Merauke is a rice production center and can meet the needs of local consumption. Rice distribution to the community is mostly carried out by retailers in the Wamanggu Traditional Market. Consumers' rice purchasing decisions can be influenced by many factors. This study aims to analyze price, product quality, and sales location factors on rice purchasing decisions at Wamanggu Market, Merauke. This research was conducted around Wamanggu Market, one of the main rice sales centers in Merauke. This research was conducted from April to May 2023. This study used a quantitative descriptive approach. Respondent sampling was carried out in ten sub-districts in the Merauke Regency area. The number of respondents was 44 people, selected through probability sampling with the criteria of respondents being consumers who make repeat purchases at Wamanggu Market, in the last 1 month buying rice at Wamanggu and a minimum purchase of 5 kg. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis with 3 measured variables, namely price factors (X1), product quality factors (X2), and sales location factors (X3). The results of the R2 analysis show that the coefficient of determination explains that variables X1, X2, and X3 influence purchasing decisions (Y) by 84.6%, while partially the price factor does not influence the decision to purchase rice in the market, while product quality and sales location influence rice purchases by 30.3% and 25.6%. The results of the study concluded that the rice quality factor is the most dominant in rice purchasing decisions compared to sales location and price level factors.

Response Of NPK Fertilizer and Manure Application On the Growth and Yield Of Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt L.) in Gresik

Alfin Kamala, Rahmad Jumadi — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:49:09 +0900

This study aims to analyze the effect of NPK fertilizer and manure application on the growth and yield of sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt L.). The research was conducted using a factorial design with two factors: NPK fertilizer dosage and manure dosage. Parameters observed included plant height, number of leaves, stem diameter, ear length, ear diameter, and the fresh weight of ears without husks. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), followed by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at a 5% level, and a correlation test to determine the relationship between growth and yield parameters. The results showed that NPK fertilizer had a significant effect on the vegetative growth of sweet corn, particularly on plant height at 1, 3, and 7 Weeks After Planting (WAP), the number of leaves at 1, 3, 5, and 9 (WAP), and stem diameter at 3–9 (WAP). Statistically, manure did not show a significant effect on most parameters, although it showed a numerical trend toward increased growth. Regarding yield components, ear length showed no significant effect, while ear diameter and fresh weight of ears without husks were significantly influenced by NPK fertilizer. Numerically, the highest fresh ear weight was obtained from the treatment of 0.44 g NPK/plant combined with 10.6 g manure/plant. Correlation analysis revealed that the number of leaves and stem diameter have a strong to very strong positive relationship with the fresh weight of ears without husks, and ear length was the most dominant yield component in determining harvest weight. Overall, this study concludes that increasing sweet corn productivity is highly determined by the successful formation of vegetative structures starting from the early growth phase.

The Application of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) in Agribusiness Strategic Decision Making: Narrative Review

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:58:06 +0900

Strategic decision-making in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors generally involves many criteria that are qualitative, subjective, and full of uncertainty. This condition encourages the use of a multi-criteria decision-making method based on fuzzy logic, one of which is the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP). However, the literature review related to the use of FAHP in the scope of agriculture and agribusiness is still very limited. s. . Articles must be related to agriculture or agribusiness management. A total of 14 relevant articles were obtained from scientific databases and open online sources such as Google Scholar, sciencedirect and Semantic Scholar.The results of the review show that FAHP has been widely used in various strategic decisions, such as the selection of superior commodities, the suitability of production sites assessment, the evaluation of technologies and production systems, and risk mitigation in the supply chain and marketing. However, most studies still place FAHP as a weighting and ranking tool for criteria or alternatives, with relatively limited discussion of strategic implications. This article concludes that FAHP has great potential to be further developed within a more comprehensive strategic decision-making framework, especially through integration with sustainability approaches, real-time data, and other analytical methods.

Population and Intensity of Mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) Attacks on Papaya Plants (Carica papaya L) in Merauke Regency

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 13:22:49 +0900

The mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) is a significant pest on papaya plants, reducing productivity and crop quality. This study aims to determine the population density, attack rate, and damage intensity of whiteflies on California papaya plants in Merauke Regency. The study was conducted from June to August 2023 in four Districts: Merauke District, Semangga District, Tanah Miring District, and Kurik District, encompassing 12 villages. The research method used field surveys with purposive sampling techniques. In each village, three observation stations were established, consisting of three sample plants with three replicates. Observations were made by counting the population of P. marginatus on the stems, shoots, leaf stalks, and fruits. The variables observed included population density, percentage of infected plants, and pest attack intensity. The results showed that P. marginatus was spread across each research location with varying levels of attack. Most villages experienced moderate attacks, with the highest population and damage occurring on the shoots and stems. The results showed a positive correlation between population density and the intensity of damage to papaya plants.