PENGARUH KONSENTRASI ALELOPATI ALANG-ALANG (IMPERATA CYLINDRICA L.) TERHADAP PERKECAMBAHAN BEBERAPA VARIETAS BENIH JAGUNG HIBRIDA

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan efek konsentrasi alelopati alang-alang terhadap perkecambahan beberapa varietas jagung hibrida. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Laboratorium illmu dan Teknologi Benih Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Darussalam, Banda Aceh dari bulan September sampai November 2013. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok (RAK) faktorial dengan dua faktor, pertama adalah faktor konsentrasi alelopati dengan lima konsentrasi yang berbeda, faktor kedua adalah varietas dengan empat varietas yang berbeda.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dengan konsentrasi alelopati 2% dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan perkecambahan biji jagung diuji. Pertiwi 3 adalah varietas yang memiliki respon terbaik untuk setiap perlakuan konsentrasi ekstrak dibandingkan dengan varietas lain, sedangkan interaksi antara konsentrasi ekstrak alang-alang 2% dengan varietas benih jagung hibrida Pertiwi 3 merupakan kombinasi dari yang baik untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan jagung perkecambahan benih yang diuji dibandingkan dengan perlakuan lainnya

Pengaruh Teknik Penyelubungan Buah Kakao Dengan Plastik Terhadap Serangan Hama Helopeltis SP.

Salah satu permasalahan pada produksi kakao di Indonesia adalah rusaknya buah akibat serangan hama Helopeltis sp. Serangan Helopeltis sp. dapat menurunkan produksi kakao hingga 50%. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas penyelubungan buah kakao menggunakan kantung plastik yang berbeda ukuran terhadap serangan hama Helopeltis sp. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di kebun rakyat di Desa Way Laga Kecamatan Panjang Bandar Lampung pada bulan April September 2014. Perlakuan terdiri atas penyelubungan buah dengan kantung plastik berukuran sedang (30 cm x 15 cm,P1), penyelubungan buah dengan kantung plastik berukuran besar (35 cm x 20 cm, P2), dan tanpa penyelubungan buah atau kontrol (P0), dengan 30 ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penyelubungan buah kakao menggunakan kantung plastik efektif mengurangi keterjadian dan keparahan serangan Helopeltis sp. Namun efektivitas penggunaan kantung plastik berukuran relatif besar (35 cm x 20 cm) tampak tidak berbeda dengan efektivitas penggunaan kantung plastik berukuran sedang (30 cm x 15 cm)

Karakteristik Fisis dan Mekanis Abu Sawit (Palm Oil Fuel Ash) dalam Geoteknik

POFA is an agrowaste ash which is produced from fibers, nut shells, and empty fruit bunches when burnt at temperatures of about 800-10000C in boiler. The production of POFA is rising every year, it is disposed for landfills, now become an important environmental disposal issue. A large area is required for the disposal of these POFA waste materials. The landfill of POFA is the problem for the palm oil industry when it is not reused for any work. POFA contains a large amount of silicon dioxide with high pozzolanic reactivity and has high potential to be used in any engineering work. This research examined POFA characteristics in geotechnical application and its influence by curing periods on 0, 7 and 28 days. In this paper, physical and mechanical characteristics of POFA in geotechnical work will be shown. The chemical composition of POFA prove the existence of SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and CaO as important substances supporting pozzolan reaction during cured. The result shows that the characteristic of POFA has similar behaviour with sands. Coefficient of permeability decreased during curing periods. Besides, cohesion shear strength, angle of friction, cohesion undrained, and CBR value are improve during curing periods

Effect of Regional Variation on the Total Flavonoid Level of Ethanol Extract of Mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostana) Peels

Background : Currently, traditional medicines have been widely used by the public. One of them is mangosteen peel. Extract of mangosteen peel contains alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, flavonoids, polyphenols, and tannins. In order to ensure the quality of the extract so that its chemical content can be guaranteed, it is necessary to standardize the quality of the extract that consists of specific parameters. Objective : This study aims to determine the specific parameters using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) and total flavonoid level of the ethanol extract of mangosteen peel from Kalimantan, Java, and Sumatra. Methods : This research was an explorative study. Extraction technique used was maceration with 70% ethanol solvent. The tested specific parameters, namely the identity of the extract with TLC and total flavonoid level, were determined afterward using visible spectrophotometry with the AlCl3 reagent. Results: The result of the qualitative test with TLC showed that the extract of mangosteen peel contains flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthraquinones. Total flavonoid level of ethanol extract of mangonsteen peel from Kalimantan, Java, and Sumatra were (0.301 ± 0.009); (0.398 ± 0.015); (0,747 ± 0,010) mg QE/g extract, respectively. Conclusion : Extract of mangosteen peel contains flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthraquinones. Total flavonoid level of ethanol extract of mangonsteen peel from Kalimantan, Java, and Sumatra were (0.301 ± 0.009); (0.398 ± 0.015); (0,747 ± 0,010) mg QE/g of extract, respectively

Highly Manoeuvrable Eversion Robot Based on Fusion of Function with Structure

Despite their soft and compliant bodies, most of today’s soft robots have limitations when it comes to elongation or extension of their main structure. In contrast to this, a new type of soft robot called the eversion robot can grow longitudinally, exploiting the principle of eversion. Eversion robots can squeeze through narrow openings, giving the possibility to access places that are inaccessible by conventional robots. The main drawback of these types of robots is their limited bending capability due to the tendency to move along a straight line. In this paper, we propose a novel way to fuse bending actuation with the robot’s structure. We devise an eversion robot whose body forms both the central chamber that acts as the backbone as well as the actuators that cause bending and manoeuvre the manipulator. The proposed technique shows a significantly improved bending capability compared to externally attaching actuators to an eversion robot showing a 133% improvement in bending angle. Due to the increased manoeuvrability, the proposed solution is a step towards the employment of eversion robots in remote and difficult-to-access environments