Bird Diversity, Abundance, and Evenness Rates in Ecotone Area of Sutan Syarif Hasyim Forest Park, Riau, Indonesia

Ecotone – an area where two environments of different composition and structure meet due to land conversion – is prone to habitat loss and biodiversity devaluation as a result of fragmentation. Responsive to change, birds represent one of the common animals of all habitat types since their diversity and abundance are able to reflect ecological tendencies in different biodiversity. This study was aimed to analyze the diversity, abundance, and evenness of birds as well as determine their density and frequency in the ecotone area of Sutan Syarif Hasyim Forest Park, Riau, Indonesia. Six sections of the study area (natural forest-and-shrubbery, natural forest-and-palm oil plantation, natural forest-and-lake, shrubbery-and-palm oil plantation, shrubbery-and-lake, and palm oil plantation-and-lake) were observed by employing Line Intercept Transect. 1 182 individuals of 59 bird species were reported, with Pycnonotusaurigaster (Vieillot, 1818) as the dominant one. The total diversity index of 3.75, abundance 8.2 and evenness 0.92 were evident to high density and frequency of birds in the area

Local rice farmers attitude and behavior towards agricultural programs and policies

The government has been launching agricultural programs by producing rice of certain superior cultivars to achieve rice self-sufficiency and sustainability and bundling them with beneficial policies. However, quite a large number of rice farmers continue to grow local rice variants. This study aims to identify, analyze, and describe farmers’ attitude and behavior. A survey was employed for quantitative data gathering and an interview was for the qualitative ones. A total of 52 respondents were of local rice farmers in Sidodadi and Banturejo villages of Ngantang district, Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia. The result of correlation test showed good cognitive, affective, and conative aspects of the farmers despite low achievement rates in all government programs. Social stratification significantly affected the farmers’ response on the programs. The farmers’ cognitive, affective, and educational aspects are also significantly influential in their response. Further motives are of internal factors (social) and external ones (official, organizational, private, cultural, and natural)

Assessment of soil chemical properties for monitoring and maintenance of soil fertility in Probolinggo, Indonesia

Soil is paramount to sustaining living in biomass production, water quality control, climatic mitigation, and biodiversity endurance. Closely associated with sustainable agriculture, it degrades soil in the long run, robbing the soil of its production capacity and food-generating ability. In Probolinggo, a regency in Indonesia, intensifying the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides yet a declining trend in yield production was discovered. This research analyzed the acid, nitrogen, organic carbon, and nutrients focusing on phosphor, potassium, iron, and manganese contents. Organic carbon/nitrogen ratio, soil organic compound rate, and cation exchange capacity were also discussed in order to illustrate the correlations among chemical substances and their roles in soil and plant maintenance. While such a study has yet to be performed in Probolinggo, the results should show the degree of land deterioration and future attempts at damage control and correction open to facilitate. Employing a simple random method, soil and plant samples were collected from 18 villages in six districts and their chemical contents were compared to the standard set in Government Regulations No 150/2000. The results showed low N-total, P-Bray, P-Olsen, K, C-Organic, and C/N ratio availabilities at 0.18, 13.88, 14.41, 0.37, 1.36, and 7.38 respectively, contrasted to high rates on pH (5.94), Fe (153.46 mg kg–1) and Mn (37.96 mg kg–1). Biomass production is conclusively imperative to fix the land composition and meet the plant nutrient requirements through an organic approach; fertilizers from digester biogas are therefore recommended. This action requires field agricultural advisors to raise awareness of sustainable agriculture

Potential Utilization of Dried Rice Leftover of Household Organic Waste for Poultry Functional Feed

Indonesia produced 30 × 106 t of waste in 2021; 40 % was organic and 276 × 103 t leftover rice. Meanwhile, broiler chicken farmers have been struggling with high feed costs to continue their production. Processing leftover rice into "aking-rice" is environmentally friendly, and it also provides alternative feed for chickens. "Aking-rice" is a type of resistant starch because it has undergone a gelatinization process that works as a synthesis of short-chain fatty acids that positively improve the function of the digestive tract because it increases the villi in the small intestine. This study analyzed the potential of “aking- rice” in broiler chicken productivity. The experimental method was a completely randomized design with three treatments, five replications and 12 chickens in each unit. The treatments are T0 (100 % basal feed), T1 (80 % basal feed + 20 % “aking- rice” spread on top of the basal feed), and T2 (80 % basal feed + 20 % "aking-rice" mix). Statistical analysis used ANOVA, and continued with LSD with observed variables, i.e. Feed Intake (FI), Average Daily Gain (ADG), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), and Performance Index (PI). The results showed that the highest FI values were T0 (99.02), T1 (97.45), and T2 (96.58). The highest ADG was T1 (40.40) then T0 (37.07) and the lowest was T2 (36.40). T1 has the lowest FCR (2.42) compared to T0 (2.68), T2 (2.66). The lowest FCR is T1 (2.42), then T2 (2.66) and the highest is T0 (2.68). The third variable was not significantly different, but the PI results showed a significant difference with the highest PI value T1 (433.84), while T0 (374.81) and T2 (372.67) were not different. Economic analysis also shows that the highest cost T0 (118 475) is significantly different from T1 (110 541) and T2 (109 558). The highest profit is shown by T1 (2 102) then T2 (1 063) and T0 (507). In conclusion, the use of "aking-rice" can increase the performance index with a higher ADG value and a lower FCR so that the costs are smaller and the profit is greater

Proficiency in Informatics and Communication Technology Application to Improve Agricultural Counseling Performance in Luwu Regency, Indonesia

Informatics and Communication Technology (ICT) provides relevant agricultural information, which is essential in agricultural development attempts, in timely fashion. Aiming to find out if it is able to improve the efficiency of agricultural counseling agents, this study examined agricultural counseling agents in Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. As explanatory quantitative research, simple random sampling was applied to respondents of google form questionnaire and the data were analyzed as per Structural Equation Model (SEM) and supported by smart PLS application. The result came out with R2 value of 0.868, representing the agricultural counseling agent’s proficiency and ICT application signified agricultural counseling agent’s efficiency at 86.8 %. It is therefore conclusive that agricultural counseling agent’s efficiency in extension activities relies on both their proficiency and ICT application

Bird Diversity, Abundance, and Evenness Rates in Ecotone Area of Sutan Syarif Hasyim Forest Park, Riau, Indonesia

Ecotone – an area where two environments of different composition and structure meet due to land conversion – is prone to habitat loss and biodiversity devaluation as a result of fragmentation. Responsive to change, birds represent one of the common animals of all habitat types since their diversity and abundance are able to reflect ecological tendencies in different biodiversity. This study was aimed to analyze the diversity, abundance, and evenness of birds as well as determine their density and frequency in the ecotone area of Sutan Syarif Hasyim Forest Park, Riau, Indonesia. Six sections of the study area (natural forest-and-shrubbery, natural forest-and-palm oil plantation, natural forest-and-lake, shrubbery-and-palm oil plantation, shrubbery-and-lake, and palm oil plantation-and-lake) were observed by employing Line Intercept Transect. 1 182 individuals of 59 bird species were reported, with Pycnonotusaurigaster (Vieillot, 1818) as the dominant one. The total diversity index of 3.75, abundance 8.2 and evenness 0.92 were evident to high density and frequency of birds in the area

Buyer Decisions on Hydroponic Vegetable Products

This study aims to assess the factors influential towards decision made by consumers to purchase hydroponic products. A quantitative research employing factor analysis, 100 samples were established as per accidental random sampling. The observed 11 variables – classified in four groups – were of hydroponic product feature (packing, size, freshness, and crunchiness), hydroponic product value (competitiveness and price), customer’s background (income, education, association, and family size), and place (service). The result shows that those who chose the products were mostly female (98) – 73 of them are housewives – aged between 37 and 42 (42) with at least senior high school educational background (69)

Quality Assessment on Honey Produced from Six Months Old

This study aimed to analyze the quality of Apis mellifera-produced honey generated from 6 mo old Acacia crassicarpa nectar at 28 d harvest period. The tests referred to the procedures required by the Indonesia National Standard (SNI) 8664-2018. The quality variables tested were of odor and taste and diastase enzyme activity as well as hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), water, reducing sugar (glucose), sucrose, acid, water insoluble matter, and ash contents. The data were analyzed by using the student t test, where one sample group was prepared to compare each honey quality variable with the quality standard value. The results showed a distinctive smell and taste of honey, enzyme activity > 1.52 DN, HMF 0 mg kg-1, water content 24.2 % w w-1, reducing sugar content 66.56 % w w-1, sucrose content 1.50 % w w-1, acidity 113.05 NaOH kg-1, water insoluble matter content 0.018 % w w-1, and ash content 0.26 % w w-1. It is concluded that the quality variables for honey samples that met the quality requirements were odor and taste, HMF, reducing sugar, sucrose, water insoluble matter, and ash. Meanwhile, those that do not meet the quality requirements are the activity of the attached enzyme, water content and acidity

Food Waste Product for Overcoming Heat Stress in Broilers

Broiler farms in tropical areas have to deal with heat stress. Dried rice, a waste recycle product cheaper than corn, contains resistant starch that is mostly excluded from calorie-emanating metabolism yet advantageous for digestion. This study analyzes its potential to function as heat stress suppressor. Employing completely randomized design of three treatments in five repetitions, variables observed were panting frequency, heart weight, and blood profiles (leukocyte, heterophile, lymphocyte, and H:L ratio). The data gained were run through ANOVA, followed by LSD. T1 was of 100 % basal feed, T2 20 % dried rice spread atop 80 % basal feed, and T3 20 % dried rice thoroughly mixed with 80 % basal feed. The lowest panting frequency was of T2 (2.7 s −1 ), significantly different from T3 (2.9 s−1 ) and T1 (3.1 s −1 ). The lowest heart weight was also of T2 (0.44 mg 100 g −1 ), followed by T3 (0.49 mg 100 g −1 ) and T1 (0.57 mg 100 g −1 ). As of blood properties, the lowest H:L ratio was of T1 (0.22), significantly different from T3 (0.47) and T2 (0.59). To sum it up, dried rice is influential in relieving heat stress in broiler

Amino Acid Profiles of Coffee Cherry Flour from Different Origins: A Comparative Approach

A popular beverage globally attributable to its energizing properties and distinctive flavor, coffee is one of the majorly produced agricultural merchandise. With the reputation, nonetheless, comes a sizeable waste in its production process. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and improve circular economy —coffee pulp and husk waste into functional food, i.e., coffee cherry flour. This study examined the amino acid composition and contents originating from four locations: Ijen Farm, Karang Ploso Farm, Mengani Farm, and La Boitê. In triplication, samples were filtrated, derivated, and analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The obtained data were then computed to determine the amino acid retention times and peak areas to facilitate the quantification of amino acid concentrations within the samples. ANOVA was involved in evaluating the significance of amino acid level variations, and then nonparametric correlation and cluster tests were conducted for a dendrogram presentation. The result stated that Serine, Histidine, Threonine, Alanine, Cysteine, Methionine, and Isoleucine are positively correlated to the area characteristics, while Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Glycine, Arginine, Proline, Tyrosine, Valine, Lysine, Leucine, and Phenylalanine are of negative association. This finding suggests that locally-grown coffee cherry flour should be feasible for functional food beneficial to health