Effects of Hedgerow Systems on Soil Moisture and Unsaturated Hydraulics Conductivity Measured by the Libardi Method

The hedgerow systems are the agroforestry practices suggesting any positive impacts and negative impacts on soil characteristics. This study evaluated the effects of hedgerows on the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of soil with the Libardi method approach. This study was conducted in North Lampung for 3 months on the hedgerow plots of Peltophorum dassyrachis (P), Gliricidia sepium (G), and without hedgerow plot (K), with four replications. Each plot was watered as much as 150 liters of water until saturated, then the soil surface were covered with the plastic film. Observation of soil moisture content was done to a depth of 70 cm by the 10 cm intervals. Soil moisture content was measured using the Neutron probe that was calibrated to get the value of volumetric water content. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of soil was calculated by using the Libardi Equation. Data were tested using the analysis of variance, the least significant different test (LSD), Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT), correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that the hedgerow significantly affected the soil moisture content and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. Soil moisture content on the hedgerow plots was lower than the control plots. The value of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in the hedgerow plots was higher than the control plots. Different types of hedgerows affected the soil moisture content and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. The positive correlation was found between the volumetric soil moisture content and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of soil

Plant Species From Coal Mine Overburden Dumping Site in Satui, South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Coal mine overburden (OB) materials were nutrient-poor, loosely adhered particles of shale, stones, boulders, and cobbles, also contained elevated concentration of trace metals. This condition cause OB substrate did not support plants growth. However, there were certain species that able to grow on overburden dumping site. This investigation sought to identify plants species that presence on coal mine overburden. The research was conducted on opencast coal mine OB dumping site in Satui, South Kalimantan. Vegetation sampling was carried out on six different ages of coal mine OB dumps (7, 10, 11, 42, 59 and 64 month) using line transect. Species identification used information from local people, AMDAL report of PT Arutmin Indonesia-Satui mine project, and website. There were 123 plant species, consisted of 79 herbs (Cyperaceae, Poaceae and Asteraceae), 10 lianes, bryophyte, 9 ferns, 10 shrubs, and 14 trees. A number of Poaceae, i.e., Paspalumconjugatum, Paspalumdilatatum, and Echinochloacolona generally present among the stones, boulders, and cobbles. While Cyperaceae such as Fimbristylis miliaceae, Cyperus javanicus, Rhyncospora corymbosa and Scleria sumatrensis most often foundinand around thebasin/pond with its smooth and humid substrate characteristics. Certain species of shrubs and trees present on the 7 month OB dumping site. They wereChromolaena odorata, Clibadium Surinamense, Melastoma malabathricum, Trema micrantha, and Solanum torvum (Shrubs), Ochroma pyramidale and Homalanthus populifolius (trees). This plant species could be used for accelerating primary succession purpose on coal mine overburden dumping site. Nevertheless, species selection was needed to avoid planting invasive species

Earthworm Population Density in Sugarcane Cropping System Applied with Various Quality of Organic Matter

Earthworms population in the soil are greatly impacted by agricultural management, yet little is known about how the quality and quantity of organic matter addition interact in sugarcane cropping system to earthworm population. This study describes the effect of various organic matter and application rates on earthworms in sugarcane cropping system. Earthworms were collected in April, July and December from 48 experimental plots under five kinds of organic matter application : (1) cattle manure, (2) filter cake of sugar mill, (3) sugarcane trash, (4) mixture of cattle manure+filter cake, and (5) mixture of cattle manure+sugarcane trash. There were three application rates of the organic matter (5, 10, and 15 ton ha-1). The treatments were arranged in factorial block randomize design with three replications and one treatment as a control (no organic input). Earthworms were collected using monolith sampling methods and hand-sorted from each plot, and measured its density (D) (indiv.m-2), biomass (B) (g m-2) and B/D ratio (g/indiv.). All the plots receiving organic matter input had higher earthworm density, biomass, and B/D ratio than the control. The highest earthworm population density was found in the plot receiving application of sugarcane trash (78 indiv.m-2) and the mixture of cattle manure+sugarcane trash (84 indiv.m-2). The increase in application rates of organic matter could increase the earthworm density and biomass. Earthworm population density also appeared to be strongly influenced by the quality of organic matter, such as the C-organic, N, C/N ratio, lignin, polyphenols, and cellulose content. Earthworm preferred low quality organic matter. It was caused by the higher energy of low quality organic matter than high quality organic matter. Our findings suggest that the input of low quality organic matter with application rate as 10 ton ha-1 is important for maintaining earthworm population and soil health in sugarcane land

Agroforestry Interactions in Rainfed Agriculture: Can Hedgerow Intercropping Systems Sustain Crop Yield on an Ultisol in Lampung (Indonesia)?

The productivity of rainfed agriculture land developed on Ultisols is limited by physical and chemical constraints. These problems can be solved and consistently high yields obtained only by the development of comprehensive manage-ment systems. In the 1980s, hedgerow inter-cropping was promoted initially for improving soil fertility and sustainability of crop production on nutrient-depleted soils. However the previous enthusiasm for hedgerow intercropping is unsupported by scientific evidence and its labour demand too high. The question remains, is there a window of opportunity where the biophysical principle of hedgerow intercropping is sound? Research to compare the long-term performance of crops and trees in hedgerow intercropping and monocluture cropping is needed. This research has been conducted at long-term field experiment station at the BMSF-Project, Lampung, Indone-sia. The experiment site had non-nitrogen-fixing peltophorum (PP), nitrogen-fixing gliricidia (GG) and alternate peltophorum and gliricidia (PG) hedgerow intercropping and maize / groundnut monoculture (C) treatments. We concluded that the net interactions related to soil fertility and competition for growth resources in peltophroum were positive for crop yield in PP and PG but negative for GG. Even so, the PP and PG sys-tems resulted in similar yields as monocropping; however, hedgerow intercropping considerably improved soil fertility attributes

Plant Species Diversity in Relation to Carbon Stocks at Jangkok Watershed, Lombok Island

The area around Jangkok watershed has changed, dividing it into some land use systems. This research aimed to study the effect of plant species diversity onC-stocks, and to analyse the characteristics of land use systems based on their similarity. The observations were carried out on 18 plots representing six land use systems in Jangkok watershed (Lombok Island) i.e. primary forest (PF), disturbed forest (DF), Mahogany- woodlot (MW), candlenut- agroforestry (CA), multistrata- agroforestry (MA), and simple- agroforestry (SA).The species diversity level was measured using Shannon-Weiner diversity index, whileC-stocks according to the method of RaCSA (Rapid Carbon Stock Appraisal). Results showed that forest conversion to agricultural land usesreduced the number and density of the species, average wooddensity andtree basal area. The PF represented the highest biodiversity index (3.46), while the other land uses were categorised in medium and low. Largest C-stock wasfound inPF and in(30 years old) of MWaveraged of 500 Mg ha-1, while the lowest was in SAof 68 Mg ha-1, while in other land uses was 219 Mg ha-1.The quantity of C-stock was not related tospecies diversity and its density, but closely related (pof tree (R2=0.84), basal area of all sizes tree (R2=0.86), and with the basal area of big trees (diameter > 30 cm) (R2=0.71). Based on the number and species density, agroforestry system (MA and CA) resembled the characteristics of natural forest (DF and PF)./spanEN-GBspan style

Study of Arthropod Communities in a Virginia Tobacco Agro-Ecosystem

The cultivation of tobacco is one of users of agro-chemical substances such as insecticides, herbi-cides, defoliants, and fertilizers among other food crops and plants with high economical value. The use of these chemicals may bring negative effects regarding the richness and abundance of arthropods. The study of arthropod community in the Virginia tobacco ecosystem was carried out in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, during the 2010 plantation year. It was aimed at finding the composition, structure, and dynamic of the arthropod diversity around the tobacco field. Samples were obtained by using trapping techniques (pitfall traps, yellow-pan traps, and sweep net). The number of arthropods found in Virginia tobacco field are 69, consisting of 65 species of insects (belonging to 46 families and 8 orders) and 4 species of spiders (belonging to 4 families). The majority of insects found was Hymenoptera, dominated by bees. Based on the ecological functions, the major group of arthro-pods documented was phytophagous (20 species), mostly Coleoptera and Orthoptera. Yet, the number of predators was relatively more abundant than that of the phytophagous. The number of kinds of ar-thropods commonly interacting around the field fluctuated during the growing period, while in the cultivation period the number decreased. The diversity of the species (H) and the ratio of abundance of the natural enemies and phytophagous in the field was high

ANALISIS PERUBAHAN TUTUPAN LAHAN DAN KONTRIBUSI HUTAN KEMASYARAKATAN DALAM PENYEDIAAN CADANGAN KARBON DI DAS JANGKOK

People who live around Jangkok Watershed in Lombok in general practices agroforestry system under Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) scheme. Objective of this reseach is to estimate changes of carbon stock in relation to extension of CBFM land. This research was carried out in 2009-2010. Estimation of carbon emition is based on analysis of carbon stock changes using RaCSA (Rapid Carbon Stock Appraisal) method that consists of 2 steps: (1) Estimate temporarily land forest cover change through analysis of Landsat satellite from 1995 to 2009, (2) Measuring of carbon stock of land forest cover in various density. Based on remote sensing interpretation Within 14 year period of time, density of land forest cover in Jangkok Watershed has been changing. Forest with high density decrease 43% mean while area for moderate and low density increase by 20% and 17% respectively. Carbon stock for the forest with high density is represented by primary forest about 360 t C/ha, Mahogany forest has 395 t C/ha. Forest with moderate density found in Candlenut forest produces 161 t C/ha and in CBFM about 147 t C/ha with age of tree on average 14 years. Carbon stocking CBFM is varied, the highest was found in area with Candlenut as dominant trees (161 t C/ha), followed area by Mahogany and fruits produced 159 t C/ha, by with Cacao (146 t C/ha), dominant by fruit tree (120 t/ha). Total carbon stock in Forest areas of Jangkok Watershed (12.680 ha) is about 2.02 M t with 25.1% is from CBF

Nitrogen use efficiency of monoculture and hedgerow intercropping in the humid tropics

The design of productive and efficient intercropping systems depends on achieving complementarity between component speciesrsquo resource capture niches. Spatiotemporal patterns of capture and use of pruning and urea nitrogen (N) by trees and intercrops were elucidated by isotopic tracing, and consequences for nitrogen use efficiency were examined. During the first cropping season after applying urea–15N, maize accounted for most of the plant 15N recovery in Peltophorum dasyrrachis (33.5%) and Gliricidia sepium (22.3%) hedgerow intercropping systems. Maize yield was greatest in monoculture, and maize in monoculture also recovered a greater proportion of urea 15N (42%) than intercropped maize. Nitrogen recovery during active crop growth will not be increased by hedgerow intercropping if hedgerows adversely affect crop growth through competition for other resources. However, hedgerows recovered substantial amounts of 15N during both cropping cycles (e.g. a total of 13–22%), showing evidence of spatio-temporal complementarity with crops in the spatial distribution of roots and the temporal distribution of Nuptake. The degree of complementarity was species-specific, showing the importance of selecting appropriate trees for simultaneous agroforestry. After the first cropping season 17–34% of 15N applied was unaccounted for in the plant-soil system. Urea and prunings N were recovered by hedgerows in similar amounts. By the end of the second (groundnut) cropping cycle, total plant 15N recovery was similar in all cropping systems. Less N was taken up by the maize crop from applications of labelled prunings (5–7%) than from labelled urea (22–34%), but the second crop recovered similar amounts from these two sources, implying that prunings N is more persistent than urea N. More 15N was recovered by the downslope hedgerow than the upslope hedgerow, demonstrating the interception of laterally flowing N by hedgerows