Growth performance of Mission and Kyasuwa grasses (Pennisetum sp.) under different NPK ratios as potential slope cover

The Mission (Pennisetum polystachio) and Kyasuwa (Pennisetum pedicellatum) grasses are common perennial plants found in tropical regions that tolerates low nutrient soils, easily spread by wind and colonization of new areas. It is a great challenge for researchers to select plant species in terms of their performance for vegetation cover to minimize the sloppy soil erosion. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the growth performance of selected Pennisetum sp. namely P. pedicellatum (PPd) and P. polystachio (PPl) under different NPK ratio. The studied species were treated with three different treatments, F1, F2 and NF under greenhouse conditions. Hydroseeding technique was adopted for germination of the selected species in the polybags and periodically monitored for a duration of six months. Parameters measured for the growth performance of the studied species were based on plant height, total biomass and chlorophyll content. After application of the treatment F1 and F2, the soil pH changed to slightly acidic (pH 5.45) while organic content of soil was slightly increased from 3.2% to 3.9%. A similar result was also found in N and P nutrient availability of the soil. Meanwhile, available K decreased from 29.76 mg/kg to 28.41mg/kg (F1) and 23.83 mg/kg (F2) for PPl species. This trend was also observed by the PPd species. The PPd species with F1 and F2 treatments showed higher value of plant height if compared to that of PPl species. In terms of total biomass and chlorophyll content, PPl species treated with both treatments showed higher value than PPd species. Species treated with F1 showed higher value in all growth performance variables (height, dry biomass and chlorophyll content), if compared to that of F2 and NF treatments. These findings discovered Pennisetum polystatchion (PPl species) as a potential biological material that can be used as a slope vegetation cover

Potensi pelancongan di Matu-Daro, Sarawak: persepsi komuniti lokal

Industri pelancongan merupakan salah satu industri yang menyumbang kepada ekonomi negara dan pembangunan setempat. Pembangunan pelancongan di sesebuah kawasan memberikan impak positif terhadap komuniti lokal itu sendiri menerusi penglibatan secara langsung dan tidak langsung iaitu dapat meningkatkan kualiti hidup serta kesejahteraan masyarakat. Justeru itu, pengenalpastian potensi pelancongan di sesebuah kawasan dapat membantu mewujudkan pelbagai peluang pembangunan menerusi industri pelancongan di kawasan tersebut. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti persepsi komuniti lokal Melanau mengenai potensi pelancongan di kawasan Matu-Daro, Sarawak. Kaedah tinjauan melalui temubual berdasarkan satu set kaji selidik terhadap 150 orang responden di daerah Matu-Daro. Hasil kajian mendapati tiga jenis pelancongan yang berpotensi di perkembangkan iaitu pelancongan warisan dan kebudayaan, agro-pelancongan dan ekopelancongan. Potensi pelancongan warisan dan kebudayaan boleh diperkembangkan dengan adanya Rumah Panjang Melanau Islam yang tertua di dunia, Makam Orang Kaya Segunim, dan Pesta Kaul. Seterusnya agropelancongan menerusi pengusahaan pembuatan sagu dan penanaman padi yang dijalankan secara tradisional. Ekopelancongan juga boleh diketengahkan iaitu keunikan kawasan hutan paya bakau dan menyelami nilai estetika di Sungai Rajang. Secara kesimpulannya, Daerah Matu-Daro mempunyai potensi untuk dikomersilkan menerusi sektor pelancongan