Journal for the Agriculture, Biotechnology and Education

Effect of Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) manure on growth and yield of shallots in Ultisols

Eko Suprijono — 2024-12-30

Shallots (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) are an essential horticultural crop in Indonesia for domestic use and export. Their productivity is influenced by soil fertility, with Ultisol, posing challenges due to low fertility. Swiftlet manure, rich in nutrients, has the potential as an organic amendment to improve soil conditions and enhance crop yield. This study examines the effect of different doses of swiftlet manure on the growth and yield of shallots in Ultisols. The study was conducted from August to October 2023 in Pondok Suguh Village, Pondok Suguh Subdistrict, Mukomuko Regency, Bengkulu. The experiment used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a treatment of swiftlet manure, consisting of 0 tons/ha (control), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 tons/ha, combined with synthetic N, P, K fertilizers at half of the recommended dose. The recommended dose for synthetic fertilizer was 435 kg/ha urea, 250 kg/ha SP-36, and 125 kg/ha KCl. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at the 5% significance level and the treatment means were separated using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at the 5% level. The study showed that the plant height and leaf number of shallots at various doses of swiftlet manure tended to increase, producing taller plants and more leaves compared to the control. Swiftlet manure at doses of 20, 25, and 30 tons/ha resulted in no significant differences in plant height, leaf number, fresh weight, and dry weight of bulbs. Swiftlet manure at a dose of 20 tons/ha produced 7.5% and 15.5% higher fresh bulb weight and 19.3% and 18.1% higher dry bulb weight than at 25 and 30 tons/ha doses, respectively. This finding supports sustainable agriculture practices in shallot cultivation.

Water efficiency for sustainable agriculture

Salih Gokkur — 2025-01-17

The agricultural sector is important because it meets the food needs of societies and provides raw materials to other sectors. Increasing productivity in agricultural production is achieved by giving plants with the water they need. The growing world population necessitates the opening of new areas for agricultural production and irrigation. Especially during the last decade, the world's average temperature has been rising. These increases in temperatures have led to more irrigation water use in agriculture. Due to excessive irrigation, the air in the soil pores is replaced by water, leaving the plant roots without air. The roots cannot receive the nutrients the plant needs. In addition, excessive moisture can cause root diseases in plants. Since there is water near the tree roots, the root development of the plants is limited and the roots do not develop deeply. Furthermore, excessive irrigation causes salinization in the soil, which leads to a decrease in plant product yields. Considering that the world's water resources are limited, the efficient use of water in agricultural production becomes a necessity. Water efficiency means the correct management of water, which aims to use water resources in a planned manner by protecting and developing them. Modern irrigation technologies are utilized in the efficient use of water resources in agricultural production. Digital agricultural technologies are used not only in water management, but also in many activities such as phenology monitoring of plants, spraying and fertilization in the field. The amount of irrigation water given to plants affects the contribution of these activities to productivity increase. In this study, works on water efficiency in agriculture, the benefits of smart agricultural systems on water efficiency in agricultural production, water use in urban green areas, activities that can be done for the protection of water resources and the environment, planning and management of water resources are presented.

Study the efficacy of Bello Zon chlorine dioxide on control of pathogenic bacteria in Lactating Sows

Kridda Chukiatsiri — 2024-12-30

This research aims to study and compare the efficiency of controlling germs on surfaces between Bello Zon Chlorine dioxide and Glutaraldehyde, towards reducing the amount of pathogenic bacteria in sows. The population in the study is hybrid sows between the Landrace and LargeWhite breeds, 10 sows with similar basic factors (farrowing date, parity, number of piglets). The sample group is divided into 2 groups, a control group of 5 mothers which using antibiotics. Glutaraldehyde spray after basic cleaning. The trial group of 5 mothers which using Bello Zon Chlorine dioxide 10 ppm, spray after cleaning, replacing the current product. Dara collection: Boot swab and breast swab 4 times at the following durations: 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 480 minutes, respectively. Analyze the decrease in bacterial load over time. Using the experimental plan of analysis of variance with repeated measures (Repeated Measures ANOVA), the differences between the experimental groups were analyzed with a T-test using the R-studio program, with the significance level of the hypothesis test set at the 0.05 level. The result found that the efficiency of using chlorine dioxide for surface disinfection is not different from using the control group of disinfectants Both can be used interchangeably, even more effective at controlling infection than the control group of disinfectants in a period at 480 minutes in the Enterobacteriaceae [Boot swab] and TPC [Boot swab] groups due to increased contamination in the feces of sows and piglets

Determination of effective heat requirements between full bloom to harvest dates of important Prunus salicina L. cultivars

Müge Şahin — 2025-01-08

Prunus salicina L. is the most common commercial plum species. Breeding and adaptation studies on Japanese plums have identified suitable varieties for specific regions. Heat requirements are defined as the total temperature required by plants between phenological stages, and problems in this section lead to serious quality losses on fruits. The study aimed to determine the effective heat requirements from full bloom (BBCH scale: Principal growth stage 6: Flowering, Code 65) to fruit ripening (harvest) (BBCH scale: Principal growth stage 8: Maturity of fruit and seed, Code 87) of four Japanese plum varieties in Ödemiş/İzmir conditions. Heat requirements were determined by the Growing Degree Days (GDD) and Growing Degree Hours (GDH) (Anderson and Richardson) methods, using 2-year-phenological data. When the years and varieties were examined together, the Julian days of full flowering and ripening were determined between 74 and 206, respectively. When we look at the number of days from full bloom to harvest, the difference between the varieties was found to be statistically significant and the average number of days from full bloom to harvest was determined as Black Diamond: 118.5, Black Splendor: 92, Fortune: 119,5, Show Time: 98,5 on the basis of varieties. GDD, GDH parameters were found to be statistically significant among the varieties. GDD was determined between 1,055–1,731 among the varieties. The results for GDH (Anderson and Richardson) methods were determined as 29,855–43,382 and 28,818–43,266, respectively. Additionally, correlations between days between full bloom and harvest, Anderson method, Richardson method and GDD were found to be statistically significant with R values in the range of 0.8456–0.998. It is thought that the results will provide significant contributions both to those who will grow plums in choosing the location where they will establish a plum orchard and to researchers in their studies on this subject.