Building a Prototype of an Eco-friendly House in the Peri-Urban Area

The concept of sustainable housing has considered the urgency to support the sustainable environment in an integrative way. This concept is related to several main principles include environmental, social, and economic sustainability. In practice, these principles translated into the fundamental of housing choice, both process and product choices. In many peri-urban areas, current house construction tends to imitate city houses with massive concrete structures equipped with air conditioning that caused high energy consumption. The Center for Rural Empowerment team of ITB built a prototype of an eco-friendly house in Haurgombong village, Sumedang, West Java. The house has two floors building on a 7x5 m2 land site. The first floor was renovated from the existing toilet rooms and develop into a two-floor house. The second floor was built using the local wood material. The wood material has been obtaining from the trees of seven years old beechwood (Gmelina Arborea) planted in the garden. The envelope material for this house was constructed from local and common material in rural or peri-urban context, the lightweight fiberglass for the roof of common room, and the transparent fiber materials for the roof of second-floor terrace to make the plantation at this area can easily receive the sunlight. This house is also can be regarded as a prototype of an earthquake-resistant house. The lighting factor, temperature, and airflow settings are made naturally. Besides, this house has also equipped with a rainwater storage system and greywater treatment using a small, constructed wetland that allows the treated water used for watering gardens and fishponds. The budget spent to build this house was as low as possible so that the surrounding community can imitate the building for their house and disseminate eco-friendly housing.

Effect of Fallowed and Cultivated Land Use Systems on the Composition and Abundance of Soil Macroinvertebrates Assemblage in Uruk Osung Community, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was to assess the effect of fallowed and cultivated land-use systems on the abundance of soil macroinvertebrates assemblage. Collections of soil samples were carried out fortnightly twice a month for four months. The extraction of soil macroinvertebrates was carried out using Berlese-Tullgren funnel extractor, and elutriation technique. The mean values of 6.93+/-0.25 were recorded for pH, 32.08+/-0.52oC for temperature, 15.60+/-1.22 for moisture content, were recorded for fallowed soil, and 4.43+/-0.16 (pH), 30.95+/-0.19oC (temperature) were recorded for cultivated soil. A total of 17 soil macroinvertebrates species comprising of 11 orders, from four classes were encountered. Out of the 517 individual soil macroinvertebrates encountered, 327 individuals representing four classes were present in the fallow land while 190 individuals representing three classes were present in the cultivated land. The most dominant species in terms of abundance in the fallowed land site included; Cryptotermes sp 67(20.49%) > Blatta sp 56(17.12%) with Hogna sp 1(0.0.30%) the least; while Cryptotermes sp. 79(41.58%) >Lasius sp 30(15.79%) > Lumbricus terrestris 21(11.05%) represents the dominant species in the cultivated soil with Paraponera sp 1(0.53%) the least. Soil temperature showed positive correlation with the abundance of Clitellata (r = 0.851; p < 0.05) and Insecta (r = 0.826; p < 0.05) and Soil pH showed positive correlation with the abundance of Diplopoda (r = 0.911; p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, it could be deduced from the study that human activities in the cultivated site perturb soil macroinvertebrates community structure which is reflected in the relative abundance of soil macroinvertebrate from the two sampling sites. The results obtained in this study could be a piece of pointing information for the conservation and management of the soil macroinvertebrates giving their functions in balancing agroecosystems.

HUBUNGAN BONITA DENGAN KELAS KESESUAIAN LAHAN (KKL) HUTAN TANAMAN JATI

The fast way knowing the site quality by bonita approach, is only for well managed forest. Land suitability is fixed level of land width for particular utilization, this land suitability could be valuated at present condition or after improving action. This research conducted on Forest within work area of BKPH Pasarsore and Cabak, KPH Cepu. The observation site used as sample plot based on aged class and bonita, each them was three times replicated. Parameters observed consist of land resource aspect and stand aspect. The data analyze of ISDL’s outcome was Land Suitability Class in each observation plot, then it could be used as land/site evaluation, then classified into three classes, such as: S1 (very suitable), S2 (suitable) and S3 (marginal suitable). To make the equality between land classification and bonita, thus the bonita also classified into three class, such as: bonita 3 as good enough for teak growth, bonita 3.5 as good for teak growth and bonita 4-5 as very good for teak growth. The equality result in generally, between bonita version and land suitability class version, from totally 77 observation plots, criteria/class S1 (very suitable) occupy 64%, S2 (suitable) 25% dan S3 (marginal suitable) 11%. From each bonita, on bonita 3 : S1 occupy 50%, S2 44% dan S3 6%; on bonita 3,5 : S1 occupy 65%, S2 15% dan S3 20%; on bonita 4 : S1 occupy 64%, S2 24% dan S3 12%; on bonita 4,5-5 : S1 occupy 88%, S2 12% dan S3 0%.

Impacts des banquettes dans la récupération des terres dégradées au Niger

Objectifs : Le département de Ouallam au Niger est soumis au phénomène de dégradation des terres. La présente étude, conduite sur le plateau dégradé de Sini Bangou dans la Commune de Simiri, a pour objectif d’évaluer l’efficacité du dispositif des banquettes anti-érosives sur l’amélioration de la couverture végétale et de la qualité du sol. Méthodologie et résultats : Le dispositif expérimental de collecte des données est un site de récupération des terres où des banquettes ont été réalisées, plantées et ensemencées. La méthodologie a consisté à une analyse diachronique de l’occupation du sol à l’aide des images Landsat, une analyse granulométrique, des tests d’infiltration de l’eau et des relevés phytosociologiques. Les résultats montrent une amélioration du couvert végétal de 17,24 ha, soit 11,50% de la superficie du site, l’apparition d’une végétation spontanée de 69 espèces dont 11 ligneuses appartenant à 7 familles et 58 herbacées réparties dans 15 familles dominées par la famille des Poaceae (31,88%) et les types biologiques Thérophytes (69,01%).Les espèces à distribution Soudano-Zambéziennes (33,21%)etSoudano-ZambéziennesSahariennes-Sindiennes(31,15%) sont les types phytogéographiques les plus dominants de la flore globale à l’échelle africaine. La vitesse de l’infiltration relativement lente enregistrée pendant les dix premières minutes (≤ 10 cm/mn), a progressé au rythme d’une moyenne de 1 cm/mn en profondeur pour s’arrêter au bout de 30 minutes au profit d’une infiltration latérale. L’épaisseur des dépôts de sédiments varie entre 9 et 15 cm selon les banquettes et la teneur en matière organique fluctuant entre 0,36 à 1,43%, quoique faible, reste plus importante au niveau des horizons de surface de 0-20 cm que ceux de profondeur 20-40 cm. Ces effets associés au caractère dominant sableux du sol ont permis l’amélioration de l’état structural et textural de ce dernier et l’augmentation de l’infiltration et du stockage de l’eau qui aurait résulté au développement quantitatif et qualitatif du couvert végétal. Laminou et al., J. Appl. Biosci. 2020 Impacts des banquettes dans la récupération des terres dégradées au Niger 15511 Conclusion et application des résultats : Cette étude montre que les banquettes constituent une méthode efficace pour régénérer le capital productif d’un écosystème dégradé. Cependant, la pérennité des services écosystémiques de l’aménagement devrait être garantie par des modes de gestion rationnelle. Mots clés : Erosion hydrique, récupération, végétation, sol, infiltration, Niger Impacts of terraces in the degraded land reclamation in Niger ABSTRACT Objectives: The department of Ouallam in Niger is subject to land degradation. The study was conducted on the degraded area of Sini Bangou in the district of Simiri with the aim to assess the effectiveness of the anti-erosion terraces system on improving plant cover and soil quality. Methodology and results: Experimental data collection design was a degraded land site where terraces have been made with tree plantation and herbaceous seeds sown. The methodology consisted of a diachronic analysis of land use using Landsat images, a granulometric analysis, water infiltration tests and phytosociological surveys. Results show an improvement in the plant cover of 17.24 ha, or 11.50% of the site area, a spontaneous vegetation of 69 species made up of 11 woody ones belonging to 7 families and 58 herbaceous ones distributed into 15 families dominated by the family of Poaceae (31.88%) and the biological types of Therophytes (69.01%). Soudano-Zambezian (33.21%) and Soudano-ZambezianSaharan-Sindian (31.15%) species are the most dominant phytogeographic types of the overall flora on an african scale. The relatively slow infiltration speed recorded during the first ten minutes (≤ 10 cm / min), increased at the rate of an average of 1 cm / min in depth to stop after 30 minutes in favour of a lateral infiltration. Sediment deposits thickness varied between 9 and 15 cm depending on the terraces and the organic matter content fluctuating between 0.36 to 1.43%, although low, remains greater at the level of the surface horizons of 0-20 cm than those of 20-40 cm deep. These effects associated with the dominant sandy character of the soil allowed the structural and textural soil state improvement and the increase in the water infiltration and storage which would have resulted in the quantitative and qualitative development of the plant cover. Conclusion and application of findings: The study shows that terraces are an effective method for regenerating the productive capital of a degraded ecosystem. However, the sustainability of the ecosystem services of the treated area should be guaranteed by rational management methods. Keywords: Water erosion , reclamation, vegetation, soil, infiltration, Niger

Legal Assurance and Legal Protection in Land Registration in Indonesia

Legal assurance to protect the owner of the land title has been the main objectives of the 1997 Government Regulation No. 24. However, in reality, the objectives above cannot be spelled due to the negative publication system of land title registration regulated by the regulation above. The loophole the system has, inter alia, concerns with the actual or the correctness of land site or the physical data of the land. As a result, a conflict will not be prevented between or amongst the true land deed holder, land rights holder and the third party. If the case is brought before the court, the further consequence is that the verdict will declare the cancelation of or invalidity of the land deed. Then the legal status of the land deed will become uncertain and landowners will lose their rights without getting any protection from the State. The problem raised in this article regarding the negative system of land registration in the 1997 government regulation no. 24 does not provide legal protection for the landowner who has already land certificate. The results of the study showed that there were two different values of legal certainty and legal protection manifested in the Government Regulation No. 24 of 1997 and those of legal certainty and legal protection as mandated by the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. Therefore it is not superfluous to state that legal certainty and legal protection are intended and regulated by Government Regulation No.24 of 1997 which is in contradictory to the manifested value of legal certainty and legal protection guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution

Chemical Resistance of Glass Composite Materials Made From Incinerated Scheduled Waste Slag and SLS Waste Glass

Incineration of scheduled waste and landfilling of the incineration residue (Bottom Slag) is extensively practised in Malaysia as a treatment method for scheduled waste. Land site disposal of Bottom Slag (BS) may lead to environmental health issues and reduces the availability of land to sustain the nation’s development. This research aims in producing Glass Composite Material (GCM) incorporating BS and Soda Lime Silicate (SLS) waste glass as an alternative method for land site disposal and as an effort for recycling SLS waste glass. SLS waste glass originates from the urban waste has been a waste stream in most of the nation whereby the necessity for recycling is in high priority. Batches of powder mixture is formulated with 30 wt. % to 70 wt. % of BS powder and SLS waste glass powder for GCM sintering. The powder mixtures of BS and SLS waste glass is compacted by uniaxial pressing and sintered at 800°C with heating rate of 2°C/min and 1 hour soaking time into tiles of 18mm×18mm. The GCM porosity and water absorption increases as the BS waste loading increases. Meanwhile, its bulk density increases as the BS waste loading decreases. The GCM tiles made from BS 30 wt. % and 70 wt. % SLS waste glass are determined to have the lowest water absorption of 1.17 % and porosity percentage of 2.2 % with the highest bulk density of 1.88 g/cm3. It was also found is found that the chemical resistance of these GCM tiles is classified as ULA (No visible Effect) and UHA (No visible Effect) after 5 day immersions in low and high concentration of acid and alkali solution; respectively (determined using MS ISO10545-13:2001(Ceramic Tile: Determination of chemical resistance) test. However, the chemical resistance is weak upon increased duration of 12 immersion days where severe corrosion effects on both surface tiles in low and high concentration chemical solutions. The penetration of chemical in attacking the samples are related to the presence of pores. Hence, further work should have aimed to reduce the amount of porosity presence in the produced tiles.

Land-site suitability evaluation for tea, cardamom and rubber using Geo-spatial technology in Wayanad district, Kerala

Kerala is one of the important states contributing to the production of plantation crops and spices in the country. Soil and Land evaluation in various land utilization types has been carried out to assess the land suitability for tea, cardamom and rubber in Wayanad district of Kerala. Different soil physico-chemical parameters like, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon and physical attributes database of soil mapping units developed in inventorying of soil resources at 1:50K scale using LISS-III satellite data on soil series and its association used to evaluate soil site suitability for tea, cardamom and rubber. The results indicated that for tea around 55.79% area is suitable for cultivation of which 14.62 %, 25.51 % and 15.66 % found highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3), respectively. About 26.92 % and 12.10 % found moderately suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3) for cardamom and about 32.48 % area marginally suitable (S3) for rubber. The area unsuitable for cultivation (N) of tea, cardamom and rubber were found to be 11.69 %, 28.46 % and 34.99 %, respectively, due to constraints like relief, topography, soil physico-chemical attributes such as base saturation, pH and soil moisture regime etc. The study proposed an integrated methodology for mapping and assessing suitability of land using remote sensing and GIS techniques.