PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF Reinwardtiodendron humile (Hassk.) Mabb. FRUIT FROM BOGOR BOTANIC GARDENS COLLECTION

Reinwardtiodendron humile (Hassk.) Mabb. is one of the members of the Meliaceae tribe with the potential to be developed and consumed as fresh fruit or processed fruit. This research aims to determine the proximate composition or nutritional values contained in R. humile. Proximate analysis of R. humile included analytical determinations of water, ash, crude fat, protein, crude fibre, and carbohydrates. All tests for each of the parameters or components were carried out two times. Then, the contents determined through proximate tests were calculated using certain formulas. The results of this study indicate that the proximate composition of R. humile consisted of water, ash, fat, protein, crude fibre, and carbohydrates (74.2% - 75.28%; 1.35% - 1.54%; 0.53% - 0.72%; 2.48% - 2.73%; 0.86% - 3, 47%; and 16.7% - 20.14%). These results meant the fruit contents met the quality standards of fruit, except for the protein content. The results of the analysis of the proximate composition also show that the nutritional values of R. humile fruit did not significantly differ from the nutritional values of other fruits of the Meliaceae tribe commonly consumed by humans, such as duku, langsat, and kokosan. Keywords: fruit, nutritional value, proximate analysis, Reinwardtiodendron humile

Correlation and Path Analysis in Commercial Tenera Oil Palms Collected from Southern Thailand

Background: Tenera oil palm is widely planted as a commercial plantation crop throughout Southern Thailand. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic correlation and the direct and indirect effects among bunch yields and vegetative characteristics in commercial tenera oil palms. Methods: The oil yield, fresh fruit bunch, bunch number, average bunch weight, leaf area, leaf dry weight and rachis length were recorded from six commercial tenera oil palm progenies. The data were recorded between January 2019 and June 2020 at The Chaipattana Foundation’s oil palm plantation in Trang Province, Thailand. Result: Results show that fresh fruit bunch, average bunch weight and rachis length positively correlated with oil yield (rp = 0.90**, 0.50* and 0.53, respectively), while bunch number and rachis length positively correlated with fresh fruit bunch (rp = 0.58* and 0.47*, respectively). The path analysis shows that bunch number significantly correlated with fresh fruit bunch (0.58*) and strongly directly affected it (1.11). The fresh fruit bunch significantly correlated with oil yield, (0.90**) and had a strong direct (2.08) and indirect effect (1.20). These results indicate that bunch number and fresh fruit bunch are useful variables for oil yield improvement in further breeding programs of oil palm.

Assessment of Fluoride and pH Levels in a Range of Ready-to-Drink Children’s Beverages Marketed in Malaysia

This study aimed to determine the fluoride and pH levels of beverages likely to be consumed by children in Malaysia and to estimate daily fluoride intake from consumption of these beverages. A convenience sampling of 120 ready-to-drink beverages were purchased and categorised into 11 groups (UHT recombined milk, fresh milk [pasteurised], cultured milk [probiotic], yogurt beverages, fresh fruit juices, fruit flavoured beverages, soy-based beverages, malt-based beverages, tea, carbonated beverages and bottled waters). Fluoride concentration was measured using a fluoride ion-selective electrode while the pH level was measured using a pH meter. The fluoride concentration in the beverages ranged from 0.02±0.00 mg/L to 2.77±0.06 mg/L. Tea was found to have the highest fluoride concentration. The intake of fluoride from consumption of other types of beverages is below the lowest-observed-adverseeffect level (except tea). The pH of the beverages included in the study ranged from 2.20±0.01 to 7.76±0.00. Carbonated beverages (mean pH: 2.98±0.50) were found to be extremely acidic followed by fresh fruit juices (mean pH: 3.38±0.34) and fruit flavoured beverages (mean pH: 3.90±0.92). The correlation between fluoride and pH levels was weak, τ = 0.058 and not statistically significant (p

Response of Capsicum Hybrids to Zinc (Zn) Fertilization under Protected Cultivation

Micronutrients, particularly Zinc (Zn), play a vital role in the growth and development of plants due to its catalytic effect on many metabolic processes. However, the varietal responses to growth and yield vary significantly. A screening experiment was conducted to know the growth and yield response of six capsicum hybrids viz., Indra, Priyanka, Inspiration, Massilia, Bachata and Local green with two levels of ZnSO4 (with and without ZnSO4) as basal soil application. The growth and yield attributes at harvest stage was recorded. The dry matter production (DMP) and fresh fruit yield was also noted for all the six hybrids. Results revealed that, Zn fertilisation significantly improved the plant height, root growth, fruit development as well as fresh fruits yield. Higher plant height (83 cm), root length (37 cm), root volume (13 cc), fruit numbers, fruit weight (15 and 133g), fruit length, girth, pericarp thickness (9.17, 8.25 and 0.67 cm), DMP (65.0 g pot-1) as well as fresh fruit yield (4.70 kg pot-1) were observed with Indra followed by Inspiration and Bachata. Lesser response for the Zn application was noticed with the local green hybrid for various growth and yield traits. Indra was found to be highly responsive to Zn fertilisation while Inspiration, Bachata, Massilia, and Priyanka were medium responsive and local green hybrid was observed to be less responsive to Zn fertilisation.

Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Different Crops at Charlands in Bangladesh

The experiment was conducted at the farmer’s fields of three Charlands in Bangladesh during November 2019 to July 2020 for establishing new technologies for enhancement of productivity through innovative soil management practices. The experiments were established in a randomized complete block design using six treatments and three replications. Treatments of the experiments were T1 = FP (Farmers’ Practice) (Control), T2 = RF (Recommended Fertilizer) + Vermicompost (3t/ha), T3 = RF (Recommended Fertilizer) + Quick Compost (3t/ha), T4 = RF (Recommended Fertilizer) + Standard Organic Fertilizers (3t/ha), T5 = RF (Recommended Fertilizer) + Poultry Manure (3t/ha) and T6 = RF (Recommended Fertilizer) + Biochar (3t/ha). The soil status in all selected Charlands were very low to optimum. Results of the experiment showed that application of organic fertilizers along with inorganic fertilizers produced significant (p<0.05) variation in growth and yield parameters of the crops. The findings from the study showed that different organic fertilizers showed better performance compared to Farmer’s practice. The statistically maximum fruit yield (41.35t/ha) of pumpkin, grain yield (3.24t/ha) of millet and tuber yield (43.69t/ha) of sweet potato was recorded in biochar treated T6 treatment compared to other treatments. Besides, the statistically highest fresh fruit yield (29.50t/ha) of snake gourd, fresh fruit yield (20.80t/ha) of okra and yield (74.16t/ha) of Indian spinach were recorded in poultry manure treated T5 treatment compared to other treatments. Comparatively higher growth and yield of different crops were obtained from poultry manure along with inorganic fertilizers which was followed by biochar and quick compost application. It is recommended to the farmers to use organic fertilizers along with inorganic fertilizers.

STUDI USAHA TANI KELAPA SAWIT PETANI DI DESA SALIKI KECAMATAN MUARA BADAK BERDASARKAN PRODUKSI TBS DAN HARGA SAWIT

This research is based on the background that oil palm plantations are a form of community farming that cultivates oil palm plants with production in the form of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) as one of their sources of livelihood, although investment in oil palm plantations requires a relatively long period of time compared to oil palm plantations. with other plantation commodities. The purpose of this study was to determine the oil palm farming business in Saliki Village based on FFB production and palm oil prices. The data collection method used in this study is a qualitative method, which is a research that is used if the research factors cannot be quantified or cannot be calculated so that the variables cannot be expressed with numbers such as perceptions, opinions, assumptions and so on. According to qualitative research theory, in order for the research to be of really high quality, the data collected must be complete, namely primary data and secondary data. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that oil palm farming in Saliki Village based on the production of fresh fruit bunches and the price of palm oil really helps farmers increase their income from farming by selling large quantities of produce and high selling prices. The income they generate from oil palm plantations can meet their daily needs. In addition, the community (oil palm farmers) can buy vehicles, renovate and even build houses from the results of the oil palm plantations. The results of this study are to provide information to the community in Saliki Village in order to be able to improve oil palm farming.