DETERMINATION OF PLANTING PATTERN BASED ON WATER BALANCE ANALYSIS FOR FARMING PLANNING AT DRYLANDS IN THE TROPIC (A CASE STUDY IN GUNUNG MAS DISTRICT, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN PROVINCE, INDONESIA)

The existence of water as a crop growth requirement is a prerequisite in tropical drylands. In addition, water balance, as an important part of climate change, is needed to be accessed under certain conditions. This study aimed to observe water availability and analyze water balance at drylands for farming planning purposes. The results of this study were then required to determine planting patterns and farming planning in the tropics, in which information related to hydrology is still lack. The Thornthwaite-Mather method approach was used in this study to analyze water balance in areas observed and. Because of its simplicity, this method can also be applied to areas with limited data. The water balance analysis that provides the information on water availability can be used as basic consideration for farming planning, especially at drylands in which water availability is a critical factor for farming activities. In tropical drylands, the cropping pattern of food crops – secondary crops – fallow – horticulture crops can be proposed within farming planning. Maize as a food crop can be planted for the early planting period in January, in which it can be harvested at the age of 80 days around March. In the following month, secondary crops such as soybeans can be planted and harvested at 135 days. Fallow periods during August and September, the lands cannot be optimally used because of water deficit. Entering the beginning of October, the land can be cultivated and prepared for the next crop, eggplant, as horticultural crops, harvested at 135 days in early February.

Alkalophilic Protease Producing Bacteria and Some Biotechnological Potentials

Background: Extremophiles are a hot topic in the field of biotechnology for their immense potential and applications in multiple industries. Objectives: The present review aims to sum up the potential applications of alkalophilic protease-producing bacteria and their optimized growth requirement. The isolation, characterization, and optimization of various isolates (especially of genus Bacillus) from different harsh niches, including soil samples from deserts and soil having decaying matters, wastewaters from industries, soda lakes, and alkaline springs have been reported in this review. Methodology: All the relevant papers published from 2013-2020 were looked over numerous sources like Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Research Gate, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science. Results: Most of the microbial life found in extreme alkaline habitats are found to form a variety of enzymes and an array of other substances of biotechnological interests. These enzymes, especially proteases, are exploited in industries globally because of their ability to withstand rigorous industrial reactions and conditions. Conclusion: Though a number of alkalophilic protease-producing bacteria have been isolated, still a large number of these micro-organisms are unidentified. The current demand for biotechnological products from them appeals to the need for isolation of unidentified bacteria.

Nutrient Intake and digestibility of Rabbit does fed varying levels of concentrate and lablab during pregnancy

Nulliparous crossbred does were used to study the effects of concentrate:lablab ratio (CL) and stage of pregnancy on nutrient intake and digestibility. Treatments consisted of four concentrate and lablab combinations on a gram:gram basis: 20:130, 40: 110, 80:70 and 100:50 and two stages of pregnancy: second and fourth week of pregnancy Concentrate intake increased as level increased up to 80g/day offered while lablab intake increased from 50 to 130g/day offered. Doe weight and metabolic size were similar for all treatments. Total feed intake was not affected by concentrate and lablab levels. Dry matter intake was lower for 100:50 CL than other treatments. Ether extract and crude fibre intakes decreased with increase in concentrate levels. Dry matter and nitrogen free extract digestibility were higher for 80:70 CL than other combinations. Crude fibre digestibility was higher for 80:70 than 40:110 and 100:50 CL Crude protein retention was higher for 80:70 than 20:130 and 100:50 CL. Fetal growth requirement, total protein requirement and balance of protein were high at 80:70 and 100:50 CL. During pregnancy, dry matter and all nutrients intake were higher in the second than fourth week. Ether extract, crude protein and nitrogen free extract digestibilities were lower in the second than fourth week of pregnancy. Fetal growth requirement and balance of protein were higher in the second than fourth week of pregnancy relationship between feed intake (g DM/day) and nutrient digestibility was negative. The relationship between feed intake (g DM/kg body weight/day) and feed intake (g DM/kg LW0.75/day) was however, positive for all the nutrients except crude protein. For the small scale rabbit producer in developing countries, it is feasible to maintain rabbits on combinations of concentrate and lablab during pregnancy

Unexpected metabolic versatility among type II methanotrophs in the Alphaproteobacteria

Aerobic methane-oxidizing bacteria, or methanotrophs, play a crucial role in the global methane cycle. Their methane oxidation activity in various environmental settings has a great mitigation effect on global climate change. Alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs were among the first to be taxonomically characterized, nowadays unified in the Methylocystaceae and Beijerinckiaceae families. Originally thought to have an obligate growth requirement for methane and related one-carbon compounds as a source of carbon and energy, it was later shown that various alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs are facultative, able to grow on multi-carbon compounds such as acetate. Most recently, we expanded our knowledge of the metabolic versatility of alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs. We showed that Methylocystis sp. strain SC2 has the capacity for mixotrophic growth on H2 and CH4. This mini-review will summarize the change in perception from the long-held paradigm of obligate methanotrophy to today’s recognition of alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs as having both facultative and mixotrophic capabilities.

Pemetaan Potensi Sumberdaya Lahan Hijauan Pakan Ternak Sapi Bali di Kecamatan Tinanggea Kabupaten Konawe Selatan

ABSTRAK Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah mengidentifikasi dan memetakkan potensi sumberdaya lahan hijauan pakan ternak (HPT) di Kecamatan Tinanggea Kabupaten Konawe Selatan. Metode analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis deskripsi kualitatif dan analisis SIG. Lokasi penelitian ini adalah Kecamatan Tinanggea, yang memiliki sumberdaya lahan potensial untuk dikembangkannya hijauan pakan ternak (HPT). Metode pengumpulan data menggunakan metode survey melalui pengambilan sampel tanah pada setiap wilayah yang telah ditetapkan, selanjutnya melakukan pemetaan wilayah yang memiliki potensi untuk pengembangan hijauan pakan ternak (HPT). Hasil penelitian ini diperoleh berdasarkan evaluasi kesesuaian lahan yang dilakukan di Kecamatan Tinanggea Kabupaten Konawe Selatan dengan menggunakan metode pencocokan (matching) antara data karakteristik dan kualitas lahan dengan kriteria kesesuaian lahan (persyaratan tumbuh tanaman yang dievaluasi) dengan kategori sangat sesuai, yaitu lahan untuk tanaman rumput gajah seluas 31,85 hektar, lahan untuk tanaman leguminosa seluas 21,50 hektar, dan lahan untuk tanaman rumput lapangan seluas 184,26 hektar.Kata Kunci: hijauan pakan ternak, pemetaan, sumberdaya lahanABSTRACTThis study aimed to identify and map the potential of forage land resources in Sub-district Tinaggea, Konawe Selatan Regency. Analysis method used in this research was qualitively descriptive analysis and Geographic Information System (SIG). This research was conducted in Sub-district Tinanggea where the land resources are very potential to be improved as the pasture area. Method of collecting data used survey method by collecting the soil samples in each determined areas, and then mapping the areas that have the potential for expanding the forage land. Result of the study was obtained based on evaluation of land suitability conducted in Sub-district Tinanggea, Konawe Selatan Regency by using matching method among characteristic data and land quality with the land suitability criteria (growth requirement of evaluated grass) in the very appropriate category including the land for elephant grass as large as 31.85 hectare, leguminosae as large as 21.50 hectare, and grass field as large as 184.26 hectare.Keywords: forage, land resources, mapping

Are Regulatory Measures Influencing Bank Performances: The Ethiopian Case

The study has explored the impact of selected regulatory variables on performances applying a panel regression on 18 commercial banks in Ethiopia for the period 1999-2015. The variables used in the model are directly derived from the extant regulatory approach used by the Central Bank to regulate the banking business. The literature review also shows that most of them are enacted in other countries with few exceptions and mainly related to bill purchase requirements. The model constructed, therefore, has established and finds a statistically significant relationship in some of the regulatory variables with performance measures. The most important findings of this study relate to the negative affect of some of the recent policy directions from the regulator on performances. For instance, branch growth and bill purchases have a statistically significant negative relationship with bank performances. This should be one of the areas requiring policy flexing from the regulatory side in the future. Nevertheless, other policy direction such as capital growth requirement remains a positive contributor to performances. More specifically, the study finds that exchange rate has a positive and statistically significant relationship with the profit models. Despite the benefit of a depreciating local currency and a stable foreign currency type to shield them from currency fluctuation, it allowed banks to earn a policy profit. The depreciation of Birr permitted banks to enjoy a profit from their foreign currency holdings in the form of daily asset revaluations. Nevertheless, many of the variables (prudential regulatory variables) used in this study (interest rate, reserve rate, number of new entrant banks, and level of entry capital) are not statistically significant to influence on bank performances.

Land Suitability Evaluation for Upland Rice in Tirtomoyo District, Wonogiri Regency, Indonesia

Food cultivation, especially upland rice is needed to fulfill the needs of dryland food. It is necessary to evaluate the suitability of the land so that it can overcome land constraints to increase the productivity of upland rice in Tirtomoyo Regency. The unit of analysis is Soil Mapping Unit based on soil type map using ArcGIS 10.1 and determination of sample point based on purposive sampling method. Data analysis was done by matching between the result of soil characteristic which has been obtained with growth requirement of the upland rice. Based on the results, District Tirtomoyo divided into 4 Soil Mapping Unit. The actual land suitability class for upland rice is moderately suitable (S2) and not suitable (N). Limiting factors include rainfall, slope, erosion hazard, basic saturation, CEC, C-organic, N-total, K₂O. Improvement efforts are done by arranging cropping pattern, drainage management, a making of terracing, cover crop planting, implementing organic material, and fertilizing. The suitability class of potential land of upland rice is highly suitable (S1) and marginally suitable (S3).

PEMANFAATAN TANAMAN GULMA KAYAMBANG (Salvinia Molesta) SEBAGAI BAHAN PAKAN AYAM BURAS MELALUI ENERGI METABOLISMENYA

Kayambang is water seed from Indonesia which can be used for animal feed. In village it is usually used for duck and village fowl (kampong chicken). Kayambang grows very much on water surface and have hight nutrition include energy and protein. Animal feed are used for growth requirement and to support sintetics reactionsform its body. Energy from the feed is not used for animal infull. In each ingredient at least has 4 kind of energy : Gross Energy, Digestible energy, Metobalic energy and netto energy. Metabolic energy is impotant to measure form each ingredient because it is used for all requirement such as maintanance, growth, feedlot and layer. This research has goal for knowing about metabolic energy which can be used for animal especially for village fowl.The methodology was done by 14 male village fowl (11 chicken for metabolic energy, 3 chicken for endogenous nitrogen). Individual was caged to collect feces. Kayambang was used as meal and given to the chicken. The results showed that Kayambang has energy contains potentially for village fowl. Total metabolic energy is 2857,56 and apparent metabolic energy is 2433,66 Kkal/kg.Key words : kayambang, village fowl, animal feed, nutrition.

KESESUAIAN LAHAN DAN EVALUASI RUMUS BRAAK UNTUK PENGEMBANGAN TANAMAN KENTANG DI KAKI BUKIT KABA BENGKULU

In order to get optimal growth and production, potato (Solanum tuberosum) should be cultivated on suitable land. Principally, land suitability evaluation is fitting land quality with plant growth requirement. The purposesof this study were: (1) to evaluate land suitability for potato cultivation in Bukit Kaba Foot Slope Bengkulu (BKFSB), and (2) to determine the air temperature gradient for Braak equation in calculating air temperature. Landsuitability evaluation has been conducted by overlying the land characteristic map with the potato growth requirement, to produce land suitability classes with various restriction factors. Temperature gradient was calculated by plotting elevation and air temperature data from 3 weather stations into the Braak equation. Land suitability evaluation with area study of 48.410 ha showed that actual area S (marginally suitable with restriction factor of air temperature 20-23 oC) is 5,150.00 ha (10.63%); S 3ts 3t (marginally suitable with restriction factor of air temperature 20-23 oC and slope of 8-15%) is 1.727,50 ha (3.56%); N (not suitable at present with restriction factor of slope 15-25%) is 2,250.00 ha (4.67%); and N2 1s (permanently not suitable with restriction factor of air temperature >23 oC, slope >25%, and protected forest) is 39.282,50 ha (81.14%). The potential area S is 9,127.50 ha (18.86%) and N2 3t is 39,282.50 ha (81.14%). To extend potato cultivation area in BKFB, new potato cultivars suitable for this area should be selected, and enhancing cultivation system with terrasering especially in slopping land as well ascontour planting should be done. The air temperature gradient in BKFSB area was 0.29 C each 100 m-elevation increase from sea level (0.29 oC hm-1).

Association of Metal Homeostasis and (p)ppGpp Regulation in the Pathophysiology of Enterococcus faecalis

ABSTRACT In Enterococcus faecalis, the regulatory nucleotides pppGpp and ppGpp, collectively, (p)ppGpp, are required for growth in blood, survival within macrophages, and virulence. However, a clear understanding of how (p)ppGpp promotes virulence in E. faecalis and other bacterial pathogens is still lacking. In the host, the essential transition metals iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are not readily available to invading pathogens because of a host-driven process called nutritional immunity. Considering its central role in adaptation to nutritional stresses, we hypothesized that (p)ppGpp mediates E. faecalis virulence through regulation of metal homeostasis. Indeed, supplementation of serum with either Fe or Mn restored growth and survival of the Δrel ΔrelQ [(p)ppGpp0] strain to wild-type levels. Using a chemically defined medium, we found that (p)ppGpp accumulates in response to either Fe depletion or Mn depletion and that the (p)ppGpp0 strain has a strong growth requirement for Mn that is alleviated by Fe supplementation. Although inactivation of the nutrient-sensing regulator codY restored some phenotypes of the (p)ppGpp0 strain, transcriptional analysis showed that the (p)ppGpp/CodY network does not promote transcription of known metal transporters. Interestingly, physiologic and enzymatic investigations suggest that the (p)ppGpp0 strain requires higher levels of Mn in order to cope with high levels of endogenously produced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Because (p)ppGpp mediates antibiotic persistence and virulence in several bacteria, our findings have broad implications and provide new leads for the development of novel therapeutic and preventive strategies against E. faecalis and beyond.