Johan Iskandar

The contribution of Paraserianthes (Albizia) falcataria to sustainable swidden management practices among the Baduy of West Java

There is a prohibition on the use of modern external inputs, such as chemical fertilizers, in Baduy swidden farming. Ordinarily, the consequence of this in a situation of acute forest pressure would be a decrease in fallow times, and an inevitable depletion of soil fertility. The Baduy (particularly Outer Baduy) have several ways of alleviating this problem, one of which is the introduction of Paraserianthes (Albizia) falcataria. By alternating this commercially valuable perennial leguminous tree with rice, soil fertility is maintained and the socio-economic position of the Baduy improved. As a result, swidden farming, which is considered by the Baduy to be central to their cultural identity, continues to be viable, despite increasing population density and the continuing depletion of mature forest.

Leunca (Solanum americanum Mill.): The uses as vegetable in two villages in Upper Citarum Area, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

Pranoto, Rosariastuti R, Prihandoko A. 2018. Short Communication: The utilization and effectiveness test of andisol soil-bioball-Agrobacterium sp. toward heavy metal chrome removal. Biodiversitas 19: 1955-1959. This study was aimed to determine chrome metal adsorption and bioremediation ability using andisol soil, bioball, and Agrobacterium sp. The andisol soil characterization was performed by Fourier Transform Infrared Analyzer (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Surface Area Analyzer (SAA) while the cell quantity of Agrobacterium sp. was calculated by hemocytometer method. Determination of adsorption and bioremediation effectiveness was done using several parameters such as effect of pH solution, ratio variation of andisol soil-bio ball-Agrobacterium sp, and contact time. The pH variation was ranged from 1-6, while the composition variation of andisol-bioball-Agrobacterium sp. were 2: 0: 0, 1, 5: 1: 5, 1: 2: 10, 0, 5: 3: 15, and 0: 4: 20 (gr: item: mL), and contact time of 30,60,90,120, and 150 minutes. The result of this research shows that the optimum adsorption and bioremediation of Cr metal at pH 5, while the optimum ratio of andisol soil-bioball-Agrobacterium sp was 1, 5: 1: 5 (gr: item: mL), with the contact time for 120 minutes with Cr decrease percentage of 71.3%. The adsorption isotherm followed Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm.

Introduction of Paraserianthes falcataria in the traditional agroforestry ‘huma’ in Karangwangi Village, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia

Iskandar J, Iskandar BS, Partasasmita R. 2017. Introduction of Paraserianthes falcataria in the traditional agroforestry ‘huma’ in Karangwangi Village, Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 18: 295-303. This paper discusses the result of study on introduction of ‘jengjen’ (Sundanese name) (Paraserianthes falcataria (L.) Nielsen in development of traditional agroforestry, ‘huma’ in Village of Karangwangi, Sub-district of Cidaun, District of Cianjur, Province of West Java, Indonesia. Method used in this study was qualitative with ethnoecological and biological approach. Observation and deep interview with informants were used to collect data. The result of study shows that although the population of Karangwangi Village has increased, the forest decreased, and intensively penetrated market economy, the huma system has continually practiced by village people. Unlike in the past, nowadays, the huma has been practiced in the non-forest instead of the forest. The huma system has been modified by people to be more permanent of traditional agroforestry system, such as bamboo garden (kebon awi), mixed of wood trees (kebon kai), and mixed fruit and wood trees (talun). In addition, due to more intensive in cultivation of agricultural land, Karangwangi people have adopted and cultivated jengjen plant in the huma farming system that had initially introduced by the Forestry Office (Dinas Kehutanan) through the regreening program. Moreover, the jengjen plant has been adopted and cultivated by the village people, such as integrated in the development of traditional agroforestry huma. It is caused this plant has provided some benefits, such as to improve soil fertility and to provide economic benefits, and does not eliminate the swidden farming (huma) system tradition of the people.