The research aimed to know the performance of seedlings and farmers’ perceptions of Shallot seed nursery techniques using soil blocks. The study was conducted in Grobogan Regency from September - November 2018. The research method used three nursery techniques, namely a seedbed with soil block, plastic bags, and plumbing. The data collected included technical data, namely data on the growth and productivity of shallots, and data on farmers’ perceptions of nursery techniques obtained by interviewing 30 farmers. Technical data were analyzed descriptively use an average value and t-test, evaluated farmer’s perceptions using 11 attributes and five evaluation scales, which were analyzed using a 5-scale interval scoring technique. The results showed that the average shallot productivity obtained by the soil block nursery technique was higher than the other nursery techniques. Farmers have a good perception of soil block nursery techniques compared to other methods because shallot seeds are very easy to grow, seedlings are very easy to move to the planting area, seedlings are very easy to grow in planted area, seedlings thrive in planted area, and size of the resulting bulbs is very big. The soil block nursery technique is an alternative to increasing shallot production.

The study aimed to analyze the effect of organic fertilizer, biochar and hormone to the bulb splitting in cultivation of true shallot seed. The research was conducted in Grobogan Regency, in March-June 2019. The applied experimental design was Split-Split Plot with three replications. The main plot treated with organic fertilizer (P) consisted of P1=5 t/ha, P2=10 t/ha, and P3=20 t/ha, the subsidiary plot treated Biochar (B) marked B1=without Biochar and B2=Biochar 12.5 t/ha, and the sub-subsidiary plot was treated with Hormone (H); H1=without hormone, H2=with hormone; altogether were 12 treatment combinations and 36 experimental plots. Parameters observed were plant height, number of leaves, number of plants/clump, number of bulbs/clump, number of bulbs splitting, bulbs diameter, and dry weight of bulb/clump. Data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA, and if there was a significant difference between treatments, it was tested with the Duncan Multiple Range Test at a 5% level. The results showed that the provision of biochar as many as 12.5 tons/ha positively affected the growth components and the yield components of true shallot seed (number of plants/clump, number of bulbs/clump, number of bulbs splitting, bulbs diameter, and dry weight of bulb/clump).

No abstract

No abstract

The Highland of Magelang Regency has a strategic role as a vegetable production center in Central Java. Farmers in the highlands of Magelang cultivate various types of vegetables. Since highland vegetable farming hugely depends on rainfall as a primary water source, climate change remarkably affects farming. Vegetable farmers often encounter problems due to climate changes in drought and highly intense rainfall, which caused crop damage. Since specific studies on vegetable farmers’ adaptation strategies to cope with climate changes and their economic effects are still limited, this research aimed to study the phenomenon. The observation was performed by interviewing all members (20 farmers) of the Mutiara Organic farmers group in Sumberejo Village, Ngablak Sub-Regency, Magelang Regency, conducting field observation and soil analysis in September-November 2018. The results showed that farmers developed several adaptation strategies to deal with climate change, namely applying multiple cropping systems, developing organic agriculture, growing vegetables under plastic shelters, and expanding a vegetable nursery as an alternative source of income. Farmers cultivated extra crops in the wet season due to abundant water availability. Organic vegetable farming, which began in 2013, from the higher value of the benefit-cost ratio, was more profitable than non-organic farming. Besides, organic farming’s land quality was also better based on organic carbon (C-organic), Nitrogen (N), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), and other nutrients. Therefore this study recommended to develop organic vegetable farming on a broader scale and seriously support farmers’ vegetable nursery business, since it was profitable, contributed significant income for farmers, and strategic for vegetable farming industries development.