The purpose of this study was to evaluate (a) the performance of two modern rice varieties (non-tolerant and tolerant for saline soils) under different fertilizer management options, and (b) assess the yield gap and income increase through proper crop and nutrient management at different levels of soil salinity. Experiments were carried out in moderate and high levels of soil salinity in West Java, Indonesia. A split plot design with three replications was used. The main plots included two rice varieties, Inpari-30 Ciherang sub1 and Inpari-34 (tolerant variety for saline soils), and subplots included eight fertilizer management treatments. Farmer participatory field trials were also established across three levels of soil salinity with four different rice varieties, Sidenuk, Inpari 30, Inpari 34, and Inpari 35, and a fertilizer package consisting of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Under low and moderate soil salinities, Sidenuk and Inpari 30 with recommended practice had higher productivity and economic benefit compared to the saline tolerant rice varieties, Inpari 34 and Inpari 35. However, under high soil salinity, the yields of Inpari 34 and Inpari 35 with recommended practice were 93% higher than farmers’ practice, representing an exploitable yield gap of 1.3 t ha−1 and benefit above fertilizer cost of USD 301 ha−1. The combination of tolerant varieties and improved nutrient management use for rice production can therefore be used as a strategy for improving farmers’ income and livelihoods in coastal areas of Indonesia.

Super paired rows planting technology (Jarwo Super) is an integrated rice cultivation technology on irrigated rice field based on 2:1 paired rows designed to improve rice yield. The super 2:1 paired rows is defined as crop planting technique where by every two rows of rice plants was followed by one blank row and to be repeated for the next row arrangement. The technology super 2:1 paired rows consisted of: (1) improved variety; (2) bio-decomposer; (3) inorganic fertilizer and biofertilizer; (4) biopesticide and chemical pesticides; and (5) the use of agricultural machinery. The objective of this study was to determine the technical feasibility, financial feasibility, and the sensitivity analysis of the adopter of Jarwo Super farmers to be compared with the traditional planting farmers. The research was carried out in three provinces: Aceh Province, North Sumatra and South Sumatra Province. Data were collected using survey method using the structured questionnaires involving 267 Jarwo Super farmers and 214 traditional planting farmers. Results showed that rice yield obtained from the Jarwo Super adopter increased by 31% in Aceh, 37% in South Sumatra and 12% in North Sumatra. The cost allocation for Jarwo Super cultivation was about 37.19% and for the traditional planting farmers was 43.59%, the values of each R/C ratio was 2.69 and 2.29 and the B/C ratio was 1.69 and 1.29, respectively. The value of MBCR is 5.25 which mean the introduction of Jarwo Super technology was financially feasible. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the Jarwo Super technology was not sensitive to the changes of price and rice yield.

Abstract. Subekti NA, Sembiring H, Erythrina, Nugraha D, Priatmojo B, Nafisah. 2020. Yield of different rice cultivars at two levels of soil salinity under seawater intrusion in West Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 14-20. A tendency to use saline water in rice production is rising in recent years, but the adaptation of variety under saline conditions is still questionable. The aim of the study was to evaluate the response of several rice cultivars on the growth and yield of rice under seawater intrusion in West Java. Two salt-tolerant cultivars (Inpari 34 and Inpari 35), two promising lines (PL-1 and PL-2) and two modern cultivars (Inpari 30 (Ciherang sub1) and Sidenuk) were evaluated in two soil salinity levels. In each farmer's field a Randomized Complete Block Design was applied with three replications per treatment. Results showed that Sidenuk and Inpari 30 produced same yield compared to tolerant varieties and promising lines during dry season under moderate soil salinity. There were not much different among the cultivars tested in terms of plant height and tiller number as well as the biomass and harvest index. However, under high soil salinity seed germination, plant height, number of tillers per plant, above-ground biomass, spikelet number, percent of sterile florets and productivity were significantly affected. Saline tolerant varieties Inpari 34 and Inpari 35 showed their superiority compared to non-tolerant varieties. Both varieties produced 40% higher yield than Inpari 30 (Ciherang sub 1) and Sidenuk.

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The article describes a new idea of the maize value chain in Indonesia before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as we already know that it affected all aspects of life, including agriculture. This research was conducted in East Java, South Sulawesi, and East Nusa Tenggara Province through interviewing stakeholders of the maize value chain. Data collection was carried out at two periods, before and the first year of the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia. Using the value chain mapping analysis, governance analysis, and marketing efficiency analysis on the maize value chain, it is confirmed that all marketing institutions except feed producers (mills) experienced a decrease in the R/C ratio, and profits and marketing cost were increased all actors. The R/C values and feed mills profits were even higher during the COVID-19 pandemic than before. Although there was a 2.96% decrease in the selling price and a 16.6% increase in costs during the pandemic, the difference between the selling price and the purchase price reached 25%, the R/C value became higher during the pandemic. In general, maize value chain performance was still efficient because the average R/C obtained was more than zero (0.134). The increase in prices at the consumer level was not perfectly transmitted to farmers' level prices. Meanwhile, the prices decline at the consumer level was perfectly transmitted to that at the farmer level.