Abstract. Chotimah HENC, Kresnatita S, Miranda Y. 2013. Ethnobotanical study and nutrient content of local vegetables consumed in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 14: 106-111. People in Central Kalimantan consume vegetables collected from the wild or traditionally cultivated. Documentation effort of them is very important because the diversity of local vegetables is threatened with extinction due to the conversion of peat land and forest fires. This study aimed to determine the diversity of local vegetables in Central Kalimantan, its use as a vegetable and nutrient content of some vegetables. The method used was the exploration and interviews. Exploration was carried out in three districts, namely Palangkaraya, Pulang Pisau, and Seruyan. Sampling of plants was done randomly and selectively. Data analysis was performed descriptively. The results showed that we recorded 42 plant species belonging to 30 families. There were many vegetables processing: stir-fry, make into clear soup, a light coconut milk soup, acidic soup, or just consumed as fresh vegetables. Based on the nutritional value, Helminthostachys zeylanica (L.) Hook had a potential to be developed as vegetables or medicinal plant. It had the highest protein, carbohydrate and minerals, namely P, Fe, Na and K among the vegetables analyzed.

The increment of peat soil productivity meets through ameliorant addition. Ameliorant sources can be obtained from oil palm plantation and electric steam power station waste. The study aimed at investigating the ability of the oil palm fruit empty bunch (OPFEB) biochar, palm oil boiler ash (POBA) and coal fly ash (CFA) as alternative ameliorants besides compost to improve nutrient availability in peat soil of Central Kalimantan. Treatments tested were OPFEB biochar, POBA, CFA, compost, OPFEB biochar+compost, POBA+compost, and CFA+compost. The seven treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design of single factor with four replications. The results revealed that the ameliorants increased peat soil pH at a rate of 0.7 compared to those in initial soil used and available P of 135.7% even though there was no significant increment of exchangeable cations of K, Ca and Mg. Mixing of biochar, POBA or CFA with compost improved nutrients availability in peat soil.

Petuk Katimpun is one of the supplier villages for vegetable needs in the Palangka Raya city and its surroundings. At the abundant harvest, the prices of vegetables dropped sharply and were even worthless. Vegetables are left to rot in the tree, because there are costs to be taken to pick the vegetables. This is certainly very painful for the farmer. The farmers continue to lose money. One solution is to increase the value added of vegetables through processing technology. The technology of processing vegetable chips with vacuum frying is able to maintain the distinctive aroma and color of vegetables, crisper texture, lower vitamin damage and lower oil absorption. The purpose of this community service program is to transfer vacuum frying technology to increase the value added of the vegetables so that the level of the loss of farmers can be reduced. The approach were taken by  counseling, training and coaching and mentoring. The counseling was carried out by direct communication and interactive discussion, while training of using vacuum frying tools with various vegetable raw materials was carried out under the guidance of the service team. The coaching and group assistance were carried out in the acquisition of SPP-IRT as well as ways to access markets both directly and indirectly. The results of the community service program showed that 70% of partners were able to operate vacuum frying equipment. The capabilities of labeling and packaging were 100 % . They also had an ability to access markets indirectly through online media. The direct market could not be accessed due to  the SPP-IRT certificate has not been obtained. Key words : community empowerment, vegetables chip, vacuum frying

<p>Cultivating of melon particularly in Central Kalimantan has been widely undertaken by farmers, however, the yields have not been able to meet the melon needs of Central Kalimantan's community. One of the breakthroughs in overcoming the problem is by growing melons on swamp floating beds, namely ambul technology. Ambul is growing media from decomposed floating aquatic plants, constructed with bamboo or wooden as a frame, that is let floating on waters. The ambul based on the consideration that the community lacks access to land for most of the year, which reduces opportunities for growing crops. The research design used was Split Plot Design with three kinds of aquatic plants as the main factor namely <em>Eichornia crassipes, Salvinia molesta, Eleocharis palustris</em>, and two melon varieties as subplot factors specifically Action 434 and Amanta. The results showed that the Amanta variety grown on <em>S. molesta</em> media produced the highest value of crop length on 1, 2, 3 weeks after planting (WAP). <em>S. molesta</em> was the best planting media for enhancing flowering by 11.43 days after planting (DAP) and weight of fruit (3.18 kg per plant. The variety of Amanta also had the highest value of root dry weight of 1.33 g per plant and fruit weight of 2.08 kg per plant.</p>

Rorippa indica L. Hiern is a local vegetable that is widely consumed by Dayak’s tribe in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is mostly traditionally cultivated without fertilizers, resulting in low productivity. The research aimed to investigate the effect of fertilizers and soil type on the growth characteristics and N uptake of R. indica. The experiment was arranged in a factorial completely randomized design consisting of two factors with four replications. The first factor was fertilizer application (control, 20 t ha-1 of chicken manure, and 600 kg ha-1 of NPK), and the second was soil type (peat and Ultisol). The results revealed that the interaction of fertilizers and soil type gave a non-significant effect on all variables observed, except N uptake. The application of NPK increased the plant height and number of leaves significantly. Compared to control, the increment was 112.50% and 130.32%, respectively, and chicken manure application increased the dry weight (327.87%), N total (310.16%), and N uptake of plants by 478% in peat soil and 228% in Ultisol. This finding concludes that 20 t ha-1 of chicken manure can be applied to increase the productivity of R. indica.