Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC) is one of the most widely used herbs in Toba Samosir and North Tapanuli, North Sumatera, at an altitude of 1,500 m asl, found growing wild in the Tapanuli area and used as spices in traditional Batak Angkola and Batak Mandailing. Beside North Sumatra, andaliman belonging to the family Rutaceae (family of oranges) is also found in India, China, and Tibet. This study was aimed to study the role of andaliman plants as a source of essential oils. Research method used was literature review from various resources, then understand, analyze, and discussed the results. The results of literature studies shown that andaliman are widely used as cooking spices for various cuisines because the content of citrus-colored citrus oil and has a spicy flavor like pepper. In addition, the essential oil from andaliman can also be used as an antimicrobial that can be utilized as a food preservative.

Studi jarak tanam dan naungan terhadap pertumbuhan dan potensi Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson sebagai tanaman penutup tanahStudy of plant distance and shade on growth and potential of Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anderson as cover crop Abstract. Cover crop is one of nature-based agricultural practices that can increase the provision of various ecosystem services in agroecosystems. A. gangetica is a weed that is often found in oil palm plantations and has the potential as a cover crop. This study aimed to study the optimum planting distance of growth and potential of A. gangetica as a cover crop on open and shaded land. The study was conducted at the Experimental Field, Faculty of Agriculture, UISU, Medan, from January to April 2018. The study used a Split Plot Design with three replications. The first factor as main plot was shade that consisted of two levels, there were: without shade and 50% shaded. The second factor as subplot was planting distance which consisted of three levels, there were: 10 cm x 10 cm, 20 cm x 20 cm, and 40 cm x 40 cm. The results showed that A. gangetica has the potential as cover crop because it grew fast, cover land rapidly, adapt to the environment, and able to suppress weed with an optimum planting distance of 20 cm x 20 cm.

AbstrakKlon GT 1 adalah klon Slow Starter (SS) dimana perubahan sukrosa menjadi partikel karet di dalam pembuluh lateks berlangsung lambat dan pada saat gugur daun hasil lateks lebih stabil. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan curah hujan dan sistem eksploitasi terhadap fisiologi dan hasil lateks klon GT1. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kabupaten Langkat Kecamatan Besitang Sumatera Utara, ketinggian tempat 500 – 700 m di atas permukaan laut. Analisa fisiologi lateks di PT. Sucofindo Indonesia. Tanaman yang digunakan adalah klon GT 1 umur 25 tahun dengan besar lilit batang antara 60 – 75 cm, diukur dengan ketinggian 130 cm dari permukaan tanah. Metode percobaan menggunakan Rancangan Split Plot. Petak utama adalah panjang alur  sadap, terdiri dari tiga taraf, yaitu panjang alur sadap 1/4 spiral, panjang alur sadap 1/2 spiral, dan panjang alur sadap 1/8 spiral. Anak petak adalah aplikasi stimulan, terdiri dari dua taraf, yaitu stimulan cair dan stimulan gas. Semua perlakuan diulang tiga kali. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa panjang alur sadap pendek dan aplikasi stimulan cair memiliki kadar sukrosa lateks tinggi . Aplikasi stimulan gas menunjukkan kadar sukrosa lateks yang tinggi pada panjang alur sadap panjang. Kadar tiol belum menunjukkan tingkat stress pada klon GT 1 dapat terlihat dari kadar tiolnya berkisar 0,84 – 1,10 mM. Produksi lateks klon GT 1 lebih dipengaruhi oleh sistem ekploitasi daripada  curah hujan.Kata Kunci: fisiologi lateks, Hevea brasiliensis, klon GT 1, slow starterAbstractGT 1 is a Slow Starter (SS) clone where the change of sucrose into rubber particles in the latex vessels is slow, and at the time of leaves fall, the latex yield is more stable. This study aimed to determine the relationship between agro-climate and exploitation system on the physiology and yield of latex clone GT1. The research was carried out in Langkat, Besitang, North Sumatra, at an altitude of 500 – 700 m above sea level. Physiological traits analysis of latex was conducted at PT. Sucofindo Indonesia. The plant used was a 25 years old GT 1 clone with a trunk circumference of 60 – 75 cm, measured at the height of 130 cm from the ground. The research method used Split Plot. The main plot was length of tapping path, consisted of 1/4, 1/2, and 1/8 spiral tapping groove length. The subplot was stimulant application, consisted of liquid and gas stimulant. The results showed that short tapping groove length and liquid stimulant application had high latex sucrose content, as given by long tapping groove length and gas stimulant application. Thiol level did not show the stress level in the GT 1 clone, it could be seen from the thiol level of 0.84 – 1.10 mM. Latex production of GT 1 clones was more influenced by the exploitation system than by rainfall.Keywords: GT 1 clone, Hevea brasiliensis, latex phyisiology, slow starter

Saat ini luas perkebunan kelapa sawit rakyat di Indonesia mencapai 41.44% dan lebih luas dari perkebunan kelapa sawit milik negara yang hanya seluas 3.87%. Namun, peranan perkebunan kelapa sawit rakyat tersebut masih belum optimal karena masih rendahnya produktivitas lahan dan hasilnya, sehingga dibutuhkan pengelolaan kultur teknis yang dapat mempertahankan produktivitas lahan dan hasil kelapa sawit secara berkelanjutan melalui pemberian kombinasi pupuk anorganik-organik dan penanaman tanaman penutup tanah (TPT). Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh pemberian pupuk anorganik-organik dan A. gangetica sebagai TPT dalam memperbaiki sifat kimia tanah dan pertumbuhan kelapa sawit TM-1. Penelitian menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok faktorial tiga ulangan dengan dua faktor perlakuan, yaitu kombinasi pupuk anorganik-organik dan TPT. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Interaksi perlakuan P4T1 (kombinasi pupuk anorganik100%-organik100% + TPT) dan P3T1 (kombinasi pupuk anorganik100%-organik 0% + TPT) mampu memperbaiki sifat kimia tanah dan pertumbuhan kelapa sawit TM-1, sedangkan secara mandiri perlakuan kombinasi pupuk anorganik 100%-organik 100% dan TPT A. gangetica menghasilkan bunga betina terbanyak dan bunga jantan terendah.