The aim of this study was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of glued laminated timber (glulam) manufactured from small-diameter logs of three wood species, Acacia mangium (mangium), Maesopsis eminii (manii), and Falcataria moluccana (sengon), with densities of 533, 392, and 271 kg/m 3 , respectively.Glulam measuring 5 cm by 7 cm by 160 cm in thickness, width, and length, respectively, was made with three to five lamina, or layers, and isocyanate adhesive. The glulams contained either the same wood species for all layers or a combination of mangium face and back layers with a core layer of manii or sengon. Solid wood samples of the same size for all three species were included as a basis for comparison. Physical-mechanical properties and delamination tests of glulam referred to JAS 234:2003. The results showed that the properties of same species glulam did not differ from those of solid wood, with the exception of the shear strength of glulam being lower than that of solid wood. Wood species affected glulam properties, but three-and five-layer glulams were not different except for the modulus of elasticity. All glulams were resistant to delamination by immersion in both cold and boiling water. The glulams that successfully met the JAS standard were three-and five-layer mangium, five-layer manii, and five-layer mangium-manii glulams.

The oil palm independent smallholder (farmer) is one of the important actors in maintaining the continuity of the production cycle in the oil palm agro-industry supply chain in Indonesia. Various fundamental problems faced by the independent smallholder are related to land legality as well as their limited ability to manage good agricultural practices, access funds and information on current prices, and use of quality and agricultural production facilities. The institutional strengthening of the independent smallholder requires attention and support from government and other business actors in the supply chain of the oil palm agro-industry. This study aims to obtain a model of institutional strengthening through the application of the enrich seven steps of soft system methodology. The assumptions that must be fulfilled in strengthening this institution were described. The institutional strengthening model was developed in three stages, i.e., the establishment of smallholder corporations, the establishment of independent cooperatives, and the revitalization of the Indonesian oil palm independent smallholder association. Various individual strengthening actors were investigated and then integrated. The suggested institutional strengthening model involved cooperatives, smallholder farmers groups, and the oil palm mill, supported by regulatory, financial, and input provider agencies with a mutual partnership program.

No abstract

Mindi (Melia azedarach) wood with density of 0.43 g/cm 3 from Indonesia and sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) wood with density of 0.34 g/cm 3 from Japan were treated with borax preservative, acetylation, polystyrene, and smoke. Treated and untreated wood samples were tested for resistance against subterranean termite (Coptotermes curvignathus) and dry wood termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus) in the laboratory according to Indonesian standards. In addition to determining resistance of treated woods to termite attack, this work also evaluated termite feeding rates. The results showed that mindi has better resistance to subterranean and dry wood termite attack than sugi. All treatments effectively increased resistance to subterranean and dry wood termite attacks as shown by treated wood samples having less weight loss, higher resistance class, higher termite mortality, and a lower termite feeding rate compared to untreated wood. Daily termite feeding rate of untreated mindi was 50.3 lg/ termite and sugi 95.8 lg/termite, the feeding rate of sugi was higher than mindi probably because sugi has a lower density and contains early wood, which both make termite feeding activity easier. The wood treatments effectively decreased the daily feeding rate of the termites.

No abstract