Abstract-

The main enemy in rice production is the attack of stinky bugs, brown planthoppers, grasshoppers, ladybugs, aphids, and others. This attack inhibits the growth of rice plants, thereby reducing production or even thwarting the harvest. Chemical pesticide application can reduce pests and diseases. However, the long-term use of chemical pesticides can disrupt the ecosystem. This study aims to study the application of plant-based pesticides to the presence of pests and predatory insects for rice plants. The research was begun with the preparation of citronella-based pesticide from citronella extract obtained by mixing citronella with water at a weight ratio of 2:1. The extract was mixed with water at a ratio of 1 liter for 50 ml of citronella extract. The application of the prepared pesticide was carried out by spraying 21-DAP (day after planting) rice plants at two plots sizing 400 m2 each. The types and numbers of pests and predatory insects were observed before every pesticide application. Spraying was repeated weekly for the following 4 weeks. Results showed a decrease of insects in experimental plots A and B after the application of pesticides. After the fourth application, only one type of insect (green grasshopper) was found in plot A, and no insect was found in plot B. However, four types of insects were found in the control plot. The application of citronella-based pesticides is also related to the decrease of predatory insects’ population.

This study aims at determining the effect of the torrefaction process on the fuel quality of biomass pellets made from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB). The torrefaction process was carried out using a rotary reactor, which has a cylinder with a diameter of 15 cm and a length of 15 cm made from an iron plate. The cylinder was heated externally using a horizontal heater fueled with LPG. The reactor cylinder was filled with 1.5 kg of clean sand to homogenize the heat transfer and prevent pellets from colliding during the process. The torrefaction process was conducted with a load of 300 grams of EFB pellets at temperatures around 240-310 °C at variations of reaction time (20, 30, and 45 min.) and the reactor cylinder rotation speed (16, 31, and 37 RPM). The results showed that the torrefaction process improved the quality of the EFB pellet fuel. This was reflected from the very low moisture content (0.32-0.52 %) of torrefied pellets and its calorific value, which increased from 15.82 MJ/kg (without torrefaction) to 17.59 MJ/kg (with torrefaction for 45 minutes). Torrefied pellets showed good hydrophobicity where the pellet was not broken when immersed in water for 24 hours. Pellet without torrefaction was destroyed in water just in one minute.

Straw is a waste produced from the threshing and harvesting of rice. So far, rice straw has only been removed. In fact, it can be used as a potential energy source. This paper aims to examine the potential of rice straw as a renewable energy source in Indonesia. Opportunities and challenges were evaluated based on extensive and in-depth literature review. The paper discussed rice straw potential, its characteristics and benefits of using straw energy. Technology to convert rice straw into energy was also discussed. Results showed that renewable energy potential of rice straw is 28.8 TJ/year. Conversion technologies that can be applied include densification, combustion, gasification, and biogas. The biggest challenge for using rice straw energy is collection and transportation. Densification may overcome density problem by producing high quality pellets or briquettes that reduce transportation and storage costs. Straw characteristics need to be improved to increase its combustion properties.

Konsumsi beras di Indonesia sangat tinggi karena beras merupakan  sumber karbohidrat utama dalam pola makan sebagian besar masyarakat Indonesia. Akibatnya ketergantungan terhadap produksi beras sangat tinggi. Tingkat ketergantungan masyarakat terhadap satu sumber karbohidrat saja perlu dikurangi karena akan berdampak terhadap ketahanan  pangan.  Salah satu pendekatan untuk mengurangi tingkat ketergantungan terhadap beras adalah melalui diversifikasi pangan, yaitu dengan pembuatan beras analog.  Penelitian ini bertujuan mempelajari pengaruh penambahan vanili pada beras analog berbahan baku tepung ubi kayu yang diperkaya dengan protein ikan lele terhadap aroma yang dihasilkan.  Bahan dan alat utama yang digunakan adalah tepung ubi kayu, ikan lele dan vanili bubuk.  Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan Faktorial.  Faktor pertama adalah penambahan tepung ikan lele  (5%, 7,5%, dan 10%) dan faktor kedua penambahan konsentrasi aroma vanili  (5 g, 7 g dan 10 g) dengan 2 kali ulangan. Parameter yang diukur : densitas, daya serap, kekerasan, kadar air, warna, dan uji sensorik.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa beras analog yang dihasilkan memiliki karakteristik densitas berkisar 0,63 % - 0,71 %, daya serap 85,2 % - 107,4 %, kekerasan 7,01 – 9,19, dan kadar air 7,10 % - 11,52 %. Penambahan aroma vanili tidak berpengaruh terhadap karakteristik beras analog. Beras analog yang paling disukai panelis adalah beras dengan penambahan tepung ikan lele 5% dan vanili 10 gr/kg.Kata Kunci : Tepung ubi kayu; tepung ikan lele; dan aroma vanili.