The importance value index and diversity are important indicators to determine the dynamics and stability of the vegetation community. The objectives of the study were (1) to determine the importance value index of seedlings, saplings, poles and trees composing the Bruno Forest community in SUBKPH Lumajang (2) to know the diversity of seedlings, saplings, poles and trees composing the Bruno Forest community in SUBKPH Lumajang. The research was conducted in the Bruno Forest Area, SUBKPH Lumajang, East Java. The plot method was used in this study with nested plots measuring 2x2m2 for seedlings, 5x5m2 for saplings, 10x10m2 for poles, and 20x20m2 for trees. The number of samples was 30 plots placed systematically, with a distance between plots of 20m. The conclusions of this study are (1) the forest vegetation community of Bruno Forest area is composed of 9 species belonging to 6 families, at tree level dominated by Pinus merkusii, at pole level by Swietenia macrophylla species, saplings and seedling level dominated by Calliandra surinamensis (2) Diversity at tree and pole level was categorized as high while at sapling and seedling level was categorized as moderate. The species evenness index at the tree, pole and saplling level was categorized as high, while at the seedling level it was categorized as medium.

Cendawan mikoriza arbuskula (CMA) mempunyai beragam peran dalam banyak agroekosistem, termasuk perkebunan kelapa sawit. CMA menjadi bagian strategis dalam budidaya kelapa sawit secara berkelanjutan, termasuk perkebunan rakyat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap diversitas dan populasi CMA dalam hubungan dengan sifat tanah perkebunan rakyat. Sampel tanah komposit diambil dari zona perakaran kelapa sawit sedalam 5-20 cm pada 6 lokasi perkebunan rakyat yang berbeda. Isolasi dan kerapatan spora CMA ditentukan dengan metode tuang saring dilanjutkan dengan identifikasi genus dan observasi kolonisasi kelapa sawit. Sifat tanah diamati untuk menentukan status hara, kandungan bahan organik, pH dan KPK. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan diversitas CMA di perkebunan rakyat rendah, hanya ditemukan 3 genus dengan kerapatan yang berbeda. Acaulospora sp. ditemukan pada semua kebun dengan kerapatan tertinggi dan Glomus sp. dengan kerapatan rendah, sedangkan Gigaspora sp. jarang ditemukan. Spora Acaulospora sp. dan Glomus sp. melimpah pada tanah masam dengan kandungan bahan organik rendah. Spora CMA tidak ditemukan pada tanah yang mempunyai pH netral dan kandungan bahan organik, P total dan tersedia, Fe dan Zn yang tinggi dan sering kalitergenang (kebun Sungai Kupang). Acaulospora sp. dan Glomus sp. berpotensi besar menjadi pupuk hayati untuk perkebunan kelapa sawit rakyat, terutama pada tanah yang kurang subur.Kata kunci : sifat tanah, perkebunan sawit rakyat, diversitas, FMA

Frond base fracture is an increasingly common phenomenon in oil palm plantations caused by various stress factors. This study aimed to determine the incidence of frond base fracture in the plantation where different nutrient sources were applied (palm oil mill effluent, oil palm EFB, and organic fertilizers) in relation to the dynamics of oil palm inflorescence. The incidence of frond base fracture and the production of male and female inflorescences were observed in 30 sample trees for each nutrient source. Observations were made three times with an interval  monthly. To reveal the research objectives, it used descriptive analysis. The results showed that the routine application of POME increased the susceptibility of oil palms to fractured fronds and the sex ratio was higher other than that of  EFB; the lowest incidence was found in the palm that was given inorganic fertilizers. frond base fracture trees produced fewer female inflorescence, although the number of male ones did not differ between frond base fracture palm and healthy ones.

Produktivitas perkebunan kelapa sawit rakyat rendah dan upaya peningkatannya menghadapi tantangan yang semakin besar dengan meningkatkatnya dampak negatif perubahan iklim. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui komponen kultur teknis manajemen konservasi tanah dan air dan tingkat penerapannya antara petani plasma dan petani swadaya. Purposive sampling dipergunakan untuk menentukan responden petani yang berasal dari petani plasma (satu kelompok tani) dan petani swadaya (dua kelompok tani) dengan kelapa sawit yang ditanam tahun 2009-2011. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Desa Laburan, Kabupaten Paser, Kalimantan Timur. Hasil penelitian dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa petani telah menerapkan kultur teknis kebun yang adaptif untuk menghadapi resiko kekeringan dan banjir. Kultur teknis tersebut berkenaan dengan manajemen gulma dan vegetasi bawah; pemupukan dan menajemen tajuk (pruning); pemanfaatan pelepah yang dipruning dan tandan kosong sebagai mulsa dan sumber bahan organik; siklus panen tandan buah; manajemen kebakaran; dan integrasi tanaman selama TBM dan TM awal kelapa sawit. Umumnya ramam kultur teknis tersebut lebih banyak diterapkan oleh petani plasma yang selama ini memperoleh bimbingan dan bantuan teknis dari perusahaan inti daripada petani swadaya yang didampingi secara terbatas oleh penyuluh ataupun pedagang perantara (toke).

Sustainable intensification of oil palm plantations faces the challenge of decreasing soil fertility and increasing the price of inorganic fertilizers. Organic matter plays an important role in maintaining soil fertility. Empty fruit bunches (EFB) are the main co-product of palm oil mills that have the potential to be used as a source of organic matter and nutrient sources. This study aims to reveal the effect of the application of empty fruit bunches in increasing the effectiveness and substituting inorganic fertilizers for the components of oil palm production. The number of female inflorescence, the number of FFB and the average weight of FFB were observed for 3 years on palm aged 8, 9 and 10 years. Application of EFB + 70% recommended inorganic fertilizer. The recommended fertilizer is 8 kg per tree (N P K Mg 14-28-6-2 +0.5 B). EFB are applied as one layer of mulch with a size of 3x4 m on a dead net. The results showed that the application of empty bunches could increase the number of female flowers and the number of FFB in plants aged 9 and 10 years (1-2 years after application), while inorganic fertilizer EFB was only at the age of 8 years (0 years after application) for both production components. FFB weight one year after application of EFB+70% inorganic fertilizer (age 9 years ) was higher than 8 and 10 year aged  plants. The application of EFB+70% inorganic fertilizer can increase the contribution of nutrients from fertilizers compared to the application of inorganic fertilizers solely.