Desa Huntu Barat merupakan suatu kawasan yang secara geografis terletak berdekatan dengan Kota Gorontalo dan pusat ibukota Kabupaten Bone Bolango. Berdasarkan data Dinas Kesehatan Provinsi Gorontalo, Kota Gorontalo dan pusat ibukota Kabupaten Bone Bolango telah ditetapkan sebagai zona merah dan zona kuning penyebaran wabah Covid-19 sehingga hal tersebut berimbas terhadap tingginya resiko penyebaran Wabah Covid-19 di Desa Huntu Barat. Di sini yang lain, Desa Huntu Barat memiliki potensi pengembangan komoditas hortikultura sebesar 78,62% (BPS Kabupaten Bone Bolango, 2020) yang harus dioptimalkan agar tetap dapat menjadii sumber ketahanan pangan. Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan ketrampilan petani dalam pemanfaatan lahan kosong dan pekarangan rumah untuk pengembangan hortikultura di masa pandemi Covid-19. Metode pengabdian masyarakat yang digunakan adalah pemberdayaan petani dan ibu PKK melalui perencanaan pengembangan komoditas, pendampingan pemanfaatan lahan kosong, pembuatan sarana dan prasarana budidaya tanaman di pekarangan rumah, sekaligus sosialisasi dan penerapan protokol kesehatan Covid-19. Hasil yang diperoleh menunjukkan bahwa pelaksanaan program KKN Covid-19 di Desa Huntu Barat melalui kegiatan pemanfaatan lahan kosong dan pekarangan rumah tangga telah menghasilkan perencanaan pengembangan komoditas hortikultura, memanfaatkan lahan kosong untuk budidaya tanaman hortikultura, menghasilkan sarana dan prasarana budidaya hortikultura di pekarangan rumah, serta telah berhasil mensosialisasikan dan menerapkan protokol kesehatan Covid-19. Sebagai tindak lanjut dari kegiatan ini, maka disarankan perlunya pendampingan terus menerus kepada kelompok tani hortikultura dan ibu PKK baik oleh penyuluh pertanian maupun perguruan tinggi agar pengembangan komoditas hortikultura dapat berjalan secara berkelanjutan, perlu adanya ajang kompetisi dalam pembuatan gazebo dan diberikan reward agar motivasi warga dalam memanfaatkan pekarangan semakin meningkat, dan perlunya pendampingan penerapan protokol kesehatan di masa Pandemi Covid-19 sampai pada skala rumah tangga

This study aims to apply the water balance simulation model developed by Handoko (1992) for estimating the deficit and surp4lus water for the development of corn plants in the province of Gorontalo. This study was implemented from April to August 2014 in the District of Gorontalo. The study metods included field studies and modeling of water balance using a simulation model by Handoko (1992). The results showed that the period of water deficit was found in August and September where rainfall (Ch) is smaller than potential evapotranspiration (ETP) whereas periods of surplus water in the district of Gorontalo found in January to July and October to December where rainfall (Ch) exceeds potential evepotranspiration (ETP).

Coffee is a national strategic commodity that contributes to Indonesia’s foreign exchange, but its productivity remains low due to cultivation on low potential land. This study aimed to determine the land suitability of endemic liberica coffee using two different methods and formulate recommendations for land management in Pinogu Plateau. Thirteen land units were surveyed, and soil samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory to identify the land characteristics. Land suitability classes (LSCs) were compared by limiting factor and parametric methods. Analysis using the limiting factor method showed that the actual LSCs for liberica coffee consisted of moderately suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3) classes. Efforts for improvement could increase the potential of LSC to became very suitable (S1) and S2 classes. Meanwhile, the assessment with the parametric method indicated that the LSC consisted of S1, S2, and S3 classes. These results revealed that the parametric method provides more realistic land characteristics than the limiting factor method. Land management II  or the land that had a little limiting factor turned out to be more dominant with the recommendation of adding P and organic fertilizer.

Tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) is the most popular agricultural product with a high economic value in society. Thus, this study aims to determine the effect and interaction of adding coconut water and cow manure on the growth and yield of tomato plants. This research was conducted from August to October 2021 at Putri Mandiri Green House, Sipatana Subdistrict, Gorontalo City using a Factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The interval of adding coconut water consisted of 3 levels, while the adding of cow dung manure consisted of 4 levels. The results of this study indicated that the interval of adding coconut water and cow manure affected the growth and yield of tomato plants. It is further explained by the following results: 1) The interval of giving coconut water every 8 days has an effect on plant height, 2) The treatment once every 4 days has an effect on the number of leaves of tomato plants, 3) The adding of cow manure in the treatment of 120 g polybag-1gave an effect on the number of leaves, number of fruits, and fruit weight per tomato plant, and 4) The treatment of 60 g polybag-1 had an effect on the fruit weight of tomato plants. Besides, the interaction of treatment intervals of adding coconut water and cow manure did not affect the growth and yield of tomato plants.Keywords: Tomato Plants, Coconut Water, Cow Manure

The significant effect of land quality on maize production has not been fully considered in the existing land suitability criteria. Therefore, this study aims to determine land suitability criteria for hybrid maize in Boalemo Regency based on the optimum yield and land quality. It was carried out in Boalemo Regency, Indonesia, where the land unit of 67 units was surveyed to obtain land characteristics data. A partial least square of structural equation model (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS 8.0 was used to select a robust land quality controlling hybrid maize yield, while the boundary line method was used to determine optimum yield and differentiating of land suitability criteria. The result showed that land qualities that define the optimum yield of hybrid maize were root conditions, nutrient availability, nutrient retentions, land preparation, and erosion hazard. The soil characteristics were effective depth, coarse material, organic C, total N, K exchangeable, slopes, soil erosion, rock outcrops, and surface rocks. Furthermore, the highest optimum yield of 8.54 ton/ha was achieved by the total N and slopes for a very suitable class (S1), while the lowest of 5.58 ton/ha was obtained by exchangeable K for class S1. This showed that the combination of PLS-SEM and boundary line analysis was a better approach to developing new land suitability criteria for hybrid maize.