In Indonesia, Inceptisols is the largest soil order on which intensive agriculture is done. The fertility of this soil order is low, so that it is necessary to improve the soil fertility by using biofertilizers and organic matter. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effect of a biofertilizer that contains microbe Azotobacter sp., Vermicompost and N, P, K Fertilizer on N content, the population of Azotobacter sp., and the yield of the Edamame soybeans at Inceptisols Jatinangor. A Field experiment was conducted by using Randomized Blocked Design consisted of 10 treatments and three replication. The combinations of these treatments consisted of: control (no treatment), the dose recommendation Urea 100 kg ha^-1 + SP36 150 kg ha^-1 + KCl 125 kg ha^-1, 5 ton ha^-1 vermicompost + ½ recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K, 5 ton ha^-1 vermicompost + 1 recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K, 5 ton ha^-1 vermicompost + 1½ recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K, 10 ton ha^-1 vermicompost + ½ recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K, 10 ton ha^-1 vermicompost + 1 recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K, 10 ton ha^-1 vermicompost + 1½ recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K, 5 ton ha^-1 vermicompost + ½ recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K + liquid biofertilizers 5 L ha^-1, 10 ton ha^-1 Vermicompost + ½ recommendation ha^-1 N, P, K + liquid biofertilizers 5 L ha^-1. The experimental results showed that the combined treatment of liquid biofertilizer, Vermicompost and N, P, K fertilizer enhanced the population of Azotobacter sp. and weight of soybean but did not significantly influence N uptake.

The use of high chemical fertilizer rates in potato production has been applied on the farm in Indonesia. Application of biofertilizer consists of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi has been tested to reduce the use of NPK rates in production of potato and to determine whether different soil types will have different response to this biofertilizer. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using mixtures of spores of Glomus sp. and inoculant of mycorrhizal helper bacteria Pseudomonas diminuta, applied at different rates of NPK fertilizer (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended rates) and different soil types (Andisols and Inceptisols). Results of experiment showed that application of Glomus sp. and P. diminuta reduced the use of NPK up to 50%, where the growth (plant height and tuber number), N,P,K uptake and tuber yields of potato had similar effect to the highest recommendation rate of NPK fertilizer. Inceptisols in general had better response to the biofertiliser compared to Andisols. Findings from this experiment confirmed the evidences that biofertilizer could reduce the use of chemical fertilizer, and the widely distributed soil in Indonesia such as Inceptisols, is potential to be used as a medium for potato production.

Mycorrhiza has been known could increase plants’ nutrient uptake through promoting root zone which resulted in higher yield production. A glasshouse experiment was conducted to optimize the technology for arbuscular mycorrhiza biofertilizer production through hydroponic system with automatic watering system and nutrient solution modification. Sorghum bicolor was used as host plants, grown for six weeks on medium contained mixture of zeolite and rice husk charcoal with the addition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculum. Different hydroponic techniques (Deep Flow and Ebb Flow) and phosphorus content in nutrient solutions (0, 20, 40, 80 ppm) were tested. Results showed that different types of hydroponic system and rates of P in nutrient solution gave significant differences in increasing mycorrhizal colonization in roots, number of mycorrhizal spores, P uptake and biomass of plants. The best hydroponic technique was Ebb Flow with P content 40 ppm which was 50% lower than the standard nutrient solution for hydroponic. These findings suggest that the production of mycorrhiza biofertilizer through optimization of nutrient solution and growing medium in hydroponic system was potential for future practice. This technology could be used for mass production of “clean” and good quality of mycorrhizal biofertilizer.

Food security in Asia’s most populous nations, namely China, India, and Indonesia, is increasingly threatened by declining soil health and reduced land productivity. This study explores the extent to which land degradation, including topsoil loss and nutrient depletion, impacts agricultural output across these countries. A total of 1440 articles were retrieved from Scopus and ScienceDirect databases, and 39 were selected for detailed analysis based on PRISMA guidelines, focusing on the period from 2018 to 2025. A bibliometric analysis was also performed to evaluate the trends, research gaps, and emerging themes in the field of land degradation and soil health. The findings indicate that widespread degradation has significantly contributed to food production reduction particularly through erosion-induced yield losses, nutrient imbalance, and declining soil fertility. Region-specific challenges were identified: yield reduction in India’s intensively farmed plains, soil degradation in China’s mountainous zones, and land loss in Indonesia’s river-adjacent and upland areas. In response, the study proposes area-specific strategies tailored to the distinct needs of hilly regions, plains, and areas near rivers. However, implementation remains constrained by financial limitations, lack of technical support, and policy gaps. This study underscores the need for integrated soil restoration strategies, science-based monitoring, and context-driven policies to enhance sustainable food production. Addressing land degradation through a coordinated framework is essential for building resilient agricultural systems under increasing climate variability and population pressure.

Utilization of phosphorhizobacteria has the potential to increase the growth of maize by producing organic acid and promoting its phosphatase activity. The research to investigate the capability of phosphorhizobacteria isolates to produce organic acids to convert organic P into inorganic P so that P is available and can increase the nutrient uptake by plants. The experiment was conducted at the Soil Biology Laboratory in Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. It was arranged as complete randomized factorial design, consisted of 16 treatments (combination of singular and consortia of phosphorhizobacteria isolates: J1M, J3T and J5H and two concentrations) with 3 replications. The suspension of phosphorhizobacteria isolates were inoculated into media Murphy then planted the maize seedlings into it. The produced organic acid, phosphatase enzyme and seedling growth were measured at 14 days after planting. Results showed that phosphorhizobacteria isolates has the ability to produce oxalic acid, tartaric acid, acetic acid, lactic acid and maleic acid along with maize seedlings. The interaction of consortia phosphorhizobacteria isolates (J1M+J3T) capable to increase maize biomass 21.87% higher than control and P uptake by 3.13 mg/100 g. The J5H isolate can significantly promote the highest phosphate solubilizing index and phosphatase activity

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is a biological fertilizer that can function as an ameliorant which capable in increasing plant growth and yield of plants. Some vegetables such as kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown in Indonesia using substantial amount of NPK lettuce which has an impact on land degradation. The aim of this experiment were to determine whether AMF application technology can reduce the use of NPK application and can increase nutrient uptake of N, P, K, Fe, growth and yield of kangkong and lettuce grown on Andisols. This experiment was carried out at Screen House in Lembang District, West Java. This study used an experimental method with split plot design with two levels and three replications and applied on two types of vegetable plants. The main plot was AMF application (without and with AMF) and sub plot was various dosages of NPK (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%) of recommended dosages. Results of this study indicated that the application of AMF increased nutrient uptakes, growth and yield of vegetables. The AMF showed highest values at a dosages of 50% NPK, in terms of parameters of plant height, leaf number, N, P, K uptakes, chlorophyll contents, fresh root weights, root lengths and total mycorrhizal root lengths. Consequently, AMF was effective at low NPK dosages and was able to reduce the use of NPK dosages up to 50%. In conclusion, AMF has potential to be used in sustainable agriculture system