Low nitrogen content in soil is usually overcome by chemical fertilization. After long application period, high-dose and intensive use of N fertilizers can cause ammonia volatilization and nitrates accumulation in soil. In sustainable agriculture, the use of bacterial inoculant integrated with nutrient management system has a role in soil health and productivity. Azotobacter-based biofertilizer is suggested as a chemical nitrogen fertilizer substitute or addition in crop production to improve available nutrients in the soil, provide some metabolites during plant growth, and minimize fertilizer doses. The objective of this literature reviewed paper is to discuss the role of Azotobacter in agriculture; and the prospective of Azotobacter to increase yield and substitute the chemical fertilizer in food crops production. The results revealed that mechanisms by Azotobacter in plant growth enhancement are as biofertilizer, biostimulant, and bioprotectant. Nitrogen fixation by Azotobacter is the mechanism to provide available nitrogen for uptake by roots. Azotobacter stimulates plant growth through phytohormones synthesis; indole acetic acid, cytokinins, and gibberellins are detected in the liquid culture of Azotobacter. An indirect effect of Azotobacter is exopolysaccharide production and plant protection. Inoculation of Azotobacter in the field integrated with organic matter and reduced chemical fertilizer are reported to improve plant growth and yield.

Agricultural productivity in Buru Island, Maluku is threatened by tailings which are generated from formerly gold mine in Botak Mountain in Wamsait Village. Gold that extracted by using mercury was carried out in mining area as well agricultural field. High content of mercury in tailings and agricultural field pose a serious problem of food production and quality; and further endangers human health. The purpose of this research was to determine the contaminant level of mercury in tailing, soil and its accumulation in edible part of some food crops. Soil, tailing and plant samples for Hg testing were taken by purposive method based on mining activities in Waelata, Waeapo and Namlea sub district. Six soil samples had been analyzed for their chemical properties. Total mercury levels in tailings and plants were measured by Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometer. This study showed that agricultural field where tailings were deposited contained Hg above the threshold but agricultural area which is far from hot spot did not. Most edible parts of food crops accumulated mercury more than Indonesian threshold for mercury content in food. This evidence explained that tailings deposited on the surface of agricultural field had an impact on soil quality and crop quality. Tailing accumulated on soil will decreased soil quality since naturally soil fertility in agricultural field in Buru is low.

The spore-forming Bacillus and cysts forming Azotobacter are Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria which has been used as biofertilizer in sustainable agriculture since they tolerant to dried soil. Drought resistant microbes will be useful to coat urea in order to reduce the lost of nitrogen. The objectives of this preliminary study were to study the effect of molasse based liquid media on the population of Bacillus spore and Azotobacter vegetative cell and to determine the composition of four bacterial species in liquid formula. In the first experiment The Bacillus subtilis, B. megaterium, A. chroococcum and A. vinelandii were grown separately in 1% cane molasses enriched with 0.1% NH4Cl. As control treatment, The Bacillus and Azotobacter were grown in Nutrient Broth and Ashby’s mannitol broth respectively. In the second experiment, different composition of said Bacillus and Azotobacter were grown in molasses based liquid media prior to count the spore and vegetative cell. The results showed that molasses-based media supported bacterial growth and initial ratio 1:1:1:1 of liquid inoculant was effective to increase bacterial growth. This experiment suggested that the use of organic based media was useful practice of liquid biofertilizer formulation for granule urea coating.

Rice productivity in the tropics largely depends on fertilizers as soils are commonly low in nitrogen and phosphorus. Some farmers in this region cultivate rice using the hand-broadcast method, which has resulted in a low yield. Therefore, this on-farm experiment was conducted to compare the performance and yield of broadcasted and transplanted rice production systems under different fertilizer combinations. The experimental was set up in a split plot design with six combination treatments and seven replications. The main plots were planting methods comprised of transplanting and broadcasting. The subplots were a combination of NPK fertilizer, urea, and biofertilizer (BF) with and without compost, while the control treatment was NPK fertilizer and urea. The BF contained nitrogen fixer bacteria and phosphate solubilizer microbes. The results showed that fertilizer combination increased shoot height, root length, shoot and root dry weight (RDW), root-to-shoot ratio (R/S), tiller number, 1,000-grain weight, and yield but did not affect clump number. In addition, the planting method affected the parameters except for R/S and 1,000-grain weight. The yield of transplanted rice grown with NPK fertilizer and urea was 17.5% higher than that of the broadcasting method. Incorporation of chemical fertilizer combined with compost and BF resulted in a comparable yield; transplanted rice yield was only 2.18% more than broadcasted. This showed that diverse fertilizer application is needed to minimize the yield gap between broadcasted and transplanted rice.

Illegal gold mining and the resulting gold mine tailing ponds on Buru Island in Maluku, Indonesia have increased Mercury (Hg) levels in agricultural soil and caused massive environmental damage. High levels of Hg in soil lowers plant productivity and threatens the equilibrium of the food web. One possible method of handling Hg-contaminated soils is through bioremediation, which could eliminate Hg from the rhizosphere (root zone). In this study, indigenous fungi isolated from Hg-contaminated soil exhibited Hg-resistance in vitro. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of pioneer plants which grew naturally in areas contaminated with gold mine tailing. The fungi’s capacity for Hg-resistance was confirmed by their better growth in chloramphenicol-boosted potato dextrose agar media which contained various HgCl₂ concentrations. Four isolates exhibited resistance of up to 25 mg kg⁻¹ of Hg, and in an experiment with young Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) test plants, two fungi species (including Aspergillus) were demonstrated to increase the soil’s availability of Hg. The results suggest that Hg-resistant indigenous fungi can mobilize mercury in the soil and serve as potential bioremediation agents for contaminated agricultural land.

Indonesia has been practicing both symmetric and asymmetric decentralization for decades. This study believes that asymmetric decentralization should not only for those five provinces (Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Aceh, Papua and West Papua). If political considerations and the effectiveness and efficiency of government, asymmetric decentralization becomes a necessary choice for many other regions in Indonesia. This includes autonomous regions characterized by islands (archipelagic regions). Hence, this paper will discuss a number of reasons why archipelagic regions also need asymmetrical arrangements. How to make such arrangements functional? What potential challenges might be encountered? This study employs qualitative approach with theory-driven type. Operationally, this study is sustained by a series of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and documentary method. Aiming at strengthening the capacity of the government for more effective governance and development process, the uniqueness and various specific problems faced by archipelagic regions become the main reasons for applying asymmetric decentralization. Proposing a separate policy provides an effective strategy for certainty and functional de jure and de facto asymmetry arrangements. Handling various existing problems which could weaken the capacity to carry out asymmetric decentralization policy would be the most appropriate strategy to make the policy facilitates its potential benefits.