Sorghum is an important food crop commodity in the midst of climate change conditions and the threat of a global food crisis. Sorghum, which has an adaptive advantage to all land conditions, is suitable for use as a food substitute for rice and wheat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic value, farmers’ perceptions, and specific strategies for developing sorghum in Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The research was conducted in Wonogiri Regency, Central Java, and Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta from September to November 2022. The research was carried out through the observation of 120 respondents with indicators of farming characteristics and farmers’ perceptions of sorghum development, as well as focus group discussions (FGD) and depth interviews with indicators of internal and external factors for sorghum development. The analysis used is benefit cost (BC) to evaluate the economic value of sorghum farming, the Likert scale to determine farmers’ perceptions of sorghum, and Strength Weak Opportunity Threat (SWOT) to determine specific strategies for developing sorghum. The results showed that sorghum farming is feasible to develop in Wonogiri Central Java and Gunungkidul Yogyakarta because it provides a profit value greater than production costs with a BCR value of >1. The perception of farmers in Central Java regarding the development of sorghum is included in the very good category with an average value of 3.31, and the perception of farmers in Yogyakarta is included in the good category with an average value of 2.55. The operational policy strategy for developing sorghum in Wonogiri Central Java and Gunungkidul Yogyakarta is an expansion strategy (S-O).

Sorghum is uniquely adapted to dryland and used by the Indonesian government to optimize the utilization of dryland and increase farmers’ incomes. The objective of this study was to analyze the contribution of sorghum to increasing income and the level of welfare of dryland farmer households in Wonogiri, Central Java, Indonesia. The study was conducted from October to December 2022 using a survey method through direct interviews with purposively selected sorghum-growing farmers. A set of questions included household income and expenditure. The average total income and expenditure indicators, poverty line figures, RMW, and ERFHI were used to measure the welfare level of farmer households. The study found that the income derived from sorghum contributes 22.87% to total household income and tends to increase household income by 29.65%. According to the average total income earned, farming households were in a prosperous condition. This can be seen from the total income, which is higher than the total expenditure, the average per capita income higher than the poverty line, the average total income higher than RMW, and the value of ERFHI at 1.25. Income derived from sorghum has increased by 21.43–56.00% from less prosperous households to prosperous ones. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the existing literature on sorghum development and farmers’ income and to be a reference for policy makers in formulating poverty alleviation programs and improving the welfare of farmer households, as well as expanding sorghum development by optimizing the utilization of agroecological, economic and social resources.

The high sedimentation rate of Rawapening Lake is both an environmental challenge and a potential resource. Seedlings currently rely on single-use plastic polybags, which contribute significantly to plastic waste. The use of mineral soil as a growing medium can accelerate natural resource depletion. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and sustainability of utilizing lake sediment as an alternative seedling media through soil block technology. An integrated Life Cycle Assessment was conducted to quantify the environmental impacts, and Multidimensional Scaling was applied to assess sustainability across environmental, technological, economic, social, and institutional dimensions. Field data from ten seedling producers using soil blocks and ten using polybags were analyzed. The results showed that soil block media reduced Global Warming Potential by 48% compared to polybags, increased phosphorus and organic matter content, and was more financially efficient, with an increase in productivity of 90.24% and a revenue cost ratio of 24.56%. Sustainability analysis classified the innovation as moderately sustainable, with the highest scores in the environmental and technological dimensions. Institutional support was identified as a limiting factor. These findings suggest that sediment-based soil block media are a viable, lower-impact alternative for seedling production, although scaling up will require policy and institutional support.

Background and Aim: The production of lignocellulosic biomass waste in the agricultural sector of Indonesia is quite high annually. Utilization of lignocellulosic biomass waste through fermentation technology can be used as feed and biofuel. Fermentation technology requires the involvement of micro-organisms such as bacteria (lactic acid bacteria or LAB). LABs can be isolated from various sources, such as duck excreta. However, there have not been many reports of LAB from duck excreta. The present study aimed to characterize LAB enzymes isolated from duck excreta and obtain LAB enzymes with superior fermentation properties. Materials and Methods: A total of 11 LAB cultures obtained from duck excreta in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, were tested. Enzyme characterization of each LAB was performed using the API ZYM kit (BioMérieux, Marcy-I’Etoile, France). The bacterial cell suspension was dropped onto the API ZYMTM cupule using a pipette and incubated for 4 h at 37°C. After incubation, ZYM A and ZYM B were dripped onto the API ZYM cupule, and color changes were observed for approximately 10 s under a strong light source. Results: Esterase activity was moderate for all LABs. The activity of α-chymotrypsin, β-glucuronidase, α-fucosidase, and α-mannosidase was not observed in a total of 10 LAB. The phosphohydrolase and amino peptidase enzyme activity of seven LABs was strong. Only six LAB samples showed protease activity. The glycosyl hydrolase (GH) activity was observed in a total of 8 LAB, while the activity of 2 LAB was strong (Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis K5 and Lactobacillus brevis M4A). Conclusion: A total of 2 LABs have superior properties. L. lactis subsp. lactis K5 and L. brevis M4A have a high potential to be used in fermentation. They have the potential for further research, such as their effectiveness in fermentation, lignocellulose hydrolysis, feed additives, molecular characterization to detect specific enzymes, and their specific activities. Keywords: API ZYM, duck, enzyme, excreta, lactic acid bacteria.

Excessive pesticide use and intensive shallot farming to satisfy high market demand can degrade soil quality and harm environmental sustainability. Sustainable agricultural practices, such as biochar and compost are alternatives to ensure long-term soil productivity and fertility. This study aimed to investigate the ability of biochar and compost made from bagasse waste to improve shallot growth, yield, nutrient absorption, and soil quality. The research used a factorial randomized block design in a greenhouse. The first factor was the application of biochar and compost (K1 = compost, K2 = biochar, K3 = biochar-compost (1:4/w:w) and K4 = biochar-compost (1:2/w:w), and the second factor was the dose of NPK fertilizer (0%, 50%, and 100% of the recommended dose). The planting medium used was an Inceptisol from shallot fields in Sukaharjo, Central Java. The variables measured included plant growth, yield components, soil chemical properties, and levels of N, P, and K in plants. The results showed that the combination of compost with 100% NPK fertilizer gave better results in plant growth, fresh and dry weight of plants and tubers, increased organic C, total N, and CEC of the soil, and increased the absorption of N, P, and K by plants.

Background Every year, the food supply must need to increase to accommodate population growth and food consumption increases. It causes the production of lignocellulosic biomass waste (LBW) in Indonesia from sector of agriculture and livestock also increase. Contrast to energy supply, energy demand increases but energy supply from fossil fuel become limit. More than 80% of LBW is dumped or burned, whereas the LBW has the potential as raw material of sustainable bioenergy, especially bioethanol to replace or mix with fossil fuel. This study aimed to predict the bioethanol production from potential of LBW to optimize its utilization. Potential of LBW production is estimated based on production of LBW lignocellulose component (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin). The novelty of this study is obtained predicted values for bioethanol production based on LBW production using a regression analysis model. Methods The data of LBW production is calculated based on converting waste of the crops production (for agriculture sector) and animal unit (AU) (for livestock sector). The data of LBW consist of rice straw, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, cassava peel, paunch content, and feces. This study use linear regression analysis model to predict bioethanol production from LBW. Results Estimation average LBW lignocellulose production in Indonesia is around 104.47 million tons, and can produce around 59.98 billion gallons (227.01 billion liters) of bioethanol. The regression model based on lignocellulose production (R2) was 0.9925 (cellulose), 0.9848 (hemicellulose), and 0.9294 (lignin). Production of LBW in Indonesia is highest in Southeast Asia and has increased 2.07% per year because crops production, ruminant population, and ruminants slaughtered increase. This value will continue to increase, same with bioethanol production from LBW production. Conclusions Overall, Indonesia has potential to produce bioethanol from LBW. Using the entire the LBW for bioethanol make it possible to meet domestic energy demands in a sustainable.