The aim of this study is to determine the marketing channels for Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) of palm oil plantations of farmers in Labuhanbatu Regency, which are carried out by traders, causing price fluctuations. The research method was based on library research, field research and qualitative analysis of primary data collected through interviews with a number of farmers, collector traders, and palm oil mills in Labuhanbatu and surrounding areas. The results of this study showed the real price fluctuations in the FFB trade in Labuhanbatu Regency, while the marketing function of farmers and the supply chain showed the same thing, even though they had different expenses for that function. Whereas the share margin found in the findings of this study was 62% with a marketing efficiency level of 30%. The study also found that FFB marketing channels in Labuhanbatu District had eight channel levels, but this research only confirmed one level, namely the third marketing channel. Thus, this study suggests that follow-up research will explore the remaining seven channels with similar and different topics and issues.

The study aimed to determine the response of giving MOL (Micro Local Organisms) to the growth of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescensL.) On peat media. The research was carried out in the villages of Sempurna, Aek Tapa, Rantauprapat, North Sumatra at the beginning of April to July 2018. The materials used for conducting the research were cayenne seeds, peat soil, bamboo shoot MOL, polybags, water. The tools used for the research are hoes, machetes, ropes, meters, scissors, saws, knives, liters and writing instruments. This study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) method with one factorial. This research was divided into 4 treatments which were repeated 10 times, namely: M0: Control, M1: Giving MOL as much as 1 liter / repeat, M2: Giving MOL as much as 1.5 liters / repetition, M3: Giving MOL as much as 2 liters / repetition. Micro Application of Local Organisms Bamboo shoots can increase the growth of cayenne. Giving Micro Bamboo 1 Local Organisms 1 liters gives a good response to the high growth of chili plants with the highest achievement of 1.98 cm difference. Giving Micro Bamboo Local Organisms 1 liters bamboo shoots gave a good response to the stem diameter of cayenne pepper with the highest achievement of the highest difference of 2.80 mm. Giving Micro Local Organisms bamboo shoots 2 liters give a good response to the number of leaves of cayenne pepper with the achievement of the highest difference of 13 strands. Keywords: bamboo shoots, Cayenne pepper, Local microorganisms, peat soil

Exploratory studies on microorganisms from the oil palm rhizosphere can be used to increase the nitrogen availability in acidic soils. The present study aimed to determine the soil nutrients and obtain the relationship among the soil chemical characteristics, as well as the morphological and microscopic characteristics of N-fixing bacteria isolates, in Ultisols from the oil palm rhizosphere. The Ultisols fertility was classified as very low to moderate. In addition, the increasing soil pH toward neutral increased the cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations (Ca2+, K+ and Mg2+), total N, organic C and available P. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolates with varied shapes (circular, concentric, irregular and diffuse) and edges (wavy, slippery and irregular) were found, and the dominant type of isolate presented raised elevation. Four types of isolate had a white color and only one a clear color. Three Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria isolates showed a bacillus shape.

Palm oil has become the most widely used vegetable oil in the world. The first physical task of the planting area is the preparation of the oil palm plantation field. Oil palm plantations necessitate land suitability research to assess if the land is appropriate and profitable. Crop production more competitive when a future land potential is assessed. Farmers’ lack of understanding of the nature of the field and the varieties of fruit to be planted renders determining their land’s suitability difficult. This study aims to develop a decision-support system for oil palm land suitability based on multicriteria analysis using the Preference Rating Organization Method for Enrichment Assessment (PROMETHEE) method. This method works by performing calculations based on the properties of each criterion. Based on seven metrics, alternative eight was determined to be the best location, with a net flow of 0.2143, accompanied by alternatives 1 and 6. Alternative seven, with a net flow of - 0.1786, was the least suggested.

This study evaluated the influence of selected superior bacterial isolates (SBI), biogas sludge, and their interactions on growth and nutrient uptake of upland rice grown in Ultisols. We used a randomized block design with two factors and seven replicates from October 2020 to April 2021. The first factor used selected SBI (B0 = untreated, B1 = nitrogen-fixing bacteria isolate (N3), B2 = phosphate solubilizing bacteria isolate (P7), B3 = isolate combination (N3+P7)). The second factor was the dosage of biogas sludge (S0 = untreated, S1 = 157.5; S2 = 315; S3 = 630 ml/polybag). The parameters were determined by ANOVA and followed by Duncan’s multiple range test at Р<0.05. The results showed that the isolate P7 significantly increased the N uptake by 20.77% and crop growth rate (CGR) of upland rice 2.81 times. Biogas sludge doses from 315 to 630 ml/polybag significantly increased plant height, uptake of N and P, total fresh and dry weight, and CGR of upland rice. The interaction between N3 and biogas sludge dosage of 630 ml/polybag significantly increased the CGR of upland rice. The application of isolates N3 and P7 and their combination with biogas sludge of 630 ml/polybag has the potential to increase the CGR of upland rice in acidic soils.

Spraying appropriately and regularly will help develop rice plants' growth and development to produce superior rice. These pesticides' spraying is sometimes uneven because of the vast land, limited human labor, and several other factors. that appropriate technology is needed that helps in the process of spraying rice pesticides using drones. Drones are deemed appropriate in spraying its advantages, among others, more effective, reducing the involvement of humans in work. Drones help track consistently and in detail the part of agricultural land that will be sprayed with pesticides, unlike humans. It is more automatic in monitoring, with the camera used on the drone can see the growth of rice plants directly and do recording or real-time connecting to the application server or IoT. Besides spraying pesticides, regular monitoring of plants can be done with drones. This study uses a UAV simulation for mapping the location of pesticide spraying, the results of contributions to large areas, and analysis of drone power consumption, which means allocating Drones to the area of land being managed.

The study obtains potential and identifies Superior Bacterial Isolates (SBI), i.e., nitrogen-fixing and phosphate solubilizing from biogas sludge. The potential test was conducted using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) within three replications, and the means were determined by ANOVA and DMRT at Р< 0.05. The molecular identification of SBI is used by the PCR-16S rRNA sequencing method. This study was conducted from January to August 2020. The result found in the N3 and P7 from biogas sludge was more potential in the availability of total-N and available-P compared to other isolates. It also was identified as similar to Bacillus paramycoides and Bacillus cereus, respectively. This information can be used as a reference that biogas sludge can be used to support soil fertility.

Farmers in Indonesia generally spray herbicides to control weeds and use tillage during the early stages of crop cultivation; consequently, these activities affect the weed composition and diversity. This study aimed to evaluate the dominance and diversity index of weeds and obtain abundance correlations according to the soil chemical characteristics, as well as the effect of the ammonium glufosinate herbicide, in different tillage systems. A non-factorial randomized block design was used, consisting of no-tillage (NT), 1-time tillage (T1) and 2-times tillage (T2), with three replications. The Cyperus rotundus and Ageratum conyzoides weed species were dominant in the tillages. The diversity indices were 2.261, 2.196 and 2.234 (moderate/stable condition), respectively for the NT, T1 and T2. For T2, there were increases of 2.82-folds, 41 populations and 2.43-folds, respectively for A. conyzoides, Cynodon dactylon and Euphorbia heterophylla, when compared to NT, while a decrease was observed in grasses for T1 and T2 (50.71 and 26.05 %, respectively). Moreover, there was a positive and significant correlation for E. heterophylla according to the soil cation exchange capacity (0.727). In contrast, four new weed species (Glyceria maxima, Leersia oryzoides, Scoparia dulcis and Anthoxanthum oculatum) were found due to the ammonium glufosinate application, in the different tillage systems.