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.

Gold mine tailing in Buru island, Maluku Province, Indonesia contains high level of mercury but low in carbon and plant nutrients. Revegetation in such condition needs certain soil treatment which is suitable for plant growth. The objective of pot trials was to study the effect of indigenous Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Azotobacter and organic matter on bacterial survival as well as growth of groundnut grown in mine tailing. The experimental design was a Split Plot Design which tested three types of Azotobacter liquid inoculant and three soil total organic carbon (TOC) contents. Results showed that Azotobacter inoculation increased Azotobacter population in tailing at the end of vegetative growth of groundnut. Total nitrogen content in soil decreased when TOC level increased. However, nitrogen uptake and growth of groundnut did not change after Azotobacter inoculation or manure amendment. These experiments provided information that Azotobacter inoculation on groundnut maintain its proliferation in Hg-contaminated mine tailing.

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.

Phosphorus availability is the major constraint for plant growth in the acid soil ecosystem, due to high fixation by Al and Fe. Microbial fertilizers such as phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can increase P availability in soils for root uptake. The objective of the research was to verify the ability of four isolates of PSB isolated from acid soil to solubilize unavailable inorganic phosphate, produce phosphatase, malic acid and indole acetic acid (IAA), as well as increase plant height of maize seedling. The bioassay by growing maize seedling in liquid nutrients has been performed to study the response of seedling to PSB inoculation. The experimental design of bioassay was a randomized block design with five replications. The results showed that the isolates RR 1 and SPR 4 had a relatively high solubilizing index. Moreover, all the PSB isolates had the ability to produce phosphatase and IAA and dissolve P. The performance of PSB-inoculated seedling was better visually and the root length was increased by 66.7–74.5% compared to the control. This result concludes that the species of four isolates needs to be identified by a biomolecular method and formulated as biofertilizers for increasing the maize productivity in the acid soil ecosystem.

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 HgCl 2 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.

<p>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.</p>

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.

Growth and production of corn plants require land with sufficient nutrients. Utilization of biological fertilizers and organic materials carried out with the aim of increasing the yield of corn. The treatments that were tried were the provision of compost, livestock manure, compost and livestock manure, each of which was added by spraying a consortium of biological fertilizer. The experiment was designed using a randomized block design with five replications. The results showed that the application of organic-based fertilizers affected plant height from 17 - 49 days after planting, weight of fruit with kelobot, weight of cob and ear length. Provision of compost or livestock manure and added with a biological fertilizer consortium by spray gives a higher effect compared to the provision of compost or livestock manure which is not added to the consortium of biological fertilizer. To increase the productivity of maize plants it is recommended to use a consortium of biological fertilizers applied by spraying at intervals of seven days until the plants are 49 days after planting.