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Biochar enriched with fertilizers has the potential to improve the quality of acid soils. In the agricultural sector, it was reported that the sap of <em>Kappapychus</em><em> alvarezii</em> (K-sap) is often used as a biofertilizer. Therefore, this study aimed to (i) examine the character of biochar enriched with the K-sap and (ii) analyze the soil quality after incubation. This study was carried out using two treatment factors arranged in a randomized block design, namely the biochar dose at 0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, and 7.5% in weight and K-sap at concentrations of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%.  Ten kilograms of acid soil were incubated with K-sap enriched biochar for up to 2 weeks in each experimental pot. The results showed that the absorption band increased with the K-sap concentration for the functional group associated with the OH-stretching of the biochar enriched with K-sap was stronger and wider than the unenriched. The peak elevation pattern detected by X-ray diffraction for all biochars was similar. The dosage of 7.5% biochar enriched with 5%-10% K-sap concentrations increased pH, EC, organic C, total N, C:N ratio, available P, and exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, and Si than those without treatment. Furthermore, ammonium and total spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi decreased, flagellates increased with and without the biochar, while the nitrate, total bacteria, and fungi of all treatments were similar. Based on these results, it was concluded that biochar enriched with K-sap could improve the quality of acid soil.

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Abstract. Nugroho Y, Soendjoto MA, Suyanto, Matatula J, Alam S, Wirabuana PYAP. 2021. Traditional medicinal plants and their utilization by local communities around Lambung Mangkurat Education Forests, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 306-314. Lambung Mangkurat Education Forests (LMEF) is a unique forest area with high plant diversity, including medicinal plants. This study aimed to document the list of natural medicinal plant species in LMEF and analyze the community perceptions on utilizing them. Exploratory surveys collected data through field observation and interviews with people living in villages around LMEF. The inventory of medicinal plants was conducted by line transect method with 1,000 m long and 20 m wide. Meanwhile, indigenous communities' description of medicinal plant utilization was explored using an interview process on fifty respondents. The results showed that 56 medicinal plant species were naturally distributed in LMEF. Most plants have habitus as trees, wherein local communities commonly use their leaves as traditional medicine. Local people generally applied the extraction process using hot water to obtain the benefit of these plants. Interestingly, more than 70% of respondents prefer traditional medicine to drugs. These findings indicated that the sustainable management of LMEF can support the vital role of forest ecosystems for people's health.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the mediating role of bank efficiency in the effect of bank size on bank profitability. The research sample is 25 banks that have a minimum core capital of Rp. 5,000,000,000,000 and publish financial statements in full during 2010-2017. The data analysis technique in this study is path analysis (path analysis) with the help of AMOS software (Analysis of Moment Structure). The results of the study found that; 1) bank size has a positive and significant effect on bank efficiency; 2) bank size has a positive and not significant effect on bank profitability; 3) bank efficiency has a positive and significant effect on bank profitability. 4) bank efficiency is able to mediate the effect of bank size on bank profitability.

Graphical abstract

Abstract. Alam S, Purwanto BH, Hanudin E, Putra ETS. 2020. Soil diversity influences oil palm productivity in ultramafic ecosystems, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 5521-5530. Ultramafic is a unique ecosystem with an environmental gradient due to its high soil diversity. Understanding soil diversity in ultramafic ecosystems is fundamentally required to support sustainable agriculture management, particularly in oil palm plantation. This study investigated the relationship between soil diversity and productivity of oil palm in ultramafic ecosystems, Southeast Sulawesi. The soil survey has taken in Oheo, Langgikima, and Routa districts. Soil sample was collected from various toposequence, including upper, middle, and lower slope to describe soil properties, including soil texture, pH, CEC, SOC, TN, Av-P, Exc-K, Exc-Ca, and Exc-Mg. Whilst observation of oil palm productivity was done by recording the fresh-weight of fruit yield in hectare unit during a month. The results showed that the soil characteristics from the three sites were significantly different in soil texture, pH, CEC, Av-P, Exc-Ca, and Exc-Mg. A similar trend was also recorded in oil palm productivity wherein the highest oil palm productivity was discovered in Oheo (556.41+96.26 kg ha-1), followed by Langgikima (501.11+54.84 kg ha-1) and Routa (163.19+17.55 kg ha-1). Our study founded: pH, CEC, Av-P, Exc-K, Exc-Ca, and Exc-Mg significantly affected the productivity of oil palm. Based on these results, the soil diversity highly affected oil palm productivity in ultramafic ecosystems.

This paper aims to identify the level of competition and the level of banking efficiency and develop a conceptual framework to examine the effect of the level of banking competition, the characteristics of banks on efficiency and competitive advantage of banking. To discuss the topic studied in this paper, the Literature Review method is used. The steps in creating a literature review are described as follows: First, determine the sources for the review literature material that is in accordance with the topic of this paper. Secondly, evaluating the contents contained in the sources of the literature study that was determined. Third, make a summary of the contents of the literature study resources. And fourth, explore new thoughts and ideas on topics that are subject to study to determine the positioning of the concept as the material for subsequent research. This finding shows that the level of competition, characteristics of banks influence in increasing competitive advantage through efficiency in the banking sector.