Vol 3, No 1 (2016): June

Soil fertility can influence seed production and seedling growth. This study compared seed yields, seed and seedling characteristics of eight forage legumes (Stylosanthesscabra, S. hamata, Centrosemabrasilianum, C. pascuorum, Desmanthuspubescens, D. Virgatus, Macroptiliumbracteatum and M. martii) grown on two soil types (red and yellow kandosols), of low fertility, that are widespread in the Australian tropical rangelands. Seeds of the Desmanthus species germinated most rapidly and, with M. bracteatum, produced the highest proportion of readily germinable seed. M. bracteatum seed produced on the Yellow Kandosol germinated significantly faster, as did the S. hamata from the   Red Kandosol than the other species. S. scabra cv. Seca and C. brasilianum produced   more readily germinable seeds from plants grown on the Red Kandosol. C. pascuorum,     D. pubescens and M. bracteatum produced a higher  percentage of readily germinable seeds and fewer hard seeds when grown on the Yellow Kandosol. No significant differences were found in seedling vigour or biomass allocation from seeds produced on the different soil types

This study aimed to determine the growth and yield of shallot Lembah Palu variety planted on dry land with different direction and form of seedbeds. It have been carried out in January-April 2013 in the village of Guntarano, Tanantovea Sub Districts, District of Donggala, Central Sulawesi. This study used a Spilt Plot Design. The main plot was the seedbed direction (A) consisting of: (A1) = seedbeds in the direction of the slope of the land, and (A2) = seedbeds crossed  the slope direction. Sub-plot was the form of beds (B) comprises of: (B1) = depth seedbeds and (B2) = high seedbeds. Each treatment was repeated 3 times, so that there were 12 experimental units.  The research found that (i) the direction of the beds as well as its interaction with the form of beds did not significantly affect the growth and yield of shallot ‘Lembah Palu’ on dry land. (ii)   depth seedbeds produces the number of leaves, leaf length, leaf dry weight, total leaf areaper plant, and total dry weight per plant, and the number of tubers per clump and the weight of the harvested dry tuber per hectare was higher than high seedbeds form.

Seaweed farming development received support from local government with “Gema Biru Sulawesi Tengah” which makes seaweed commodities became the competitive commodity across sectors in the region. Nowadays, the demand of the dried seaweeds as well as semi-finished products (semi-finished carrageenan) tends to be increased rapidly because they are classified as healthy food. On the other hand, the farmer in the district of Bangkep relatively still being traditional by planting in the territorial which estimated suitable for seaweed. The Study aims to identify the water potential of seaweed farming and to analyze the economic variables that affecting the production of seaweed based on its deployment area. This research is conducted in Bangkep in 4sub-districts area i.e. Bulagisub-district (Peling Peasa, Bulagi and Kambal village), South Bulagi District (Bulagi, Palabatu, and Lolantang village), South Tingkung district (Tinangkung, Bobu and Gangsal village) and Liang district (Apal, binatuli and Liang village). The determination of locations is done purposively with 56 respondents. The data Analysis used are suitability analysis with water measurement and testing of water sample as well as regression analysis. The research shows that the locations of the farms have water quality which suitable with the seaweed, which shown by the result of the physical-chemical measurement parameters that meet with the growing requirements in the range of achievement 74.00-82.67%. Economic aspects show the average income of the   seaweed farmers are Rp. 1.614.434. Further variables simultaneously independent (age, education, number of dependents, experience, the amount of expanses, and prices) that affect the production of seaweed, while partially only age, experience, amount of expanses, and prices significantly affect the production on the t value of each are 2.57; 3.69; 2.49; and 2.33.

Palu is one of the main areas that have regional salinity and the management is still using the traditional way. Internal factors of inner salt farmers and external factors affecting the production of folk salt in the city of Palu. This study aims to (1) identify the internal factors that become strengths and weaknesses in increased production of community-based salt at Palu bay; (2) identify external factors that became opportunities and threats in the increased production of community-based salt in Palu Bay; (3) define an alternative strategies for improving folk’s salt production in Palu bay. SWOT analysis results indicate that the appropriate strategy in improving the community-based salt production in Palu bay is in the position of the quadrant I SO strategy (Strength-Opportunities). This strategy is implemented by the program: (1) Maximizing production by utilizing the available resources; (2) Increasing the salt farmer mastery of science that accompanied the adoption of appropriate technological innovation; and (3) Increasing capacity in marketing management and build a broader partnership. The results of the analysis obtained the best strategy QSPM the 2nd program "Improvement of salt farmer mastery of science that accompanied the adoption of technological innovations.

This study aims to: (1) Determine the influence of land area, number of seeds, the amount of fertilizer and the amount of labor to the production of Non Hybrids peanuts variety in the District of South Totikum, and (2) Determine how much the Non hybrids peanut varieties farm income in the District of South Totikum. The sampling technique in this study is a simple random sampling method. Total population of around 200 non-hybrid peanut farmers. The amount of sample determine as much as 20% of the total population, so the number of samples used in this study were 40 respondents. Analysis of the data used Cobb-Douglass multiple linear regression analysis and the non-hybrid peanut farmer average income analysis. The results showed that the independent variable (X_i)jointly significant effect on the dependent variable (Y) non-hybrid peanut production, the value  of F count 70.903> F-table 4.46, Coefficient of determination R² = 0.995 and R² adjstsq = 0.995. means 99.5% Variation Value of non-hybrid peanut production (Y) can be explained by the variable land area (X1), the number of seeds (X2), fertilizers (X3), Labor (X4) and pesticides (X5) whereas 0.5 % more can be explained other models. Land area variable, number of seeds, fertilizer, labor, and pesticides, simultaneously can affect the production of non-hybrid peanut farm in the district of South Totikum. Coefficient regression/elasticity of the land area (X₁₎= 0.851, number of seeds (X₂₎= 0.066, the amount of fertilizer (X₃₎= 0,0,059, the amount of labor (x₄₎= -0.242 and pesticides (X₅₎= 0,049 on the level of α 0.01. The average production of non-hybrid peanuts cultivation of 1923.07 kg of dry pods/ha. The average income of non-hybrid peanuts farming are USD 10,254,962.12/ha per growing season.

This study aims to determine the competitiveness of cocoa commodity in the district of  Sigi and the impact of government policies by analyzing the effects of cocoa price changes, cocoa’s input price and cocoa production to the competitiveness of cocoa. Data collection is done in Sub-district of Palolo with the number of respondents 31 farmers and also data supported by data from other related agencies. The research objective answered by using analytical tools Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM). Results of the study found that cocoa in Sigi District has comparative and competitive advantages with the value of Domestic Cost Ratio (DCR) and the Private Cost Ratio (PCR) i.e. 0.45 and 0.50. Results for Nominal Protection coefficient of output value (NPCO) is 0.88 and Nominal Protection Coeffisients of Input (NPCI) is 0.80 respectively show the government's policies are protective for cocoa farmers in the district, while the EPC value is 0.89 indicates the policy is inhibiting the production of farmers with effect of ratio 0.09. The sensitivity analysis of changes in production, the price of cocoa bean and Subsidized- fertilizer prices, shows that the change in production is an indicator that most influence the competitiveness of cocoa in Sigi District.

This study aims to determine the appropriateness of the establishment of cocoa processing industry (Rumah Coklat Office of Industry and Trade of Central Sulawesi Province) in Palu     based on market aspects, technical aspects, aspects of the organization and management as well as financial aspects. The research was conducted in the city of Palu, namely Rumah    Coklat Industry and Trade Office of Central Sulawesi province were carried out from July to September 2016. The method used was survey used data sourced from Rumah Coklat Department of Industry and Trade of Central Sulawesi province and institutions associated with the study and the results of research conducted by the Center for R & D relating to the cacao processing. Data collected was processed and analyzed the aspects of the market, technical, organizational and management aspects and financial aspects. The results showed that the business of processing cocoa into chocolate and chocolate converture liqour from the aspect of the market is feasible to set up because it has a fairly large market opportunities, both domestic market and overseas markets. Based on a technical aspect, the business of processing cocoa into chocolate liqour and chocolate converture feasible to implement in Palu because of the availability of raw materials, labor, buildings and facilities equipment, the need for production machinery and equipment, the capacity of production capacity and the production process is relatively easy to be fulfilled and realized. Based on the aspect of organization and management, processing of chocolate is feasible. Because the needs of the labor management section and production section is obtained in accordance with the wishes of the company, as well as the maintenance of legality companies easily obtained. Financial aspects of the analysis results obtained by period of return on investment or payback period is 7 years. NPV is Rp. 182,141,428. IRR is about 14 and PI is 1.08%.  BEP amounted to 58.28% of total sales or Rp.  323,561,529. as well as the results of the sensitivity analysis shows that this cocoa processing business into chocolate liquor and converture very sensitive to the price of raw materials cocoa and the amount of the sale. Based on the calculation and analysis can be concluded that the cocoa processing industry namely Rumah Coklat Office of Industry and Trade of the Province of Central Sulawesi in Palu meet the eligibility criteria and eligible to be run the business.

This study aims to determine the influence factors of land production, fertilizer, labor, seed and Dummy (seeds) as well as the agricultural extension to the production of maize in the village  of Rarampadende, west Dolo District. The population in this study is the farmers who became members of farmers who run the farm corn amounted to 120 people, the number of samples is as many as 52 people, while the data were analyzed using multiple linear analysis of Cobb-Douglass. Results of the analysis showed that the production of the independent variables (Xi) together can have a significant effect on the dependent variable (Y). F-count value is equal to 27.103> F-table 2.44 (Significantly, 0,000 α 5%), in addition to the value of the coefficient of determination (R2 adjsSq) of 0.754 means that 75.40% of the variation in maize production (Y) can be explained by variable land area (X1), the number of seeds (X2) labor (X3), the amount of fertilizer (X4), seeds (D1) and agricultural extension (D2), while 24.6% can be explained other models. Land use, fertilizer, labor, seed, seeds and labor will simultaneously be able to affect the production of maize farming in Rarampadende village, West Dolo district.