Agronomic trials of tebu terubuk (Saccharum edule L.) to support food diversification and food security in Papua, Indonesia

Abstract

The sustainability of national food security needs to be developed and strengthened to improve the domestic food supply. The primary objective of the diversification of food production is to attain greater self-sufficiency and food security. With the current situation, which the global food price increased at the international and national markets, emphasize on food promotion and usage should be based on traditional food crops.This can be increased by exploring the local food plants and improving an agricultural production. Papua is considered as a place of mega diversity of plant species. It is the primary center of Saccharum diversity. Among the Saccharum species that grows widely in Papua is Saccharum edule that have not been exploited and scientifically studied for their potential use. The inflorescence of S. edule is a delicate part for consumption. With the growing concern of food production shortage, food security problem, limited supply, and growing demand of S. edule in the local market, exploration and identification of thisplant was conducted at the selected areas of Papua and Papua Barat provinces, covering the lowland and highland areas,from June to September 2009. It showed the variability in morphological traits of 77 accessions. To attain the maximum growth and yield of S. edule,the following agronomic researches of S. edule with soybean intercropping and cutting types were carried out with the selected S. edule plant distances and cutting types from June to December 2010. S. edule of 200 cm x 200 cm produced the highest biomass,flower number and weight. Tip cuttings produced the best growth and inflorescence characters. Cutting trial was also carried out to observe the best cutting that produce better growth and inflorescence yield. Based-cutting produced greater flower yield and number