Brawijaya lecturer Dr Rita Parmawati with the organic mulch tape from banana waste, water hyacinth and paitan leaf. (Image source: ANTARA/HO-Universitas Brawijaya)

An organic mulch tape developed by Dr Rita Parmawati, a lecturer from the Faculty of Agriculture of Brawijaya University has helped suppress weed growth, while also reducing soil surface evaporation rate

The mulch tape is made from banana waste, water hyacinth and paitan leaves. According to Dr Parmawati, the new technology will be applied at the start of the second planting season in Malaka District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), where an abundance of banana waste can be found. Mulch tape offers a myriad of benefits which include suppressing weed growth and reducing surface evaporation by up to 40%. Moreover, sun exposure enables the organic mulch to decompose into fertiliser. 

The mulch tape application process is currently being carried out on a laboratory scale and is at the socialisation stage with the Regent of Malaka Regency, several farmer groups, and heads of departments in Malaka District. According to data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Malaka District experiences low agricultural growth, with rice productivity in the area decreasing from 2020-2022 due to issues in the supply of rice seeds as well as other problems involving weeds, evaporation, soil temperature, and irrigation systems.

Dr Parmawati explained why organic mulch tape is an efficient substitute for plastic mulch which is considered environmentally unfriendly due to its inability to decompose. "The disadvantages of using plastic mulch are reduced plant growth and yields, increased pest attacks, greater microplastic contamination, waterlogging, loss of soil structure, and reduced activity of soil microorganisms," Parmawati said.

She further highlighted that they would be going to the district at the end of July where they would be working with the PT Widjaya Teknik Indonesia (Witech) factory to make mulch tape for 10 hectares of land. Moreover, they would also be lending a hand to the local community with organic mulch tape preparation, starting with the introduction of materials, chopping, making tape pulp, drying, and pressing.

Both the Solitair and the Zirkon rotary harrow will be available in series production from 2025. (Image source: LEMKEN)

The new mounted LEMKEN Solitair having a working width of 3-4 m, when mounted on the roller of the new generation of LEMKEN Zirkon MR rotary harrows, results in a powerful duo

The LEMKEN Solitair MR series features a 1,500 litre tank, which is suitable for fertiliser even in its basic configuration. The tank is optionally available with a 2,000-litre capacity, which can be split 60:40 on request for simultaneous application of several components. When the 200-litre MultiHub  is added to the tank, the Solitair takes efficacy and flexibility to new heights. This allows mixed crop sysems to be cultivated in a single pass. 

Seeds from the MultiHub are placed through the existing seed lines or through a baffle plate in front of or behind the harrows. The MultiHub offers the same number of width sections as the seed drill. Moreover, the MultiHub control is fully integrated into the user interface of the ISOBUS terminal as an additional seed line, making it very user-friendly. 

The Solitair MR is equipped with the maintenance-free OptiDisc coulter bar with row spacings of 12.5 or 15 cm and features parallelogram-guided double disc coulters and trailing depth control rollers for absolutely uniform field emergence. To achieve this, the coulter system is available in a hydraulic version (up to 70 kg coulter pressure) and a mechanical version (up to 45 kg coulter pressure). Both coulter pressure and seed depth can be adjusted independently of each other and do not affect each other. This is particularly useful in the increasingly popular cultivation of mixed crops. The correct placement depth for the different crops can be set by applying a separate drilling depth setting to each second row. Seeds are always placed at exactly the same depth, even at high forward speeds and in changing soils. The depth control roller then presses the seeds down to ensure rapid and even emergence.

The distributor heads ensure excellent transverse distribution. These are positioned directly above the coulter bar and do not require a seed return function. The new Solitair is equipped with two metering systems, with each of these supplying one distributor with seeds, so that even the basic configuration offers width section or half-width control. A hydraulic tramline mechanism can be added as an option. The LEMKEN iQblue Drill software supports the work in the field, for example by checking if tramline control is possible.

If customers choose the single or double shot version, the LEMKEN Solitair MR comes with four metering units for two width sections each. To ensure that drilling is sucessful and produces high yields, the seedbed must be prepared carefully and adapted to the individual conditions of the farm. In this case, a combination with a rotary harrow is often the best solution.

Following numerous field trials and measurements, the new LEMKEN Zirkon MR is now approved for tractors up to 240 hp, depending on the working width. Moreover, it can also be used in even more versatile applications. When mounted on the new LEMKEN Solitair, it results in a powerful duo. 

By ensuring that the working depth of the rotary harrow and the sowing depth pf the seed drill are not influenced by each other, the new mounting system makes it easier for customers to set up the machine to suit their needs. Moreover, the Zirkon also offers greater convenience with hydraulic adjustment of the levelling bar and working depth.

Both the Solitair and the Zirkon rotary harrow are available in limited quantities and will be available in series production from 2025.

During the critical peak demand months of July, August, and September, usage soars due to grape irrigation, harvesting, and storage. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Electricity has played a pivotal role in advancing agricultural practices, catalysing both growth and innovation in the region's grape cultivation

In response to the escalating power needs of fruit farmers, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power's service team in Yuyao has substantially improved the performance of the local grid, including an upgrade of 30 km of power lines and the addition of 22,000 kva to the substation capacity. This robust enhancement of the power infrastructure has not only fattened the wallets of local grape growers but also contributed to the rise of 'Linshan Grapes' as a celebrated local brand and a testament to the region's commitment to agricultural excellence and innovation.

In Linshanzhen, a meticulous focus on maintaining the electrical infrastructure is central to supporting its burgeoning grape industry from irrigation through to harvest. The town's dedicated service team regularly inspects electrical equipment at the growing sites as well as the lines connecting the equipment to the grid, ensuring growers have an uninterrupted power supply. With increasing grape acreage, the team has quickly adapted, installing single-phase irrigation meters for smaller growers and three-phase meters for larger operations to meet their specific energy demands effectively.