Direct seeding of Ceiba pentandra and Leucaena leucocephala using seed briquette with AMF and DSE inoculations to support a green economy

Abstract

This research is an alternative technology to support a green economy for environmental sustainability. This paper was performed to reveal the relation between seed briquettes inoculated with the fungi of arbuscular mycorrhiza (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) in direct seeding of C. pentandra and L. leucocephala seedlings on marginal land in Parungpanjang, Bogor, Indonesia. A randomized block design was used in this research with three blocks and found that seed briquettes with AMF and DSE inoculated have significantly influenced the survival of seedlings of both species 12 months after planting. Direct sowing with seed briquette inoculated with AMF (48%) produced the highest seedling survival in C. pentandra, followed by seed briquette injected with Dendrothyrium sp. CPP1.1.4 (44.5%) in L. leucocephala. In C. pentandra and L. leucocephala, seed briquettes increased seedling survival compared to direct sowing without briquettes. Seedling growth was considerably impacted by AMF and DSE inoculations in L. leucocephala but not in C. pentandra. AMF and DSE can improve the height and diameter of direct-seeded L. leucocephala seedlings. Our research found that using seed briquettes and applying DSE has a high potential for increasing the success of direct seeding in assisting various reforestation programs in Indonesia.