Communities Knowledge of Cosmos sp. as Functional Vegetable
Rachmat Maulana Irvan1, Ismail Saleh1*, Ray March Syahadat2, Ida Setya Wahyu Atmaja1

1. Department of Agrotechnology, Agriculture Faculty of, Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati, Indonesia
2. Department of Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering and Planning Faculty, National Institute of Science and Technology, Indonesia

*ismail.saleh68[at]gmail.com

Abstract

Cosmos caudatus and Cosmos sulphureus are two species of Cosmos that commonly found in Indonesia. They are known as ^kenikir^ and have many benefits as vegetable or medicinal plants due to their metabolite content. Unfortunately they still found as weed or ornamental plants and they become underutilized plants. The purpose of this study was to analyze the community^s knowledge of Cosmos sp. as functional vegetable. Data were obtained from 110 respondents. Data were analyzed by using chi square test for nominal data and Kolmogorov-smirnov test for ordinal data. The result of this study showed that 20% of respondents did not know cosmos plant. Most of respondents who know cosmos plants, know the functions of cosmos both as vegetables and ornamental plants. The number of respondents who know cosmos plants as vegetable plants is 62 people (70.5%) and 62% of them have ever consumed cosmos as vegetable. The level of likeness of cosmos is mostly moderate. These results indicate that Cosmos plant still needs to be further introduced to the community as a functional vegetable.

Keywords: Cosmos caudatus, Cosmos sulphureus, kenikir, underutilized plants

Topic: Agrotechnology