Soil and Vegetation Characteristics of Areca Nut Palms (Areca catechu L.) on Mamar Agroforestry System on Timor Island, East Nusa Tenggara: A Review
Wieke Herningtyas (a*), Gerson Ndawa Njurumana (a), Eko Pujiono (a), Yulizar Ihrami Rahmila (a), Khaerul Amru (b), Raissa Anjani (b)

a) Pusat Riset Ekologi dan Etnobiologi, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional
b) Pusat Riset Lingkungan dan Teknologi Bersih, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional

Abstract

Areca catechu L. has a high benefit value on Timor Island. However, the production of areca nuts from Timor Island has not been able to meet market needs. Community forests are the potential to develop Areca catechu plants to supply areca nuts in the market. Optimizing the role of community forests required accurate studies. This article contains a literature review to describe the potential of community forest-based mamar agroforestry in the development of areca catechu plants on a broader scale from soil and vegetation aspects. The result showed that Areca catechu is species that play a role in mamar agroforestry. Areca nuts have the potential to be developed as a leading local commodity on Timor Island with several treatments to support productivity of areca catechu plants, such as fertilization and soil conservation on slated land. Good cooperation between government, private sector, and farmers is needed through optimizing technical guidelines, guaranteed market availability and investment or partners for the successful development of areca nut commodities.

Keywords: Areca nut, Areca catechu, Pinang, Mamar Agroforestry, Timor Island

Topic: Agricultural Production