Species Composition, and Diversity of Mataram University Green Open Space, West Nusa Tenggara

Mataram university green open space (GOS) is one of the partial green open spaces (GOS) approaches that can be used to conserve endemic germplasm as well to fulfil the proportion and distribution of urban forests. This research aims to describe the species composition, and diversity including the authenticity of Flora Malesiana in this area. We used a census method (100% measurement) to identify the species and measured the diameter and height of all tree species with the diameter of more than 2 cm. The results showed that the 99 species belonged to 85 Genera, 39 families with a composition of 61 species (61.62%) including the flora Malesiana and 38 species (38.38%) including exotic species. Based on IVI analysis showed that Ptychosperma macarthurii dominated at the sapling level while Swietenia mahagoni dominated at the pole and tree levels. The H’ of diversity is in the medium category with the sapling level has the highest value (3.42).

Ptychosperma macarthurii (MacArthur palm).

A datasheet on Ptychosperma macarthurii covering, as an economically important tree, its taxonomy, importance, silviculture, distribution, biology and ecology, uses, products and pests.

Influence of Fertilizer Placement on Plant Quality, Root Distribution, and Weed Growth in Container-grown Tropical Ornamental Plants

In two experiments, chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii), areca palm (Dypsis lutescens), fishtail palm (Caryota mitis), macarthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii), shooting star (Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum), downy jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum), plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), alexandra palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae), and foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) were transplanted into 6.2-L (2-gal) containers. They were fertilized with Osmocote Plus 15N-3.9P-10K (12-to14-month formulation) (Expt. 1) or Nutricote Total 18N-2.6P-6.7K (type 360) (Expt. 2) applied by either top dressing, substrate incorporation, or layering the fertilizer just below the transplanted root ball. Shoot dry weight, plant color, root dry weights in the upper and lower halves of the root ball, and weed shoot dry weight were determined when each species reached marketable size. Optimal fertilizer placement method varied among the species tested. With the exception of areca palm, none of the species tested grew best with incorporated fertilizer. Root dry weights in the lower half of the root ball for chinese hibiscus, bamboo palm, and downy jasmine were greatest when the fertilizer was layered and root dry weights in the upper half of the root ball were greatest for top-dressed chinese hibiscus. Weed growth was lower in pots receiving layered fertilizer for four of the six palm species tested.