Journal of Smart Farming and Food Security

EVALUATING THE VERTICAL ACCURACY OF LIDAR AND OPEN-SOURCE DEM FOR OIL PALM PLANTATION PLANNING AND DESIGN

2025-07-03T15:44:03+08:00

Accurate elevation data are essential for effective oil palm plantation planning, hydrological modeling, and environmental management particularly in tropical regions characterized by complex topography and dense vegetation. While LiDAR-derived Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) offer high vertical precision, their acquisition costs often hinder adoption in resource-limited settings. Open-source DEMs provide accessible alternatives but are frequently affected by vegetation interference and coarse resolution, leading to reduced vertical accuracy. This study proposes a hybrid correction framework that integrates a random forest (RF) machine learning algorithm and a geographically weighted regression (GWR) a spatially adaptive statistical method to enhance the vertical accuracy of open-source DEMs for terrain-sensitive applications. The study used 377 high-precision Ground Control Points (GCPs) and LiDAR data to evaluate and correct six global DEMs: Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS), TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurement (TanDEM-X), Copernicus GLO-30, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Forest And Buildings removed Copernicus DEM (FABDEM), Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) GDEM, and a high-resolution drone-derived DEM. RF was used to identify key topographic predictors, including aspect, slope, curvature, Topographic Position Index (TPI), and Terrain Ruggedness Index (TRI), while GWR applied spatially adaptive corrections to the RF residuals. The integrated RF–GWR model significantly improved the vertical accuracy across all DEMs. The post-correction R² values reached 0.914 for TanDEM-X, 0.910 for ALOS, and increased from 0.608 to 0.914 for Copernicus, with the residual standard deviations reduced by up to 75% and near-zero mean bias. These results highlight the model’s ability to correct both systematic and spatially varying elevation errors. The framework presents a scalable and alternative to LiDAR for use in precision agriculture, flood risk modeling, and infrastructure planning. Future work should explore integration with deep learning to improve the temporal responsiveness and operational scalability.

QUALITY OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER FROM GOAT DUNG

2025-07-03T15:53:00+08:00

Agricultural waste is commonly associated with agricultural plantations and refers to the waste produced from various farming operations. The composting process can reduce the amount of dung generated by livestock while also providing nutrients and organic matter to the soil when applied appropriately. Additionally, composting significantly reduces the odor and pest problems associated with dung. The number of goat farmers in Malaysia is increasing, along with the amount of waste produced, such as goat dung. Therefore, this study aimed to help us understand the preparation of the composting process and the composition of goat dung compost, as well as evaluate the effects of goat dung compost on the content of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A bedding system technique was used for the composting process. The parameters measured in this study were pH, temperature, and N, P, and K content. After 56 days, the goat dung compost reached maturity with a pH value of 6.84. It contained 3.1% N, 3.5% P, and 4.5% K, with a C/N ratio of 4:1.

PRODUCTION OF HIGH-YIELDING COCONUT VARIETIES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SABAH, MALAYSIA

2025-07-03T15:58:57+08:00

The coconut [Cocos nucifera (C. nucifera) L.] is an important fruit tree in the world, providing food for millions of people, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions and with its many uses it is often called the “tree of life”. Coconut is one of the oldest industrial crops planted in Sabah. Coconut cultivation was initiated by the British Chartered Company in the 1880s, during their earliest period of governance in Sabah. Coconut planting has slowly become popular in recent years as there has been a 13.5% increase in the cultivated area from 2013 to 2023. The Department of Agriculture Sabah (DOA Sabah) is the main government agency in Sabah in coconut research, providing technical advisory services and producing coconut commercial planting material. Genetic material is the foundation for the setting up of a breeding program. DOA Sabah has produced and released four high-yielding varieties, i.e., MAWA, Aromatic Green Dwarf (AROD), MATAG, and Tacunan Green Dwarf (TACD), based on their yield potential and utilization. MAWA was recommended for fresh kernel and copra. MATAG is high-yielding and early in maturity with round, large fruit. It was distributed to farmers for replanting and rejuvenating coconut areas since the 8^th Malaysia Plan. AROD was launched for tender coconut production, quality aromatic virgin coconut oil (VCO), and as a food ingredient due to its fragrance. TACD was recommended for commercial planting due to its large fruit size, precocity, and short palm height. The rearing of coconut seedlings in a well-maintained nursery facilitates efficient selection of normal uniform seedlings. Coconuts are propagated by seed nuts. The seed nut is sown in germination bed with saw dust as sowing media. Seed nuts will germinate in 2 to 3 months after sowing. Seedlings with 8 to 10 leaves are ready for field planting at about 7 - 8 months old.

IMPACT OF RE-DRYING TREATMENT ON BEAN WEEVILS (CALLOSOBRUCHUS MACULATUS) AND NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF INFESTED STORED COWPEAS

2025-07-03T16:03:40+08:00

This study investigated the impact of re-drying treatments- drying at 40 °C and 60 °C, sun drying, and a non-dried control on the post-harvest quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and its resistance to Callosobruchus maculatus infestation during storage. Treated cowpea grains were stored for 84 days, with key metrics assessments including C. maculatus egg hatchability (28 days), adult emergence (12 days), grain damage, weight loss, and nutrient changes. Drying at 60 °C significantly reduced egg hatchability and adult beetle emergence (p ≤0.05), resulting in the lowest percentage of grain damage and weight loss. Sun drying and drying at 40 °C exhibited moderate protective effects, whereas the control group showed the highest infestation and deterioration. Nutritional analysis revealed that while high-temperature drying slightly decreased protein content, it recorded the highest carbohydrate and crude fiber. These findings suggest that re-drying, especially at 60 °C, is a promising post-harvest strategy for controlling bruchid infestation and preserving cowpea grain quality during storage.

ENHANCING PRODUCTION OF PLANTING MATERIALS THROUGH IN VITRO CULTURE TECHNIQUE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SABAH

2025-07-03T16:09:24+08:00

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) Sabah has been involved in producing tissue culture planting materials since 1996 as part of the Seventh Malaysia Plan (7th MP, 1996-2000). The objective of this paper is to highlight the growth and achievements of DOA Sabah in the production of tissue culture planting materials over the past 27 years. This paper will explore the application and benefits of tissue culture, the varieties of plants and culture mediums utilized, the evaluation of clones in both laboratory and field settings, implementation strategies, encountered challenges, identified opportunities, and the future prospects of implementing tissue culture techniques within DOA Sabah. A total of 10 formulations have been developed between 1996 and 2023 to produce more than 205,000 tissue culture planting materials including banana, pineapple, orchid, oil palm, potato, and ginger, which have been distributed throughout the region. The use of tissue culture has significantly improved the production of planting materials for large-scale and commercial purposes within DOA Sabah.

EFFECTS OF EFFECTIVE MICROORGANISMS ON SOIL PH AND NUT YIELD OF COCONUT TREES IN THE TANIAGA PLANTATION LOCATED IN SANDAKAN, SABAH, MALAYSIA

2025-07-03T16:12:29+08:00

Prolonged or overuse of chemical fertilizers can cause soil acidification in coconut plantations. This study investigated the effects of Effective Microorganisms (EM) on soil pH and nut yield of coconut trees in the Taniaga Plantation, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. Conducted over 12 months (June 2023–May 2024), the experiment evaluated five treatments, including various EM application rates and dolomite, in a randomized design using Tagunan coconut varieties. Results showed that EM significantly increased soil pH from strongly acidic levels (3.82–4.08) to a more favorable range (up to 5.23), particularly in treatment T4 (8 kg EM). However, the highest nut yield was recorded in T3 (4 kg EM), indicating an optimal balance between microbial activity and nutrient availability. In contrast, dolomite treatment resulted in lower yields due to potential nutrient imbalances and suboptimal pH levels. The findings suggest that EM enhances soil health, buffers pH, and improves coconut yield, with 4 kg EM per tree identified as the most effective treatment. Continued EM application is recommended for sustainable coconut production and improved soil fertility.