ANALISIS KARAKTERISTIK LAHAN DAN MUTU BIJI PALA (Myristica fragrans Houtt) DAERAH LAMPUNG / Analysis of Land Characteristics and Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt) Seed Quality of Lampung

Abstract

Lampung Province is one of nutmeg-producing region in Sumatra. Today nutmeg is one of the region's export commodities. The quality is an important factor in global nutmeg trade. The aim of this study was to assess nutmeg development prospect by analyzing the land characteristics and the quality of nutmeg. The study utilized a survey method to characterize the land and performance of smallholder nutmeg plantations, to communicate with farmers and to sample some nutmeg seeds for quality analysis. The survey was carried out in four subdistricts of the main nutmeg producing areas in Tanggamus Regency, namely Kota Agung-Timur, Gisting, Semaka, and Air-Naningan, in each area, 2-3 smallholder nutmeg plantations were assessed. The areas suitable for nutmeg development are Kota Agung-Timur, Gisting, and Semaka. The main supporting factor is water availability throughout the year, whereas the limiting factor are air humidity >75%, low organic C and CEC ≤16 cmol (+)/kg of soil, and erosion hazard due to a slope of >15%. Nutmeg productivity has potentials to be improved through technological innovation as current nutmeg cultivation is still conventional and does not use superior seeds, fertilizer and postharvest technology. On the other hand, the nutmeg seeds qualities have met SNI standards such as specific gravity, refractive index, optical rotation, soluble in alcohol, and chemical properties such as myristicin, α-pinene, sabinene, and safrole. Methyl eugenol is below the threshold of the European Pharmacopoeia standard and the α-pinene is better than nutmeg essential oil of produced from other regions. Keywords: nutmeg, land, physical and chemical qualities of nutmeg, Tanggamus of Lampung Province