NATURA: JURNAL ILMU ALAM DAN SOSIAL

Vegetative Growth Response of Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) to Different Concentrations of Pineapple Peel Liquid Organic Fertilizer

Devi Apriani — 2026-08-28

Pineapple peel has potential as a raw material for liquid organic fertilizer (LOF), providing an alternative strategy for organic-waste management while supporting plant nutrition. This study evaluated the vegetative growth response of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) to different concentrations of pineapple peel LOF. An experimental study with a descriptive quantitative approach employed a one-factor completely randomized design comprising four treatments: P0 (0 mL L⁻¹), P1 (10 mL L⁻¹), P2 (20 mL L⁻¹), and P3 (30 mL L⁻¹). Each treatment was replicated five times, resulting in 20 experimental units. Each plant received 200 mL of treatment solution every four days. Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and leaf width were measured every three days until 65 days after planting. The data were analyzed descriptively using treatment means. P3 showed the highest mean values for plant height (6.886 cm), stem diameter (2.724 mm), number of leaves (6.536), and leaf width (2.948 cm). The lowest mean plant height was recorded in P2 (5.950 cm), while P1 produced the lowest stem diameter (2.462 mm), number of leaves (5.326), and leaf width (2.684 cm). The response was not linear because P1 and P2 produced lower means than the control for several parameters. Within the tested concentration range, 30 mL L⁻¹ showed the most favorable descriptive tendency for supporting the vegetative growth of cayenne pepper. However, statistical significance cannot be inferred because no inferential analysis was conducted.

Diversity of Soil Insects in Suranadi Nature Tourism Park, Narmada, West Lombok, Indonesia

Nurmalasari Nurmalasari — 2026-08-28

Soil insects inhabit the soil layer and litter surface and play important ecological roles as decomposers, contributors to nutrient cycling and soil fertility, and indicators of environmental conditions. Their diversity and distribution are influenced by abiotic and habitat-related factors, including temperature, humidity, soil pH, vegetation cover, and litter availability. This study aimed to assess soil-insect diversity across three habitat zones in Suranadi Nature Tourism Park, Narmada, West Lombok, Indonesia, and to provide an empirical basis for developing a field-based Animal Ecology practicum guide. A descriptive-exploratory design was employed, with specimens collected using pitfall traps at three sampling stations representing a footpath area, an area near a water source, and an open area. A total of 46 individuals were recorded, representing 10 species, 8 families, and 4 orders. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index was 1.653 at Station I, 1.242 at Station II, and 1.063 at Station III, indicating moderate diversity at all stations. Station I showed the highest diversity, suggesting that variation in local habitat and microenvironmental conditions may be associated with differences in the distribution and composition of soil-insect communities.

Effect of Moringa Leaf Liquid Organic Fertilizer (Moringa oleifera L) Concentration on The Vegetative Growth of Rose Cuttings (Rosa hybrida L)

Rina Mala Puspita — 2026-08-29

This study aimed to analyze the effect of moringa leaf liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) concentration on the vegetative growth of rose cuttings (Rosa hybrida L.), as assessed by the number of shoots and leaves. This quantitative study employed an experimental method with a one-factor Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The six treatment levels were P0 (0%; water as the control), P1 (10%), P2 (30%), P3 (50%), P4 (70%), and P5 (90%), with four replications per treatment, resulting in 24 experimental units. Observations were conducted on days 8, 14, 20, 26, and 32. The data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, a homogeneity-of-variance test, and one-way ANOVA. Descriptively, the total numbers of shoots for P0-P5 were 7, 10, 7, 6, 5, and 4, respectively, whereas the total numbers of leaves were 25, 14, 19, 4, 4, and 4. The normality-test significance values were 0.271 for the number of shoots and 0.266 for the number of leaves; the median-based homogeneity values with adjusted degrees of freedom were 0.473 and 0.673, respectively. The one-way ANOVA results indicated no significant differences among treatments in either the number of shoots (p = 0.286) or the number of leaves (p = 0.667). Therefore, under the conditions of this study, variation in moringa leaf LOF concentration did not significantly affect the vegetative growth of rose cuttings.

Effects of Concentrate Level and Fermentation Time on The Protein Content of Water Hyacinth-Based Livestock Feed (Eichhornia crassipes)

Dina Zurriyatun — 2026-08-29

This study analyzed the effects of concentrate level and fermentation time on the protein content of water hyacinth-based livestock feed. The study was initiated in February 2024 at the Chemistry Laboratory of Universitas Pendidikan Mandalika and employed a laboratory experiment with a 4 × 2 factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The first factor was concentrate level: 0%, 30% (300 g), 35% (350 g), and 40% (400 g), each mixed with 1 kg of water hyacinth; the second factor was fermentation time: 7 and 14 days. Each treatment combination was replicated six times, yielding 48 experimental units. Protein content was determined using the Kjeldahl method. The data were analyzed descriptively, tested for normality and homogeneity, and subsequently analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey HSD post hoc test. Mean protein contents after 7 days of fermentation were 0.22%, 0.30%, 0.33%, and 0.42%, respectively, whereas the corresponding means after 14 days were 0.23%, 0.24%, 0.25%, and 0.30%. ANOVA revealed significant effects of concentrate level, fermentation time, and their interaction on protein content (p < .001). The best-performing combination was the 40% concentrate treatment fermented for 7 days, which produced a mean protein content of 0.42%.

The Effect of the Discovery Learning Model on Students’ Science Process Skills in Learning the Excretory System: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Eyovin Payunang Marjan — 2026-08-29

This study investigated the effect of the Discovery Learning model on students’ science process skills in learning the excretory system. A quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group was employed during the second semester of the 2023/2024 academic year. The participants were 54 Grade XI students at SMA Negeri 1 Pringgasela, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, who were assigned to an experimental class and a control class. The experimental class was taught using the Discovery Learning model, whereas the control class received conventional instruction. Data were collected using an essay test administered as a pretest and posttest and an observation sheet designed to assess students’ science process skills during the learning process. The observation sheet employed a five-point rating scale ranging from very poor to very good. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney U test. The results revealed a statistically significant difference in science process skills between students in the experimental and control classes (p < .001). Observational data also showed that the experimental class achieved a mean score of 75.6, categorized as good, whereas the control class obtained a mean score of 46.3, categorized as poor. These findings indicate that the Discovery Learning model had a positive effect on students’ science process skills in learning the excretory system. Therefore, Discovery Learning can be considered an effective instructional approach for promoting students’ active engagement in scientific processes and developing their science process skills in biology learning.