Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

MODEL OF ICE-ICE CONTROL ON SEAWEED FARMING THROUGH POLYCULTURE SYSTEM WITH INTRODUCTION OF RESISTANT CULTIVAR IN HUNDIHUK VILLAGE

Donny Mercys Bessie, Wilson L. Tisera, Umbu P.L. Dawa, Alfred G.O. Kase, Imanuel J. Emola, Hendrik Ndolu, Jusuf Aboladaka, Zet Ena and Nina J. Lapinangga

Abstract

Seaweed farming has developed in Rote-Ndao Regency since 1999, and in Hundihuk Village seaweed farming is currently a mainstay commodity for coastal communities. The main problem faced in seaweed farming there is the phenomenon of the ice-ice disease that attacks seaweed, especially before the change of seasons. The existence of the disease has an impact on a decrease in production which results in a decrease in the income of farmers. The existence of the ice-ice disease, it is suspected that bio-ecologically and biophysically conditions of the waters that are farmed are experiencing disturbances due to pollutants and/or decreased water quality, farming methods that are not suitable due to the dependence of the community on monoculture farming, However, the disease can also be caused by the use of low quality seeds. Therefore, a solution is needed to overcome the problem of ice-ice disease. One of them is the ice-ice disease control model through the application of appropriate and effective farming techniques or methods, so as to increase the productivity of the seaweed farming business, the method in question is farming with a polyculture system and the introduction of resistant cultivars. Farming with a polyculture system that utilizes other macroalgae/seaweeds as companion plants is very effective in controlling the ice-ice disease. The total intensity of infection of the ice-ice disease every week is very small, ranging from 0.2 - 2.5 for the polyculture system compared to the monoculture system with a large range of 0.1-17.1%.