Peningkatan Produksi dan Perbaikan Ukuran Umbi Kentang Hitam (Plectranthus rotundifolius (Poir.) Spreng) Melalui Teknik Budidaya sebagai Upaya Konservasi

A decrease of the role of a species in the society culture can lead to scarcity and even the extinction of that species. Along with the government program to diversify food, it can be repopularized the underutilized carbohydrate source potential plants with the aim as the plant conservation efforts. Related to this, the hausa potato (Plectranthus rotundifolius) can be an alternative food source for the people who occupy arid areas. Hausa potatoes not only serve as a carbohydrate source with low glycemic index, but also rich in essential vitamins and minerals. Information on cultivation techniques become important things that need to be prepared within the framework of development. The study was conducted to answer questions regarding cultivation techniques that need to be done to improve the quality of the hausa potato crop in the market. The study was designed based on a randomized block design (RCBD) two factors, four hausa potato accessions and four types of cultivation techniques (four hausa potato accessions: Nganjuk, Sangian, clone 6G and O3; and four types of cultivation techniques: stockpilling, prunning, mulce, and lifting). Every treatment consist of four replications with three plants/replications. Observations were made on growth and yield parameters. The results showed that the different hausa potatoes accession need different cultivation techniques to improve the yield and tuber size. The use of rice straw mulch on hausa potato cultivation can improve the size of hausa potato tubers in the rainy season. Buletin Kebun Raya, Vol. 18, No. 2. Hal. 59-70 ISSN 2460-1519