The Potency of Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) in Pastap Julu Village

around Batang Gadis National Park Area

Irawati Azhar

, Iwan Risnasari

, Muhdi

, Mona Fhitri Srena

and Riswan

Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara. Jl. Tri Dharma Ujung No. 1, Kampus USU, Medan 20155, North

Sumatra, Indonesia

Higher Education Service Agency, Region I Sumatera

Keywords: Non Timber Forest Timber (NTFP), Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata), Potency, Pastap Julu.

Abstract: Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) is one of non-timber forest product that has long been known as a plant that

has many benefits. Almost all physical parts of these plants can be utilized and have economic value, such

as juice sap, palm fruit, leaves, palm fiber, and stems. Palm sugar plants are spread in almost regions in

Indonesia, especially in humid areas both grow individually or in groups. This study aims to identify the

potential of palm trees (Arenga pinnata) in Pastap Julu village around Batang Gadis National Park area. The

method used in this research is the census method. This method was done by recording the entire of sugar

palm in the research area with an area of 60 hectares. The result of this study indicates that the potency of

sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) plants in the region is amount to 256 sugar palms with a density of 4.267

individuals /hectare, and the average height of 12 meters and average diameter of 53.08 cm.

1 INTRODUCTION

Forests have a variety of functions, roles, and

benefits that are important for human life. Forest

also produces various types of forest products that

can be used in various needs. Forest products can be

timber or non-timber forest products.

Palm sugar is a type of plant which has the

opportunity to be cultivated and harvested to add

economic benefit. Palm sugar is also a versatile plant

that has long been known to produce many benefits.

Almost all physical parts and production of these

plants can be utilized and have economic value. The

benefits of sugar palm can be enjoyed directly by the

community around the forest through traditional way

(Ferita et al., 2015).

Sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) is one species that

belongs to the Arecaceae family. Sugar palm is an

annual type of plant. It can grow to a diameter of 65

cm and a height of 15 m even reaching 20 m with a

leaf canopy towering above the stem. The shape of

the plant is not spiny and does not branch. This plant

is almost similar to coconut, but coconut plants are

clean trunk with old leaf midribs that are easily

separated. The sugar palm tree has lush canopies.

Young sugar palm leaves always stand upright on

the tip of the stem, young leaves that are still rolled

soft like paper. The leaf midrib widens at the base

and narrows towards the top.

Sugar palm plants are spread in almost all

regions in Indonesia, especially in the area of humid

hills both grow individually or in groups. Sugar

palm plants often grow from an altitude of 50-1300

m above sea level. However, these plants prefer the

altitude of 500-1200 m. Sugar palm also spread in

the various country of the country which includes,

India, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Laos,

Malaysia, Vietnam, Hawaii, Philippines, Guam, and

various islands around the Pacific (Lasut, 2012).

Batang Gadis National Park (TNBG) is one of

the conservation areas in Mandailing Natal District

with high biodiversity. Batang Gadis National Park

consists of protected forest areas, limited production

forests, and permanent production forests. Batang

Gadis National Park belongs to the type of tropical

forest located at an altitude of 300 - 2145 meters

above sea level with the highest point on Sorik

Marapi Peak.

Almost all of the existing sugar palms come from

uncultivated plantor accidentally planted by people

which results in the uneven spread. Sugar palm can

grow in any type of lands, resistant to disease, grow

naturally in critical soils, are fire resistant and

prevent erosion with tight roots. According to

Azhar, I., Risnasari, I., Muhdi, M., Srena, M. and Riswan, .

The Potency of Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) in Pastap Julu Village around Batang Gadis National Park Area.

DOI: 10.5220/0008552802650269

In Proceedings of the International Conference on Natural Resources and Technology (ICONART 2019), pages 265-269

ISBN: 978-989-758-404-6

265

Marito (2008), palm sugar plants do not need special

soil conditions, so they can grow in clay, calcareous,

and sandy soils. However, these plants cannot stand

on soils with too high an acidic content. The best

environmental temperature averages 25

C with an

annual rainfall of 1.200 mm

Along with the increasing needs of the

community, the use of sugar palm has become one

of the people's focuses on developing non-timber

forest products. However, the development of sugar

palm still has many obstacles and several problems,

such as traditional method, post-harvest handling of

palm sugar plants that are still not well controlled,

processing into other derivative product is still low,

the quality of the product, and the marketing process

is still obstructed. The potential of sugar palm in the

TNBG area will be optimal if accompanied by the

knowledge of the local community in utilizing sugar

palm plants. Awareness in good practices

cultivation, harvesting and processing of after

harvest is a key to maintain the sustainability of

sugar palm utilization

2 MATERIALS AND METHOD

This research was carried out in the protected forest

area around the Batang Gadis National Park in

Pastap Julu Village, Tambangan sub-district,

Mandailing Natal district, North Sumatra Province.

The method used to take the data collection is by

observation technique, which is a direct survey to

the field with community assistance.

The data that collected in the field is a primary

data such as the amount of sugar palm plants

(Arenga pinnata) and the benefits of these plants. It

also includes the socio-economic data covered

identity of the respondent, which is a name, age,

type of sex; livelihood; and education. Secondary

data consist of on the general state of the research

area and the data obtained from reliable sources such

as relevant agencies and an institution as well as

supporting research.

The local knowledge survey was also conducted

to determine the potential of sugar palm

(Arenga pinnata) in the protected forest area of

Pastap Julu Village. The key informants chosen in

this study were local field guides.

2.1 Techniques and Data Collection

Stages

The retrieval of data is carried out directly in the

field as follows:

a. Observing and analyzing sugar palm (Arenga

pinnata) to obtain information on potency.

b. Analysis of vegetation plants (Arenga pinnata) in

the study area.

c. The interview and discussion using a

questionnaire to those who are representative and

also stakeholders in looking at the potential and

utilization of Arenga pinnata.

2.2 Data Analysis

Retrieval of Arenga pinnata inventory data is carried

out by using the census method. The method of data

collection is done by recording all population

elements and investigating one by one. The data

obtained is in the form of census processing and is

called true value, or often also called a parameter.

The retrieval of data of sugar palm samples is

done by making a plot measuring 10 m x 10 m,

which aims to facilitate data collection for each

sugar palm that found in the protected forest area.

The area used as a research area, namely a protected

forest area with an area of 60 hectares.

Figure 1: Sample plot of Arenga pinnata data collection.

The data obtained were analyzed by using the

formula:

The density of a type (K)

K = ∑ individual type / sample plot area

(1)

3 RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Sugar palm plants found in the vicinity of Batang

Gadis National Park SPTN II Resort 3 in Pastap Julu

Village, Tambangan Subdistrict, Mandailing Natal

District is a naturally occurring plant. The sugar palm

spreads in the protected forests in the back and forth

items of Pastap Julu village, which borders directly

with Batang Gadis National Park, as shown in Fig. 2.

ICONART 2019 - International Conference on Natural Resources and Technology

266

Figure 2: Distribution of Aren in Pastap Julu Village around Batang Gadis National Park.

Table 1: Data on potency of sugar palm in the protected forest of pastap julu village.

Immature sugar palm

(individual)

Mature sugar palm

(individual)

Average of height

(cm)

Average of diameters

(cm)

Density

(individual/hectare)

1073

256

53,08

4,267

The potential of sugar palm plants in Pastap Julu

Village is seen from the research locations that have

been determined based on the location that is often

used by the community to harvest sugar palm plants.

Its potential can be seen from the development of the

number of productive plants and products produced.

This is seen based on the growth rate with high

parameters of sugar palm plants, as presented in

Table 1.

There are 256 individual mature plants with a

density of 4.267 individuals /hectare, which means

there are ± 4 individuals of sugar palm on every 1

hectare. Sugar palm at the seedling level is obtained

by the number of 1073 individuals. Sugar palm at

the level of the seed spreads around a large number

of mature sugar palm usually occurs because the

fruits of mature palm fall to the ground so that the

saplings clump in one place. But not all of these

saplings can grow into mature palm sugar due to the

very large competition between the saplings.

The potency of productive sugar palm plants is

also seen based on the number of male flowers and

female flowers contained in one palm sugar stem.

The average number of female flower bunches /fruit

contained in one sugar palm stem, which is 3-5

bunches. This is by the statement of Lempang

(2012) which states that sugar palm plants that have

good growth can have 4-5 fruit bunches. Pollination

of sugar palm is thought not to be carried out by

wind but by insects. If the pollination process goes

well, it will produce thick fruit.

The average male flower is found in one sugar

palm stem, which is 3-4 bunches. According to

Haryjanto (2010), the number of productive bunches

is only 4-6 bunches with a period of 2-3 months.

Juice sap is produced from tapping male flower

bunches. If the female cob is tapped, it is often

obtained by a sap which is not good in terms of

quantity or quality. Male flowers are long round like

a bright purple bullet at a young age and blackish

purple after adulthood.

The Potency of Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) in Pastap Julu Village around Batang Gadis National Park Area

267

(A)

(B)

Figure 3: male flowers of sugar palm (A), female flowers of sugar palm (A).

The sugar palm plants found in the Pastap Julu

protected forest area is spread unevenly, this is

caused by the growth of wild or unintentionally

planted sugar palm plants. This is by the statement

of Marito (2008) which states that almost all of the

existing palm trees originate from wild growth

(accidentally planted by people) which results in

uneven distribution. This is also in line with the

results of interviews with communities around the

area that the pattern of the spread of sugar palm

plants in the study location is not influenced by

humans but naturally which is also assisted by

animals that are in the region.

4 CONCLUSIONS

Inventory of sugar palm plants (Arenga pinnata) in

Pastap Julu Village around the Batang Gadis

National Park Area was carried out by census

method with result of 256 individual mature palm

plants with a density of 4.267 individuals /hectare

and an average height of 12 m and an average

diameter of 53.08 cm. The potency of the sugar palm

can be used as data to utilize palm trees in the area

which are expected to increase the economic income

of the community in the Pastap Julu Village.

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