Bogor City, JurnalPost.com — The Plantation Production Technology and Management (TMP) study program at the Vocational School of IPB University has continued its series of Centralized and Integrated Community Service activities in collaboration with the Mekar Jaya Tani Youth Farmer Group in Pabuaran Pasir, RT 03/RW 10, Mulyaharja Village, South Bogor District, Bogor City.
The activity, held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, marked the chili planting phase on land that had previously undergone preparation and biochar application.
The planting involved the Mekar Jaya Tani Youth Farmer Group, a team of lecturers, teaching assistants, and students from the TMP study program at the IPB University Vocational School.
The involvement of all parties is part of the mentoring process and hands-on practice within the community service series, which began with various land management stages.
Continuing from Land Preparation
Chili planting was carried out following the land preparation stage conducted on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
In the previous stage, the land underwent a biochar application process mixed with the soil. Additionally, manure and dolomite were applied, and mulch was installed on the planting beds as part of the growing medium preparation.
Once these stages were completed, the land was used for planting chili and eggplant.
The planting activity was carried out on two sections of land that had been prepared earlier.
The main section contains 12 planting beds, each measuring approximately 6 meters by 1 meter. A total of 280 chili seedlings were planted on this plot.
Meanwhile, the additional land section, located at a lower elevation, contains five planting beds, each measuring approximately 18 meters by 1 meter.
This additional land has a total of 370 planting holes. A total of 214 holes were used for chili seedlings, while the remaining 156 holes were planted with eggplant seedlings.
Eggplant was planted as a companion crop to optimize the use of the land and the prepared planting holes.
In total, the activity included the planting of 494 chili seedlings and 156 eggplant seedlings.
Hands-on Practice with the Farmer Group
The planting process was carried out alongside members of the Mekar Jaya Tani Youth Farmer Group as part of the direct application of the material and mentoring provided in previous stages.
The team of lecturers and teaching assistants provided guidance during the planting process so that participants could understand and practice cultivation steps on the prepared land.
The activity also provided an opportunity for the farmer group to observe firsthand the land management process from biochar application to the planting stage.
Through hands-on practice, participants not only gained theoretical explanations but also acquired experience in managing growing media, determining plant spacing, and utilizing land more optimally.
Biochar as Part of Land Management
Biochar is a key component in this series of community service activities.
Biochar is organic charcoal produced through pyrolysis, which is the heating of organic materials at high temperatures in conditions with little or no oxygen.
In previous activities, the farmer group received training on the production, processing, preparation, and activation of biochar before its application to the land.
The biochar was then mixed into the soil as part of the effort to manage the growing medium.
The planting stage is a continuation of this process, allowing participants to see the connection between biochar production, land preparation, soil management, and crop cultivation.
Thus, the community service activity does not stop at delivering material but continues with direct implementation in the field.
From FGD to Planting
The series of Centralized and Integrated Community Service activities by the TMP study program of the IPB University Vocational School in Mulyaharja has gone through several stages.
The activity began with a focus group discussion (FGD), followed by practical training on biochar production, land condition assessment, biochar application, soil management, application of manure and dolomite, and mulch installation.
After all these processes were completed, the activity proceeded to the planting stage.
This phased approach provides the farmer group with the opportunity to understand each land management process more comprehensively.
Furthermore, the mentoring provided by the lecturers and teaching assistants allows participants to discuss land conditions and cultivation techniques directly.
Moving to the Maintenance Stage
The planting stage is not the end of this community service activity.
After the chili and eggplant seedlings are planted, the mentoring activity will continue into the maintenance and plant growth observation phase.
These observations will be conducted on the land where biochar was applied, allowing for continuous monitoring of plant development.
Through this series of activities, the farmer group is expected to gain more complete experience in managing land and cultivating crops, from preparation to maintenance.
The program also serves as a practical application of the knowledge and skills possessed by the TMP study program of the IPB University Vocational School in community service.
The planting of chili and eggplant in Mulyaharja is a crucial stage in this series, as it connects the learning process regarding biochar with direct field cultivation practices.
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