Physical and Social Values of Homegarden in Reducing Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) at Gunung Putri Village Sub District of Gunung Putri, District of Bogor

Abstract

Rapid developments in various fields, have caused both positive and negative impacts, such as decline environmental quality. Gunung Putri Village as one of the villages located in an overcrowded area of settlement, industry and transportation, is very vulnerable to communal health problems especially due to Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). One effort to anticipate decline in health quality is through conservation programme for better environmental health. This program could be initiated from the people’s closest environment by improving homegarden quality. Apart from the physical factors of the homegarden, its quality is also influence by the owner’s attitude. Therefore, study of the effects of homegarden and community attitudes on homegarden should be conducted. This research has the objective to determine the physical and social values of homegarden vegetation that influenced the reduction of SPM value on air, and factors related to community attitudes and the functions and existence of homegarden. This research would provide information on the importance of homegarden in reducing air pollution due to SPM, thus it is expected that community could be aware and participated in homegarden maintenance, as well as to provide inputs to related institutions as references for prevention of air pollution by SPM. The research was conducted on June 2009 – August 2009 in Gunung Putri Village Bogor and Water an Air Laboratory of SEAMEO Biotrop Bogor. Based on shading criteria, sample plots were divided into three groups; Dense Shade (SR), Sufficient Shade (R) and Least Shade (TR). Control plot ( K)comprised of plot with no vegetation. Measurement of dust sample analysis then carried out followed by study on community attitudes on the functions and the existence of homegarden. Several parameters that were expected to influence the value of SPM were total area of crown projection, Leaf Area Index (LAI) and height of tree, while factors influencing attitudes were age, formal education, occupation and duration of living on the area. Research results showed that SPM on air experienced a decline with increasing vegetation shade. Height of tree and LAI were negatively correlated with SPM values, meaning in an increase of LAI values and tree height would reduce the value of SPM. Tree height significantly effect (P-value = 0.021 < α) on reducing SPM by (y = 920.4 -59.66 x) and LAI also has significantly effect (P-value = 0.092 < α) in reducing SPM by (y = 2762 – 944.8 x). The majority of respondents (76.74%) had positive attitudes, meaning that they understand and directly felt the benefit of homegarden, while the rest had average value of attitudes. Attitudes directly influence by the age, duration of living in the area and occupation. The older a respondents get, the more positive attitudes he/she showed. Similar results were obtained for duration of living. The occupation influences attitude based on direct interaction with SPM.