Asian Journal of Agriculture
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2025)

Sustainability transitions and potential naturalization risk in the trade and cultivation of Selaginella kraussiana in tropical Indonesia

AHMAD DWI SETYAWAN (Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia)
SUTARNO SUTARNO (Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia)
SUGIYARTO SUGIYARTO (Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia)
SUNARTO SUNARTO (Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia)
DIANTI DIANTI (Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jan 2026

Abstract

Abstract. Setyawan AD, Sutarno, Sugiyarto, Sunarto, Dianti. 2025. Sustainability transitions and potential naturalization risk in the trade and cultivation of Selaginella kraussiana in tropical Indonesia. Asian J Agric 9: 925-945. Selaginella kraussiana has recently become popular as a tropical ornamental plant in Indonesia because of its attractive morphology, rapid vegetative growth, and suitability for humid shaded environments. However, information regarding the multidimensional sustainability of its cultivation and trade systems remains limited, particularly concerning ecological resilience, socio-economic performance, and potential naturalization risk associated with ornamental dissemination. This study evaluated the sustainability of S. kraussiana cultivation and trade systems in Central Java, Indonesia, using a RAPFISH-based multidimensional framework integrated with SWOT-TOWS analysis. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and environmental assessments involving 40 ornamental plant farmers and traders. Sustainability evaluation included ecological, economic, social, technological, and institutional dimensions. The ecological dimension achieved the highest sustainability index (83.93%), indicating highly sustainable cultivation conditions supported by humid microclimates and vegetative propagation systems. Economic sustainability was categorized as moderately sustainable (58.29%), whereas social sustainability remained low sustainable (36.70%). Technological and institutional dimensions showed unsustainable conditions (18.29%) due to limited innovation, weak institutional support, and low organizational integration. Monte Carlo validation confirmed strong RAPFISH ordination reliability with stress values below 0.25 and coefficients of determination (R²) above 0.94. The study indicates that increasing ornamental trade and repeated movement of vegetative planting materials may elevate propagule pressure and warrant precautionary ecological monitoring under favorable humid tropical environments. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrating ecological precaution, technological adaptation, institutional strengthening, and biodiversity conservation into sustainable tropical ornamental horticulture systems while minimizing potential ecological risks associated with ornamental dissemination.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

aja

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry

Description

Aims and Scope Asian Journal of Agriculture encourages submission of manuscripts dealing with all aspects to optimizing the quality and quantity of both plant and animal yield and final products, including agricultural economics and management, agricultural engineering and mechanization, agronomy ...