Universitas Brawijaya, through the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, is collaborating with PT Pupuk Indonesia to develop biochar-based nano-P fertilizer through the 2023 DIKTI Matching Fund Program. This collaboration began with several studies on the potential of agricultural waste-based biomass and the characterization of pyrolysis products from various sources of agricultural waste.
From this initial research, several outputs have been obtained in the form of pyrolysis equipment and participation in several international seminar scientific publications. Research related to biochar from biomass based on agricultural waste, forest products and agro-industrial waste as well as the characterization of nano biochar has been carried out by members of MF team from 2014 until now.
This research was conducted by Hendrix Yulis Setyawan, S.TP., M.P., PhD as Chief Proposer with members of Nimas Mayang Sabrina Sunyoto, STP, MP, PhD, Yusron Sugiarto, STP., MP., M.Sc, Beauty Suestining Diyah Dewanti ST , MT, Ph.D Lukman Hakim S.Si, M.Sc, PhD, Syahrul Kurniawan, SP, MP, PhD, Gabryna Auliya N, SP, MP, M.Sc, Vindhya Tri Widayanti, STP, MP, Devy Ulandari, STP., M.TP, Shafira Arini Sundari, S.Si, Andhika Putra Agus Pratama, ST, Ilham Akbar Pamungkas, ST, Viqy Maulana MS, ST and 18 MBKM students integrated thesis.
Biochar, according to Hendrix Yulis Setyawan, STP, MP, PhD as the proposer, is bomassa pyrolysis waste. “The working principle is that biochar is reduced to nano size and then impregnated with phosphate. This biochar can then be used in plants, so that the plants get phosphate nutrients more quickly and efficiently,” he explained.
Biochar is a fertilizer made from rice husks. The choice of this material is due to the availability and ease of finding raw materials. For its use, Hendrix said Biochar can be used by spraying or on the ground. “For spray, we tested with a composition of 3 grams of fertilizer in 1 liter of water. Currently, the results are still being studied by colleagues at the Faculty of Agriculture,” he said.
At FTP itself, he added, several research and developments have been carried out at FTP regarding biochar source candidates. “Some of the materials used in this biochar research include rice husks, bagasse, empty palm oil bunches and others. “To get this nano-sized biochar, modification is carried out by biomass pyrolysis and size reduction,” added this FTP lecturer.
“The benefits of this program is that it can establish cooperation between Universitas Brawijaya, PT. Pupuk Indonesia, farmers and the government. In addition, a biochar-based nano-p fertilizer prototype will be produced, which is downstream from university research and has the potential to be produced by PT. Pupuk Indonesia”, he concluded. [UB PR/ Trans. Iir]
