Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 23 No 1 (2019): 138 - 146

DOI: 10.17576/mjas-2019-2301-17

 

 

 

PRODUCTION OF COMPOST FROM NON-SHREDDED EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES MIXED WITH ACTIVATED LIQUID ORGANIC FERTILIZER IN TOWER COMPOSTER

 

(Penghasilan Kompos dari Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit Tanpa Cincang Dicampur dengan Baja Cair Aktif dalam Menara Komposter)

 

Irvan^1,2*, Muhammad Rahman¹, Dedy Anwar¹, Bambang Trisakti^1,2, Hiroyuki Daimon³

 

¹Chemical Engineering Department

²Sustainable Energy and Biomaterial Center of Excellence

Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia

³Department of Environmental and Life Sciences,

Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi, 441-8580, Japan

 

*Corresponding author:  irvan@usu.ac.id

 

 

Received: 13 April 2017; Accepted: 17 April 2018

 

 

Abstract

Empty fruit bunches (EFBs) with activated liquid organic fertiliser (ALOF) were composted in a tower composter. This study was conducted to evaluate the degradation of non-shredded EFB mixed with ALOF as an activator. The concrete tower composter with dimensions of 0.40 m x 0.40 m x 3.00 m was used to accelerate composting time by achieving thermophilic conditions. The moisture content (MC) of the compost was maintained at 55% - 65%. Compost quality, temperature, pH, MC, C/N ratio, bacterial count (BC) and electrical conductivity (EC) were recorded and evaluated. Composting was completed in 40 days, even though EFB turned to dark brown on day 10, indicating that the compost was mature. The quality of the final compost from day 10 to day 40 was slightly similar: pH of 7.6–8.4, MC of 41.16%–58.44%, C content of 20.27%–21.34%, N content of 1.02%–1.25%, C/N ratio of 19.94–20.24, BC of 17–41 x 10⁶ CFU g⁻¹ and EC of 3.74–4.90 dS m⁻¹. These results suggested that the quality of the obtained compost satisfied the Indonesian National Standard.

 

Keywords:  activated liquid organic fertiliser, composting, empty fruit bunches, tower composter

 

Abstrak

Buah tandan kosong (EFB) dengan baja organik cecair teraktif (ALOF) telah dikompos di dalam menara komposter. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menilai data degradasi EFB yang tidak diparut bercampur dengan ALOF sebagai pengaktif. Penggunaan menara komposter, yang diperbuat daripada konkrit dengan dimensi 0.40 m W x 0.40 m L x 3.00 m H, adalah untuk pecutan masa pengomposan bagi mencapai keadaan termofilik. Kandungan lembapan (MC) kompos dikekalkan dalam lingkungan 55 - 65%. Kualiti kompos, suhu, pH, kandungan lembapan, nisbah C/N, bilangan bakteria (BC), dan kekonduksian elektrik (EC) telah direkod dan dinilai. Proses pengomposan telah lengkap dalam masa yang singkat iaitu dalam 40 hari, dan pada hari yang ke-10, EFB telah bertukar warna menjadi coklat tua yang menunjukkan kematangan kompos. Kualiti kompos akhir dari hari 10 hingga ke hari 40 menunjukkan kualiti yang hampir sama iaitu pH antara 7.6 hingga 8.4; kandungan lembapan 41.16 - 58.44%; C 20.27 - 21.34%; N 1.02 -  1.25%; nisbah C/N 19.94 - 20.24; bilangan bakteria 17 - 41 x 106 CFU g^-1, dan kekonduksian elektrik 3.7 - 4.9 dS.m^-1. Kualiti kompos keluaran yang diperolehi telah mencapai Piawai Kebangsaan Indonesia (SNI).

 

Kata kunci:  baja organik cecair teraktif, pengomposan, buah tandan kosong, menara komposter

 

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