Zeolite Processing Technology To Become Material With High Economical Value

Zeolite is a group of hydrated silical alumino mineral from alkaline specially sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg). More then 2000 years since it found the first time by Cronstedt on the year 1756 in Sweden have been found more then 50 type of natural zeolite and 150 type synthetic zeolite. The use of zeolite covers a wide range of field due to its ability as absorber, catalyst and ion exchange. However, the use of natural zeolite have several limitation such as limited source, a very high variation mineral composition, and crystal size, porosity and un uniform pore diameter. On the other hand, synthetic zeolite is created to overcome the difficulty and weaknesses of natural zeolite. Several technological research and development have been carried out to increases the economic value of zeolite by exploitation and modifying zeolite capacity as absorber, catalyst and ion exchanger. Zeolite have been used on agriculture, cosmetics, and other industries

Bio-superphosphate (Bio-sp) Application on Sugar Cane (Saccharum Officinarum L.)

The highest expense on sugarcane management is fertilization in which one of them is phosphate fertilizer produced by imported raw materials. An innovation was made by using the local phosphate deposits with low reactivity processed further to improve their effectiveness for sugarcane. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth, yield and quality of sugarcane as affected by bio-superphosphate (Bio-SP) application on a highly weathered tropical soil. A nine-month field experiment was conducted at Jatitujuh Sugar Mill area, West Java, Indonesia, comparing between sugarcane fertilized with Bio-SP to replace conventional single superphosphate (SP-36) and that fertilized with SP-36. Urea and MOP (Muriate of Potash) were applied at similar dosages as recommended by division of Jatitujuh Sugar Mill Agronomy Research. Bio-SP was formulated by reacting a Central Java Rock Phosphate with liquid culture supernatant (LCS) and phosphoric acid characterized by 33% total soluble P2O5, 23.1, and 10.7 % citric acid and water-soluble P2O5, respectively. The results indicated that Bio-SP at 50% dosage of SP-36 was as effective as the SP-36 in supporting sugarcane growth and improved yield up to 8% as crystal sugar. Further consequence of this finding is that the application of Bio-SP reduced 9.2% of fertilizer cost for sugarcane

Pemodelan Tanaman Jarak Pagar (Jatropha Curcas L.) Berbasis Efisiensi Penggunaan Radiasi Surya,ketersediaan Air Dan Nitrogen(crop Modeling of Jarak Pagar (Jatropha Curcas L.) Based on Radiation Use Efficiency,water and Nitrogen Available)

A number of crop growth simulation models have been developed using the radiation use efficiency (RUE) concept to predict crop growth and yield in various environments. These models generally calculate daily biomass production as the product of the quantity of radiation intercepted and RUE. Besides that biomass production was deterimined by water and nitrogen available factor. So, this research was carried out to quantify the RUE, biomass and leaf area index on Jatropha under rainfall condition, four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (N) and two and three population densities (P) planted twice. The experiments used a systematic Nelder fan design with 9 spokes and 4 – 5 rings were conducted at SEAMEO-BIOTROP field experiment in 2007. Data from the first experiment were used for parameterization and calibration and the second experiment data for model validation. Based on parameterization, we found that RUE can prediction above ground biomass accumulation of Jatropha were 0.94 (r=0.83) g MJ-1 to 1.3 (r=0.75) g MJ-1. Water availability was between ψ=-30 kpa and ψ=-1.5 MPa for field capacity and wilting point, respectively. Nitrogen demand of root, stem, leaf and grain N were (Ndemr=0.75), (Ndems=0.60), (Ndeml=2.53), and (Ndemg=2.41), respectively. Validation showed that model can simulate crop growth and development of Jatropha

Kontroversi Aplikasi dan Standar Mutu Biochar

. Biochar is a new material researched intensively within the last ten years in various parts of the world. This is fuelled by the fact that the lands of Terra Preta in the Amazon region of South America is known to be very fertile because it contains charcoal that was formed from the minimum oxygen combustion (pyrolysis) at times thousands of years ago. Under the conditions of technological advances like nowadays, researchers tried to replicate it in obtaining similar material which was then widely known by the term biochar and test its usefulness mainly to improved soil conditions in order to generate growth and better crop production and the same time capable of being a barrier to the release of carbon into the atmosphere (carbon sequestering). As a new research topic, it is understandable that it raises pros and cons, especially on its benefits. The pro-side emphasized on the proven beneficial application of biochar to improve growth and yield of crops as well as on soil properties. Others, rised the controversy focused on the limited data reported and somewhat inconsistency on the results. The following review is trying to look at it from the two angles to give the real picture for the prospective applicants of biochar such as researchers and users of biochar for the benefit of improving health and productivity of the soil. At the end of the discussion it is given the necessity for quality standard of biochar to obtain comparable results

Aplikasi Bioaktivator SuperDec dalam Pengomposan Limbah Padat Organik Tebu

The development of a suitable technology for handling sugar cane plantation\u27s solid organic waste especially bagasse, filter mud, and trash is one of the most important concerns in the management system of sugar cane plantation. Solid organic waste of sugar cane is potentially suitable as a compost raw material processed by introducing lingocellulosic-degrading microbes, particularly Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichoderma pseudokoningii, and Trichoderma sp. The microbes were formulated in a commercial bioactivator product namely SuperDec. The significant results have been obtained on biodegradation of trash composted by using this bioactivator. Compost maturity could be reached in 7-21 days of incubation indicated by the reductions of solid organic waste particle size and C/N ratio. Based on selected production component values of this trial, the production cost of trash-originated compost is Rp. 200,-/kg with nutrient value equivalent to Rp. 260,-/kg. Combined applications of the compost with NPK single or with NPK compound fertilizers yielded higher biomass production i.e. 28.5 and 13.3%, respectively, than that obtained from standard NPK single fertilizer application

Evaluasi Kesesuaian Lahan dan Optimasi Penggunaan Lahan untuk Pengembangan Tanaman Kakao (Theobroma Cacao L.) (Studi Kasus di Kecamatan Batee dan Kecamatan Padang Tiji Kabupaten Pidie Propinsi Aceh)

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui kelas kesesuaian lahan tanaman kakao; mengetahui pengaruh karakteristik lahan untuk pengembangan kakao dan memperoleh tingkat kelayakan USAhatani; dan optimalisasi penggunaan lahan berdasarkan kelas kesesuaian lahan. Kelas kesesuaian lahan didapatkan dengan mencocokkan sifat fisik dan kimia dari lahan USAhatani serta mengoverlaikan peta-peta yang sesuai dengan persyaratan tumbuh tanaman kakao dengan ArcGIS. Selanjutnya dihitung tingkat kelayakan USAhatani kakao dan dilakukan optimasi menggunakan QM for Windows untuk mendapatkan lahan optimum dengan keuntungan maksimum. Kelas kesesuaian lahan yang didapatkan di Kecamatan Batee: kelas S1 (sangat sesuai) sebesar 35,42% (2.572,622 ha); S2 (sesuai) sebesar 20,31% (1.922,737 ha) dan N (tidak sesuai) sebesar 44,27% (3.572,008 ha); serta di Kecamatan Padang Tiji: kelas S1 (sangat sesuai) sebesar 2,72% (306,173 ha); S2 (sesuai) sebesar 92,50% (10.429,770 ha); dan N (tidak sesuai) sebesar 4,79% (539,606 ha). Hasil analisis program linier menunjukkan bahwa luas lahan yang optimal digunakan seluas 3.475,065 ha. Keuntungan maksimum yang dapat diperoleh dengan luas lahan 3.475,065 ha adalah Rp 29.756.057.638,21 dimulai pada tahun produksi ke-7. Luas lahan aktual saat ini di Kec. Batee seluas 4.495,359 ha dan di Kec. Padang Tiji seluas 10.735,943 ha yang merupakan sumberdaya yang dapat ditingkatkan. Hal ini berarti masih besarnya ketersediaan lahan yang dapat dimanfaatkan untuk pengembangan tanaman kakao

Efisiensi Penggunaan Radiasi Surya dan sebagai Dasar dalam Model Jarak Pagar(radiation Use Efficiency AS Basis The Crops Modeling Of Jatropha)

Plant growth interpretation in term of accumulated intercepted solar radiation and the radiation use efficiency (RUE) was used to study the growth and analysis of Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.). A number of crop growth simulation models have been developed using the RUE concept to predict crop growth and yield in various environments. These models generally calculate daily biomass production as the product of the quantity of radiation intercepted and RUE. This research was carried out to quantify the RUE, biomass and leaf area index on Jatropha under rainfall condition, four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (N) and three population densities (P) planted twice. The experiments used a systematic Nelder fan design with 9 spokes and 4 – 5 rings were conducted at SEAMEO-BIOTROP field experiment in 2007. Data from the first experiment were used for parameterization and calibration and the second experiment data for model validation. Values of RUE were determined by nitrogen fertilizer and plant density. Based on parameterization, we found that RUE for prediction above ground biomass accumulation of Jatropha were 0.94 (r=0.83) g MJ-1 to 1.3 (r=0.75) g MJ-1. Validation between model prediction and field experimental data showed that model can simulate crop growth and development of Jatropha