The Research and Community Service Unit of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) distributed compost fertilizer processed from the Parangtopo FMIPA UI laboratory biodigester free of charge to 25 residents of RT 04/06, Jatijajar Village, Tapos District, Depok, on Friday (23/6/2023).
The activity, titled “Parangtopo Peduli Waste to Energy Laboratory,” is part of the University of Indonesia’s (UI) Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) community service program, which aims to implement the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. The residents involved in the fertilizer distribution program are under the auspices of the Indonesia Berseru Association. The participants are predominantly housewives who are being trained to independently cultivate vegetables such as tomatoes, mustard greens, chilies, and spinach.
The fertilizer was handed over by Gamma Abdul Jabbar, M.Sc. as the Field Team Responsible for the Biodigester Laboratory to residents through Mr. Wahyudi as the Head of RT 04/06, Jatijajar Village, Depok.
He said that a total of 50 bags of fertilizer were distributed, each weighing 3 kg. Gamma continued, the distribution of this fertilizer began with an urban farming initiative in the neighborhood of RT 04/06, Jatijajar Village, to support soil loosening on land owned by residents under the Indonesian Berseru Association, using environmentally friendly compost to ensure optimal soil function for planting various productive crops.
“The resulting compost is a product of anaerobic processing of a mixture of dried leaves and organic waste. Therefore, this compost uses no other materials than those derived from nature,” Gamma told the UI Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Public Relations team.
Gamma added that the potential of biodigester fertilizer produced from processing organic waste on the UI campus had previously been tested on plants in an experimental garden created in the Parangtopo Laboratory area of the UI Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, for the cultivation of eggplant, peanuts, bok choy, and water spinach, both conventionally and with a hydroponic system.
“From the results of the experiments carried out, it was also seen that the plants tested showed a good response to several treatments carried out,” he said.
The composting process at the Parangtopo Laboratory, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, uses anaerobic Fixed Dome Digester Compose technology. Studies have shown that the optimal ratio of organic waste, dry leaf litter, and animal waste is 5:5:2. The analysis revealed no hazardous chemicals that could contaminate the environment, and the fertilizer threshold was largely met.
He hopes that the distributed fertilizer can help fulfill the fertilizer needs of residents of RT 04/06, Jatijajar Village, Tapos District, Depok, in the process of learning to cultivate vegetables, so that residents are more motivated in producing vegetables with superior quality that can be felt the benefits both individually and in groups.
Mr. Wahyudi, the neighborhood association head, expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) team for distributing the compost processed from the biodigester in the Parangtopo FMIPA UI laboratory. He stated that these environmentally friendly fertilizers are very beneficial and helpful for residents who are just starting to learn about vegetable cultivation.
“This assistance is very useful and very helpful for us. This organic fertilizer is not only environmentally friendly but also very good for loosening the planting medium,” he said.
