Main Article Content

Abstract

Environmental pollution in Indonesia, such as agricultural waste such as rice husks, corn cobs, and coconut shells, often accumulates on unused land, causing environmental pollution. Biochar can be used to process waste while increasing soil fertility. This practice aims to evaluate biochar production from rice husks and its benefits. This activity involved students and teaching assistants at the Green House of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, West Sulawesi University. The pyrolysis process burns rice husks in low oxygen conditions to produce biochar, and its benefits will be tested. The study showed that rice husk biochar improves soil structure and fertility, increases water retention, and provides a habitat for beneficial microorganisms. Biochar increases fertilizer use efficiency and effectively contributes to reducing agricultural production costs. Adding biochar to the soil can increase the availability of nutrients such as major cations, phosphorus, and nitrogen, reduce fertilizer loss through leaching and evaporation, and reduce negative impacts on plant growth and soil health. Therefore, rice husk biochar is a potential soil conditioner that can increase the fertility and productivity of agricultural land. Biochar has porous properties and a large surface area that allows it to absorb and retain water, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms. Applying biochar to agricultural land reduces biomass waste, increases crop yields, and reduces soil and water pollution due to fertilizer leaching. Therefore, rice husk biochar provides a sustainable solution for agricultural waste management and soil quality improvement.

Keywords

Biochar Nutriens Rice husks

Article Details

References

  1. Widiastuti MMD, Lantang B. Pelatihan pembuatan biochar dari limbah sekam padi menggunakan metode retort kiln. Agrokreatif J Ilm Pengabdi Kpd Masy. 2017;3(2):129–35.
  2. Elfandari H, Safitri B. pengaruh komposisi media campuran tanah dan biochar sekam padi terhadap pertumbuhan krisan (Chrysanthemum spp.). 2022;21(1):55–8.
  3. Kaur D, Pallavi, Singh A, Sarkar S, Thakur S, Kaur J. Biochar: A sustainable tool for soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. J Appl Nat Sci. 2024;16(3):1049–61.
  4. Suharyatun S, Warji, Haryanto A, Anam K. Pengaruh kombinasi biochar sekam padi dan pupuk organik berbasis mikroba terhadap pertumbuhan dan produksi sayuran. Teknotan. 2021;15(1):21–6.
  5. Puspita V, Syakur, Darusman. Karakteristik Biochar sekam padi pada dua temperatur pirolisis. J Ilm Mhs Pertan. 2021;6(4):732–9.
  6. Kulakat KA, Siwa IP. Sosialisasi dan praktek pembuatan pupuk organik cair. Pattimura Mengabdi J Pengabdi Kpd Masy. 2023;1(3):1–5.
  7. Widyantika SD, Prijono S. Pengaruh biochar sekam padi dosis tinggi terhadap sifat fisik tanah dan pertumbuhan tanaman jagung pada typic kanhapludult. J Tanah dan Sumberd Lahan. 2019;6(1):1157–63.
  8. Iskandar T. Identifikasi nilai kalor biochar dari tongkol jagung dan sekam padi pada proses pirolisis. Jur Tek Kim [Internet]. 2012;7(1):32–5. Available from: http://ejournal.upnjatim.ac.id/index.php/tekkim/article/view/450
  9. Rofi’ah FZ, Anam K. Pemanfaatan ares pisang dan akar bambu sebagai pupuk organik cair di Bojonegoro. Community Dev J. 2022;3(2):1249–52.