Brawijaya University Lecturer Develops Eco-Friendly Organic Mulch Tape
Surabaya, The Gulf Observer: Dr. Rita Parmawati, a lecturer from the Faculty of Agriculture at Brawijaya University, has pioneered the development of an innovative organic mulch tape made from banana waste, water hyacinth, and paitan leaves (Crotalaria sp). This eco-friendly solution aims to prevent weed growth and reduce soil surface evaporation.
“Organic mulch tape is a technology that replaces plastic mulch, which is considered environmentally unfriendly due to its inability to decompose properly,” Dr. Parmawati stated during an announcement on Thursday. The disadvantages of plastic mulch include reduced plant growth and yields, increased pest attacks, microplastic contamination, waterlogging, soil structure loss, and diminished soil microorganism activity.
Dr. Parmawati’s organic mulch tape technology will be applied in Malaka District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), which has an abundant supply of banana waste. “We utilize water hyacinth and paitan leaves together to be crushed, chopped, and molded into a 25-centimeter-wide sheet,” she explained. This organic mulch tape suppresses weed growth and reduces evaporation by up to 40%. It decomposes into fertilizer when exposed to sunlight.
Currently, the application process is being conducted on a laboratory scale and is in the socialization stage with the Regent of Malaka Regency, several farmer groups, and department heads in Malaka District. Malaka District has been chosen due to its low agricultural growth, as per data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS). Rice productivity in the area decreased between 2020 and 2022 due to issues such as weed infestation, evaporation, soil temperature, and irrigation problems.
“We will go to Malaka at the end of July 2024. For the process of making mulch tape for 10 hectares of land, we are collaborating with the machine factory PT Widjaya Teknik Indonesia (Witech),” Dr. Parmawati informed. To ensure the sustainability of the technology, local communities will receive assistance in making organic mulch tape, from material introduction to chopping, making tape pulp, drying, and pressing.
This initiative highlights Brawijaya University’s commitment to sustainable agricultural practices and its efforts to address environmental challenges through innovative solutions.
