Uji Kinerja dan Kelayakan Alat Pengolahan Limbah Kelapa untuk Pupuk Organik [Test Processing and Fitness Equipment Waste Coconut for Organic Fertilizer] - Abner Lay; Oskar Saka; Nikhson Takaheghesang; Nicolas Tumbel (Pusat Penelitian dan Pengembangan Perkebunan, 2016)
Commonly, processing of organic fertilizer was done manually, not continuous, low capicity, the quality was not uniform and less efficient handling. Therefore it was not running well and affceted to insufficiency of organic fertilizer supply. Because of that, production technique through mechanical system which can be operated at the farmer groups was needed. The objective of this study is to design organic fertilizer machine for coconut waste which can be aplicated in small scalle. The research was conducted in March until December 2012, in Repair Engineering and Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory of Indonesian Palm Crops Research Institute and Research and Standardization of Industrial Institute Manado. Organic fertilizer processing equipment consists of several process units, such as leaf midrib of coconut, organic material crusher, sieve, mixing materials and organic manure fermentation bulk. The observed variables were equipment specifications, performance characteristics of the raw material and organic fertilizers and feasibility analysis tools. The results showed that, the organic fertilizer processing machine consists of: a palm leaf counter unit cylinder systems, centrifugal sifter system, crusher organic matter cylinder system, material mixing and fermentation batch, which are operationally feasible, a capacity of about 1.6 tons/day. The organic fertilizers was friable, dark brown in color, contains 1.2% N, 1.0% P, 2.81% K, 0.46 Ca and 0.04% Mg. The financial analysis showed that, application of the organic fertilizer processing coconut waste was feasible and profitable. It can be operated in farmer level.ABSTRAKPengolahan pupuk organik umumnya dilakukan secara manual, tidak kontinu, kapasitas olah rendah, mutu tidak seragam, penanganan kurang efisien. Kondisi ini mengakibatkan usaha pengolahan pupuk organik kurang berkembang, yang berdampak pada ketidakcukupan pupuk organik. Untuk itu, diperlukan teknik produksi pupuk organik sistem mekanis yang praktis dioperasikan pada tingkat kelompok tani. Penelitian bertujuan membuat alat pengolahan pupuk organik limbah kelapa skala kecil yang layak operasional. Penelitian dilaksanakan bulan Maret sampai Desember 2012, di Bengkel Rekayasa Alat dan Laboratorium Balai Penelitian Palma dan Laboratorium Balai Riset dan Standarisasi Industri Manado. Pembuatan alat pengolahan pupuk organik terdiri dari beberapa unit proses, yakni pencacah pelepah daun kelapa, penghancur bahan organik, ayakan, pencampur bahan olah dan bak fermentasi pupuk organik, masing-masing dibuat satu unit. Pengamatan terdiri dari spesifikasi alat, kinerja, karakteristik bahan baku dan pupuk organik serta analisis kelayakan alat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa alat pengolahan pupuk organik limbah kelapa, terdiri dari: unit pencacah daun kelapa sistem silinder, ayakan sistem sentrifugal, penghancur bahan organik sistem silinder, pencampur bahan olah dan bak fermentasi, yang layak operasional, kapasitas olah sekitar 1,6 ton/hari. Pupuk organik limbah kelapa yang dihasilkan bersifat gembur berwarna coklat tua, mengandung hara 1,2 % N, 1,0 % P, 2,81 % K, 0,46% Ca dan 0,04 % Mg. Analisis finansial penggunaan alat pengolahan pupuk organik limbah kelapa adalah layak dan menguntungkan. Alat pengolahan pupuk organik praktis dioperasikan pada skala kelompok tani.