Potensi Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit dari Pabrik Kelapa Sawit Kapasitas 30 Ton/Jam dan 60 Ton/Jam sebagai Penyedia Unsur Hara di Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit

Rando Kelvin Silalahi (Departement of Plantation Product Preprocessing Technology, Institut Teknologi Sawit Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia)
Ika Ucha Pradifta Rangkuti (Departement of Plantation Product Preprocessing Technology, Institut Teknologi Sawit Indonesia, Medan, Indonesia)

RESWARA: Jurnal Riset Ilmu Teknik
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2026): RESWARA: Jurnal Riset Ilmu Teknik, July 2026

Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) are one of the major solid wastes generated from the processing of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) in palm oil mills. This study aims to evaluate the potential of EFB produced from palm oil mills with processing capacities of 30 tons/hour and 60 tons/hour as a nutrient source for oil palm plantations. The study employed a quantitative descriptive approach using mass balance analysis, laboratory testing, and the Independent Sample T-Test using IBM SPSS version 25. The parameters analyzed included macronutrients, micronutrients, and the physicochemical properties of EFB. The results showed that the mill with a capacity of 60 tons/hour produced a higher amount of EFB, reaching 13.80 tons/hour, compared to 6.90 tons/hour from the 30 tons/hour mill. EFB from the 60 tons/hour mill contained higher levels of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, copper, and iron, while EFB from the 30 tons/hour mill showed higher values of zinc, pH, organic carbon, organic matter, and C/N ratio. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in several nutrient parameters between the two mill capacities at a 5% significance level. Overall, EFB demonstrates strong potential as an organic fertilizer source to improve soil fertility and support sustainable oil palm plantation systems.