The Effectiveness of Several Bioactivators in Influencing Compost Quality

Retno Rosariastuti (Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret)
Mohammad Farhan Hafizd (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia)
Sutami Sutami (Department of Plantation Production Technology and Management, Vocational School, IPB University, Borgor, Indonesia.)
Agustin Ayu Saputri (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia)
Widyatmani Sih Dewi (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia)
Sudadi Sudadi (Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia)

Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan
Vol 24, No 4 (2026): July 2026

Excessive long-term use of inorganic fertilizers has contributed to the decline in soil quality in Indonesia. Therefore, the use of organic fertilizers, such as compost, is considered a more sustainable alternative to improve soil fertility and health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various bioactivators on compost quality and its compliance with the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia No. 7763/2024. The study employed an experimental method using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with one factor, namely bioactivator type (control, fungal consortium, eco-enzyme, biofilm biofertilizer, and EM4), with five replicates. The data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that the type of bioactivator significantly affected compost quality. Compost treated with biofilm biofertilizer exhibited the highest quality, with organic carbon content of 10.45%, total nitrogen of 1.36%, total phosphorus of 1.31%, and a C/N ratio of 7.68, while maintaining a near-neutral pH of 7.96. In contrast, the compost without a bioactivator (control) exhibited the lowest quality. Most treatments met the compost quality standards stipulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia No. 7763/2024 for pH, C/N ratio, and NPK content (<2%); however, none met the minimum organic carbon requirement (≥15%). This was attributed to the compost being harvested three months after the composting process. As composting progresses, organic carbon tends to decrease because microorganisms decompose organic matter and oxidize carbon into CO₂. The decrease is generally greater during the early stage of composting because readily decomposable organic fractions are still abundant, whereas during the maturation stage, the rate of carbon loss slows as the remaining organic matter becomes more stable and resistant to decomposition. Overall, biofilm, biofertilizer, and the fungal consortium were the most effective bioactivators, as they produced compost with the highest quality and the closest compliance with the established quality standards.