Development of the Optimum Composition of Organic Liquid Fertilizer

Abstract

Organic Liquid Fertilizer is a liquid made from the decomposition of organic material such as plant residue and animal waste in which its content is more than one nutrient. The advantages of this fertilizer are to resolve a deficiency of nutrient and provide the additional nutrients quickly. Most of the liquid organic fertilizers sold in the market are inappropriate with the national standard of agriculture in Indonesia that is in value range 4 to 9 of the potential of Hydrogen (pH). Majority of the existing fertilizer contains the pH value of less than 4 or higher than 9. It means these fertilizers are too sour and overly bases. This condition hampers the plant growth. Thus, it is necessary to supply the proper fertilizer. This study primarily aims to develop the optimum composition of the organic liquid fertilizer that satisfies the national standard of Indonesian agriculture. Taguchi method was used to design the optimal composition and experimental study was conducted to determine a value of Signal Noise Ratio as well as to validate the best composition. Statistical analysis by using t-test was done to test the hypothesis. The result of this study shows that the new composition of organic liquid fertilizer is valid to satisfy the national standard of pH value that is 7. Thus, it is known that the optimum composition encompassing A1 is the cow urine with 1000 ml, B3 is the probiotic with 6 ml, C1 is the goat dung with 500 grams, and D3 is the spices with 30 grams (A1-B3-C1-D3).