Abstract:
Biofertilizers can be formulated in liquid or granular form. The advantages of biofertilizers in
granular form are easy application and distribution. The active ingredients of biofertilizers are
mainly in the form of a consortium of rhizobacteria or single rhizobacteria. The manufacture of
granule biofertilizer requires the addition of several materials as a carrier medium. The carrier
medium has the function of packing, and prolonging the storage time of the bacterial inoculum.
Packaging has an important function to protect the rhizobacteria inoculum. The aim of the study
was to determine the best carrier media formula and packaging, in order to increase the shelf life
and viability of biofertilizers. The study used a factorial randomized block design, 2 factors with
3 replications. Factor I: carrier material formula, consisting of: Peat; Husk Charcoal; Husk
charcoal + Kaolin (2:1); Peat+Kaolin (2:1); and Husk Charcoal+Peat+Kaolin (2:2:1). Factor II:
type of packaging, consisting of plastic packaging and aluminum foil. Observations included
total plate count, water absorption, dispersion time, density value and granule morphology. The
results showed that the population of rhizobacteria in the carrier formula of husk charcoal with
aluminum foil packaging was able to maintain viability and increase the shelf life of
biofertilizers. The population of rhizobacteria at 4 months of storage was log10 7.62 cfu/g (4.58 x
107
cfu/g) (high population category). Biofertilizer in the form of granules with a carrier formula
of husk charcoal has the highest absorption, fastest disintegration time, low density value, thick
black morphology, and weak texture. |
