The Effect of Merapi Volcanic Ash Addition on the Quality of Liquid Organic Biofertilizer Made from Goat and Sheep Feces

Abstract

The liquid manure from livestock feces that made for biofertilizer is one of the alternatives way of organic agriculture that has to be increased the efficiency and due to the cheaper labor purposes. Moreover, it can increase the content of plant nutrient such as Nitrogen, Potassium, and especially Phosphor. Ash gives a positive effect on the plant through indirect influence on the ground by increasing the availability of Phosphor content. Goat and sheep feces contain an amount of plant nutrients and can be utilized as liquid organic biofertilizer. Due to containing some minerals, Merapi Volcanic ash has a potential to improve the quality of liquid organic biofertilizer. This research was conducted to determine the effect of Merapi volcanic ash on the improvement of quality for liquid organic biofertilizer made from goat and sheep feces. This research was performed at the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada. The data were statistically analyzed using Randomized Complete Design (CRD) pattern of factorial with the parameter of the volcanic ash proportion (0%, 1%, 3% and 5%), and the feces type (goat and sheep). This research was described the physical, chemical, biological, and microbiology aspects of the biofertilizer product. The data showed that the addition of volcanic ash to the liquid organic biofertilizer had given a good effect on the levels of organic carbon and phosphor contents of the product. Moreover, stem diameter of Ipomoea reptans, the number of leaves, dry weight, and the length of the root which added by the product has showing increased. Biofertilizer with the addition of 5% with volcanic ash in goat feces gave a better effect on the plant growth.