Irpan is the full name of the gentleman, born in 1976, that we met on Friday (12/11/2015) in his residence, at Sangun Ratu Village, Pubian Sub District, Central Lampung.  He was accompanied by his colleagues who belong to the biogas mason association.  They took the initiatives to take advantge on the opportunities to turn the oil palm tree fiber and oil palm tree ashes into compost mixed with bio-slurry.  The background of Domestic Gas (BIRU) masons associated under Regol Mason Group basically are farmers working in rice farmers.

“Most of the BIRU masons assoicated under our group work as rice farmers as their side income, hence we need a supply of fertilizer for our own rice paddy field,” Irpan said.

The need for compost in a relatively huge amount as the basic fertilizer have compelled them to be more creative in sourcing for local materials as the substitution of bio slurry and cow manures.

“It is a bit difficult now to find bio-slurry in a sufficient amount as each of the biogas user presently use them for their own farming needs.  Thus, this situation has demanded us to be more innovative in sourcing for alternative materials as the substitute of compost mixture,” Irpan once again confessed.

“With the need of compost at approximately 3-5 tons per hectare, it is difficult to find a supply in such large amount to fulfill the needs of our members. Hence we are compelled to consistently innovate,” he added.

They attempt to make the full use of the wast of oil palm tree fiber which are readily available in large amount as a mixture of bio-slurry compost fertilizer for their rice paddy fields.  “We prepare bio-slurry compost with a mixture of oil palm tree solid waste.   The compostion is of bio-slurry, cow manures, oil palm tree fiber waste, oil palm tree ashes waste, lime, and dolomite.  We then mix them with an MOL or Local Micro Organism activator made of bio-slurry enriched with a mixture of local microbial.  These materials are readily available in the surrounding areas of our residence.  We apply ready to use compost as the basic fertilizer in our rice paddy field,” he added.

Successfully Cut Down the Need for Chemical Fertilizer By 75%

In anticipating the upcoming growing season this year, members of the Regol Mason Group are preparing basic fertilizer for the needs of their members.

“Preparing for this month’s rice growing season, we produce 30 tons of compost to meet the requirements for the processing of rice paddy fields belonging to our members.  Total production of compost last year (2014, ed.) have not met our members’ needs.  Hence we increase the total production for this year.  Total area of rice paddy fields of our members are 3.75 hectares.  Should there be an excess to our compost supply, we may sell it to the farmers in the surrounding areas who are willing to try.  However, our primary focus now is to prioritize the needs of our members,” explained Irpan to us when we asked him about the total compost production.  Starting with a-2,500 m2, Irpan at this time has managed to obtain a 1.8 tons of GKP (Dry Grain Harvest).

“Presently, I use only 25% of chemical fertilizer.  I gradually cut the use of chemical fertilizers during the last 8 growing seasons.  I use 800 kg of bio-slurry compost per growing season for my own 2,500 m2 rice field as the basic fertilizer,” he added.

“We feel content with the yield of the last growing season as the productivity of our rice paddy has increased, while we manage to cut the use of chemical fertilizers.  Our rice paddy has become more resistant toward pests and diseases.  Obviously they contribute to the production costs that we have to expend on each growing season.”  (Sholahuddin)