Widhi Kurniawan, student of the Doctor of Animal Science Program at the Faculty of Animal Science of Universitas Gadjah Mada, successfully defended his dissertation entitled “Evaluation of Local Plants Potential and the Performance of Four Elephant Leaf (Pennisetum purpureum) Cultivars on Post-Nickel Mining Field with Organic Fertilizer and Biochar.” The dissertation examination was conducted closely at the Faculty of Animal Science UGM on Tuesday, April 21st.
In his presentation Widhi explained that post–nicke mining fields that are long to be considered as non-productive actually have a great potential to be restored into forage feeds-based productive fields through a proper scientific approach. He explained that the integration of local plants utilization, introduction of high quality cultivar such as elephant leaf, and the application of soil conditioner such as biochar and organic fertilizer is proven to be able to increase the biomass productivity while repairing the soil quality significantly.
Furthermore, the result of this study shows that every cultivar has specific qualities, where the GU and Thailand cultivars are excellent on biomass production, and Mott cultivars have the best nutrient qualities. These findings open a chance for a local resources based sustainable farming system, as well as being an innovative solution in accelerating post-nickel mining land reclamation.
Widhi hoped that his research would be a model for degraded land management that is capable of integrating the ecological function of recovery with economical value increase for the people surrounding the mining field.
The dissertation examination was led by Prof. Ir. Budi Guntoro, S.Pt., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN Eng., as the chair of the board of examiners, with the examining members consisting of Prof. Ir. Bambang Suwignyo, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng. and Prof. Ir. Didik Wisnu Widjajanto, M.Sc.Res., Ph.D. During his research period, Widhi was supervised by the promoter team that consisted of Prof. Ir. Nafiatul Umami, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng. and Prof. Dr. Ir. Chusnul Hanim, M.Si., IPM., ASEAN Eng.
Widhi underwent the dissertation examination without any upheavals and was declared to pass as a doctorate candidate.
Original article: Widhi Kurniawan Kembangkan Model Pemanfaatan Lahan Pascatambang Nikel Berbasis Lahan Produktif
Translated by: Widadullah Ragid Addiraya