A team of students from Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) has developed an innovative solution for urban farming and agricultural waste management. Their product, named ‘TumbuhKeun!’, is a biodegradable pot tray crafted from materials that are often considered environmental nuisances: rice straw and water hyacinth. The innovation aims to provide a sustainable alternative to conventional seedling pots, which often contribute to plastic waste and can cause transplant shock to plants.

​The development, a part of the Student Creativity Program for Entrepreneurship (PKM-K), received funding from the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. The project was inspired by the common practice of burning rice straw after harvest, which contributes to air pollution, and the unchecked growth of water hyacinth that disrupts aquatic ecosystems. The student team, comprising Herlendia, Muhammad Iqbal Syam Bella, and Muhamad Agra Bifadillah from Agrotechnology, along with Tazqiya Aqoda Syakiroh from Agricultural Industrial Technology and Annisa Nurmailida from International Business, sought to repurpose these materials into a valuable product.

The ‘TumbuhKeun!’ pot tray is composed of fine-milled rice straw, rice straw biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More, water hyacinth compost, chitosan solution, tapioca, and cocopeat. Each component serves a specific purpose: the rice straw provides structural integrity, while the biochar and water hyacinth compost enrich the soil with essential nutrients, enhancing soil condition and promoting vigorous root development. The chitosan and tapioca act as binders, and the cocopeat improves soil aeration.

SOURCE: Tim Mahasiswa Unpad Kembangkan ‘TumbuhKeun!’ Inovasi Pot Tray Ramah Lingkungan Kaya Nutrisi