The UGM Faculty of Agriculture established a consortium with Universitas Syiah Kuala, Universitas Andalas, Universitas Udayana Ghent University, Belgium, to do research on the use of bamboo as a raw material for biochar. Biochar is an active charcoal ingredient used to improve soil and reduce agricultural environmental pollution. It has also the potential to maintain soil fertility.
The 3-year researcch collaboration started this year with the Flemish Interuniversity Council Belgium and promoter Prof. Stefaan De Neve from Ghent University and Dr. Benito Heru Purwanto from UGM.
Heru Purwanto said the research had started since November 2018 by inviting representatives from five universities. In March a discussion, workshop and field visit were held at Sidorejo village in Ngablak, Magelang. “Alongside the event we held a discussion attended by the internal project team and several doctoral students who were conducting biochar research at UGM,” said Heru in a release sent on Wednesday (20/3).
Heru explained although it is still preliminary, this study involves researchers from research centers in Indonesia including biochar experts from Balai Penelitian Tanah Bogor (Bogor Soil Research Institute) and Balai Penelitian Tanaman Rawa South Kalimantan (South Kalimantan Swam Crops Research Institute).
“We also invited farmer groups to practice making biochar as the targeted benefits of these research results,” he said.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/17771-ugm-kembangkan-bambu-untuk-bahan-biochar
