Effectiveness of a Mixture of Clam Shell Flour, Fly Ash & Bottom Ash (FABA) in Honey Gourd Planting Media

Abstract

Shellfish, Fly Ash & Bottom Ash (FABA) is waste produced by Steam Power Plants (PLTU) and is often seen as a useless material. Shellfish shell waste which is then processed into flour is produced from the filtration process or during extracting sea water supplies. These clam shells were carried by the suction current of the Circulation Water Pump (CWP) pump, then were collected in a holding tank. On the other hand, FABA is a waste product of the coal combustion process in the form of flying and precipitated materials. The location of Steam-electric power station is generally in coastal areas where this activity is carried out at Lontar Steam-electric power station. The presence of the Lontar Steam-electric power station in the coastal area generates green mussel shell waste. Both types of waste have the potential to be detrimental to the environment if not utilized. One use of waste is in the agricultural sector as a substitute for planting media. The planting medium the place which the plants grow and produce fruit, so the right composition is required in mixing. The Lontar community generally prefers honey gourd plants as the main commodity for cultivation. Trials were conducted to determine the composition of the planting media mixture by utilizing shellfish flour and FABA in honey gourd cultivation. Activities were carried out in the laboratory and planting in demo plots in the field to test the media composition mixture. A total of four media mixture formulas were utilized for this activity, namely: conventional planting media (MK), conventional planting media plus shellfish (MK+CK), conventional planting media with FABA (MK+FABA), and conventional planting media with a mixture of both wastes (MK+CK+FABA). The results revealed that mixing shellfish flour waste and FABA could be utilized as a substitute for growing media in honey gourd cultivation. Additionally, this

new method provides economic, social and environmental benefits with a total benefit value amounting to Rp115,580,000 per year.

Keywords

Fly ash; bottom ash; potting mix; clam shel; efficiency