Characterization of Cocopeat Growing Media from Coconut Coir using Fermentation Process

Abstract

One of the wastes of the coconut industry is cocopeat, which comes from about 70% of the coconut fibre. Cocopeat is composed of cellulose (23-43%), hemicellulose (19.25%), lignin (35-45%), as well as pectin (3%) and tannin. This material has a high water absorption capacity and contains micronutrients, so it has the potential to be processed as a growing medium. However, the high tannin content in cocopeat may inhibit nutrient absorption by plants. In addition, the high carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio is also an obstacle. Therefore, a fermentation process was carried out to reduce the C/N ratio and tannin content. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of fermented cocopeat by examining the effect of bioactivator type and concentration on tannin content and C/N ratio. The study used a nested Randomised Group Design (RAK) with two factors, namely the type of decomposer (EM4, M21, and Tangguh) and the concentration of decomposer (30 mL/kg, 35 mL/kg, and 50 mL/kg cocopeat). Parameters analysed included pH, C/N ratio, tannin, content, and FTIR analysis. Data were analysed using SPSS 27 software with the Two-Way ANOVA test, and the determination of the best treatment was done with the Multiple Attribute Zeleny method.The results showed that the pH value was in the range of 5.7-6.2, the C/N ratio was 109.26-154.64, and the tannin content was between 2.65-8.40%. The best treatment was obtained from the EM4 decomposer type with a concentration of 30 mL/kg cocopeat, resulting in a pH of 5.7, a C/N ratio of 109.26, and a tannin content of 2.65%. This study concluded that fermented cocopeat has the potential as an environmentally friendly growing medium, supporting sustainable agricultural practices.