Develop a formulation for the production of soilless growth media with nutrient-rich and water-storing using Azolla Pinnata

Rahmat, Muhammad Ammar Syaheed (2019) Develop a formulation for the production of soilless growth media with nutrient-rich and water-storing using Azolla Pinnata. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Azolla pinnata has gained the interest of many researchers in different parts of the world and was subjected to extensive phytochemical and few pharmacological studies. Azolla pinnata has been widely grown due to its commercial potential in various industries. The Azolla pinnata grows heavily in Southeast Asia and is rich in protein content ranging from 25 to 30 percent of dry weight content. Due to the increasing demand for Azolla pinnata, this plant has been planted not only in an open farm, but it has been grown using VERMAPS (Copyright AR2018001497). Currently, the plants are used for serving the purpose for livestock feed, fertilizer for rice crop cultivation and many more.The advantages of this water plant are that it contains much higher nutrient and proteins that maize and bran. Thus, further study for the development of wider range of used for this plant has been done. Artificial or soilless growing media culture is cultivation of crops or plant in media without soil. A number of media have been used as alternatives for soilless culture. A growing media holds water and nutrients, also provides an anchor point for a plant's roots. Mostly these growing media are up of inorganic component or chemical component. Although chemical component improve the growth of plants and increase the yields of fruits and vegetables in a relatively short period of time, there certain disadvantages of using chemical component as opposed to organic component derived from natural sources. The objectives of the research are to evaluate and compare the physicochemical of raw Azolla pinnata and Midorie Pafcal and Jiffy-7 pallet and developing method in preparing Azolla cube which will be evaluate based on a few performance analysis such as hardness, NPK value, water absorption, water loss and also water retention. Azolla Cube is defined as a unique growth media that has a cube shape and also contain the nutrient value needed for plant in order to growth. Azolla Cube is made up of organic material of Azolla Pinnata. Azolla Cube can overcome these problems to act as organic growing media due to the fact that it can provide all the nutrients needed for plant to growth without the use of chemical of any synthetic materials as also the ability to retain and hold water for quite while. The process in producing the best method involved numerous number of preliminary study and test. The final design method are selected from evaluating all of Azolla Cube samples based on number of analysis. Only four (4) samples of Azolla Cube which are samples A (Grind Azolla Pinnata (since 250µm size)(5.5g) Cassava starch(2g) + water(5ml). sample B (Ungrind Azolla pinnata (2g) + Bentonite clay(2g) water (5ml), sample C (Ungrind Azolla Pinnata (2g) + Cassava (2g) + water(5ml) , and last sample D (Grin Azolla pinnata (sieve 250µm size)((5.5g) + Cassava starch (2g) + water (5ml)) heat) are finalized and the data are collected to be used as preliminarily study for further study proposed. All samples are prepared using the sample methods. The raw materials (Grind dried Azolla pinnata and ungrind dried Azollah pinnata) are mix with each of the binder (tapioca starchpowder and Bentinite clay) and then the mixture into cube shape. Result obtain showed that raw Azolla pinnata do have nutritional value needed by plant to grow which initially presence in both og the product (Jiffy-7 pallet and Midorie Pafcal). All samples (A,B,C and D) are evaluated based on a few test (hardness, water absorption, water loss, water retention and also the availability of NPK value). Result obtain shown that sample C has the upper hand in almost all aspect that has been tested. It safe to conclude that Azolla Pinnata is capable to provide the nutrient needed for plant to grow as compare to the products (Jiffy-7 pallet and Midorie Pascal). Hopefully using Azolla Cube as growing media for any Ornamental Plant can help the plant growers, horticulture and landscape designer to have healthy and strong plant and also avoid the risk of toxic buildups of chemicals and slats that can be deadly to plants.

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Engineering
Depositing User:	Ms. AZLINA ZAINAL ABIDIN
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2024 05:28
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2024 05:28
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2223

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