Rice straw and water hyacinth waste are often considered environmental problems. Rice straw, which makes up about 68% of harvest residues, is usually burned after harvest, while water hyacinth grows uncontrollably and disrupts aquatic ecosystems. Yet, both materials can be transformed into something useful to support eco-friendly planting media, especially in the practice of urban farming.
In urban farming, transplanting seedlings from nursery media to permanent fields often poses challenges. Conventional pot trays can damage roots, leading to plant stress. This condition makes it difficult for roots to absorb water and nutrients, ultimately slowing down adaptation and growth in their new environment.
A group of Universitas Padjadjaran students recognized this opportunity. It developed an innovation called TumbuhKeun! pot tray that is not only sturdy but also provides added nutrients for seedlings through composted water hyacinth and rice straw biochar. The product was developed by Herlendia (Agrotechnology), Muhammad Iqbal Syam Bella (Agrotechnology), Muhamad Agra Bifadillah (Agrotechnology), Tazqiya Aqoda Syakiroh (Agroindustrial Technology), and Annisa Nurmailida (International Business), under the guidance of Vira Kusuma Dewi, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D.
This innovation is part of the Student Creativity Program in Entrepreneurship (PKM-K), which successfully received funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek RI).
The main composition of TumbuhKeun! Consists of environmentally friendly biomass. The product is made from finely chopped rice straw, rice straw biochar, water hyacinth compost, chitosan solution, tapioca, and coconut coir (cocopeat).
Rice straw provides structural strength, biochar improves soil condition, while water hyacinth compost supplies essential nutrients for seedling growth. Chitosan and tapioca act as natural binders, maintaining material compactness, while cocopeat enhances aeration and helps retain soil moisture.
Beyond being made from organic materials, TumbuhKeun! also offers efficiency in labor and time during seedling transplantation, minimizes root damage with its perforated design, and improves both the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
Laboratory tests conducted by the TumbuhKeun! Team revealed that the product contains 31.41% C-organic, 0.79% N, 0.45% P₂O₅, and 1.93% K₂O, indicating that it serves not only as a planting container but also as a nutrient provider from the earliest growth stages. Heavy metal tests also recorded 0.38 ppm Cd and 7.21 ppm Cr, which are still within safe limits according to SNI 7763:2024, clause 6.7.2. This ensures the product is safe for use without harming the environment or agricultural yield.
TumbuhKeun! Pot trays are designed pot tray with 105 planting holes, each 3.5 cm deep, 4 cm high, and 3.5 cm wide at the top. The medium is suitable for growing various leafy vegetables such as spinach, mustard greens, lettuce, water spinach, caisim, pakcoy, kale, pagoda, and celery, as well as fruiting vegetables including tomatoes, chili, eggplants, cucumbers, bitter melon, and paprika.
The product is packaged in a box and comes with usage information accessible via barcode. Built on a “Zero Waste” Embraces the use of eco-friendly materials that leave no residue, making it an effective solution for sustainable agriculture as a polyorganic innovation.
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