Electronic Theses and Dissertation

Penelitian ini mengkaji efektivitas pengolahan kompos dari kombinasi feses gajah
Sumatera dan limbah kulit singkong menggunakan aktivator EM4 di Pusat Latihan Gajah
(PLG) Saree, Aceh Besar. Seekor gajah dewasa menghasilkan 50-100 kg kotoran per hari
dengan kandungan nutrisi tinggi yang berpotensi diolah menjadi pupuk organik berkualitas.
Penelitian eksperimental menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan tiga
variasi perlakuan: P1 (feses gajah 40% + limbah kulit singkong 50% + sekam padi 10%), P2
(feses gajah 50% + limbah kulit singkong 40% + sekam padi 10%), dan P3 (feses gajah 70%
+ limbah kulit singkong 20% + sekam padi 10%), masing-masing dengan penambahan EM4
20ml dan tiga kali pengulangan. Analisis dilakukan di Laboratorium Kimia dan Kesuburan
Tanah Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Syiah Kuala. Analisis mengacu pada SNI 7763:2024
sebagai standar terbaru pupuk organik Nasional dengan Hasil penelitian menunjukkan
seluruh perlakuan menghasilkan kompos dengan kandungan unsur hara gabungan
(N+P₂O₅+K₂O) mencapai 12,64%-21,53%, melampaui standar SNI 7763:2024 minimal 2%.
Kandungan karbon organik berkisar 20,32%-26,70%, jauh di atas standar minimal 15%.
Perlakuan P3 memberikan hasil optimal dengan rasio C/N rata - rata 23,93, total unsur hara
19,15% (±0,32%), dan konsentrasi kalium mencapai 18,00%. Karakteristik fisik, kimia, dan
biologis kompos memenuhi spesifikasi SNI 7763:2024 dengan pH 4,0-7,0, kelembapan
5,26%-14,58%, nitrogen total 0,58%-1,11%, fosfor pentoksida 0,07%-0,13%, dan kalium
oksida 11,96%-20,33%. Penelitian membuktikan EM4 efektif mengakselerasi dekomposisi
bahan organik dan menghasilkan kompos berkualitas tinggi. Integrasi pengelolaan limbah
kotoran gajah dengan limbah kulit singkong menggunakan teknologi EM4 mendukung
konservasi gajah Sumatera sekaligus memberikan manfaat ekonomi dan lingkungan melalui
sistem pengelolaan limbah berkelanjutan yang meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat
sekitar pusat konservasi.
Kata Kunci: Kompos organik, feses gajah Sumatera, limbah kulit singkong, aktivator
EM4, ekonomi sirkular

This study investigates the effectiveness of composting from a combination of Sumatran elephant feces and cassava peel waste using EM4 activator at the Elephant Training Center (ETC) Saree, Aceh Besar. An adult elephant produces 50-100 kg of manure daily with high nutrient content that can potentially be processed into high-quality organic fertilizer. This experimental research employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three treatment variations: P1 (elephant feces 40% + cassava peel waste 50% + rice husk 10%), P2 (elephant feces 50% + cassava peel waste 40% + rice husk 10%), and P3 (elephant feces 70% + cassava peel waste 20% + rice husk 10%), each supplemented with 20 ml EM4 and replicated three times. Analysis was conducted at the Soil Chemistry and Fertility Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Syiah Kuala, following SNI 7763:2024 as the latest Indonesian National Standard for organic fertilizer. Results demonstrated that all treatments produced compost with combined nutrient content (N+P₂O₅+K₂O) ranging from 12.64% to 21.53%, significantly exceeding the SNI 7763:2024 minimum standard of 2%. Organic carbon content ranged from 20.32% to 26.70%, substantially surpassing the minimum standard of 15%. Treatment P3 yielded optimal results with an average C/N ratio of 23.93, total nutrient content of 19.15% (±0.32%), and potassium concentration of 18.00%. The physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the compost met SNI 7763:2024 specifications with pH 4.0-7.0, moisture content 5.26%- 14.58%, total nitrogen 0.58%-1.11%, phosphorus pentoxide 0.07%-0.13%, and potassium oxide 11.96%-20.33%. This study confirms that EM4 effectively accelerates organic matter decomposition and produces high-quality compost. The integration of elephant manure waste management with cassava peel waste using EM4 technology supports Sumatran elephant conservation while providing economic and environmental benefits through a sustainable waste management system that enhances the welfare of communities surrounding the conservation center. Keywords: Organic compost, Sumatran elephant feces, cassava peel waste, EM4 activator, circular economy.