Influence of Fly Ash Addition on Nutrient and Microbial Population in Citronella Leaf Waste Composting
Authors
Alfi Laila Zuhriansah , Irdika Mansur , Sri W. Budi R , Ria Astuti , Rizky Febriana Br Lubis , Hanifa Rahmah , Mona Fitri Shrena , Yosie Syadza KusumaDOI:
10.29303/jbt.v25i4.9907Published:
2025-10-02Issue:
Vol. 25 No. 4 (2025): Oktober-DesemberKeywords:
additives, composting, nutrient, microbes, wasteArticles
Downloads
How to Cite
Downloads
Metrics
Abstract
The response of composting microbes to fly ash can show an increase or decrease in population depending on the type and concentration of fly ash used. This study aims to identify the effect of fly ash addition on the composting of citronella (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendl.) leaf waste, specifically in relation to changes in the C/N ratio and the number of composting microbes, and the identification of fungal species that developed during the process. The composting treatments included citronella leaf waste without alkali (K), also with the addition of alkali in the form of 2% dolomite (D), fly ash of 2% (FA1), 5% (FA2), 10% (FA3) and 15% (FA4). The analysis used in this study was a quantitative descriptive analysis related to the analysis of C-organic and total N, as well as composting microbes. Quantitative descriptive analysis was employed to assess C-organic content, total nitrogen, and microbial populations. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of fly ash influenced both the C/N ratio and microbial abundance. The addition of 10% fly ash proved to be the most effective treatment, increasing nitrogen content and reducing the C/N ratio to 26, while supporting bacterial growth up to 3.0 × 10¹¹ CFU/g. Fungal identification revealed the presence of Rhizopus sp., Trichoderma sp., and Aspergillus sp., which contribute to the degradation of organic matter in citronella leaf waste.
References
Azzahra, B. E., Susilowati, L. E. & Arifin, Z. (2025). The effect of dosage baglog mushroom compost on microbial growth in the rhizosphere of peanuts (Arachis hypogaea). Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 24 (1). http://dx.doi.org/10.29303
Cao, X., Williams, P. N., Zhan, Y., Coughlin, S. A., McGrath, J. W., Chin, J. S. & Xu, Y. (2023). Municipal solid waste compost: Global trends and biogeochemical cycling. Soil & Environmental Health, 1: 1─14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seh.2023.100038
Chang, R., Li, Y., Chen, Q., Gong, X. & Qi, Z. (2020). Effects of carbon-based additives and ventilation rate on nitrogen loss and microbial community during chicken manure composting. PLoS ONE, 15 (9): 1─14. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229880
Deacon, J. (2006). Fungal Biology. 4th Ed. Garsington Road, Oxford.
Dogaris, I., Mamma, D. & Kekos, D. (2013). Biotechnological production of ethanol from renewable resources by Neurospora crassa: an alternative to conventional yeast fermentations?. Appl Microbio Biotechnol., 97 (4): 1─29. Doi: 10.1007/s00253-012-4655-2.
Ilyas, M., Rahmansyah, M. & Kanti, A. (2006). Seri Panduan: Teknik Isolasi Fungi. Bogor, Indonesia.
Indriani, C., Fadhila, F. R. & Kodariah, L. (2020). Identification of Aspergillus sp growth on white bread against storage temperature. Jurnal Kesehatan Rajawali, 10 (2): 92─103.
Kurniawati, N. & Priyadi. (2021a). Dampak aplikasi fly ash dari pembangkit listrik di PT. Great Giant Pineapple-Lampung terhadap aktivitas biologi tanah di lahan marginal. Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Pertanian Indonesia, 23 (1): 9─14. https://doi.org/10.31186/jipi.23.1.9-14
Kurniawati, N. & Priyadi. (2021b). Pengaruh aplikasi abu terbang dan pupuk kotoran sapi terhadap populasi mikroorganisme di tanah ultisol. Agriprima, 5 (1): 41─49. Doi: 10.25047/agriprima.v5i1.406
Khoiriyah, H., Muhibuddin, A. & Sektiono, A. W. (2023). Pengaruh Suhu dan pH Terhadap Produksi Enzim Selulase Trichoderma harzianum dan Kemampuan Antagonisnya (Thesis Sarjana). Universitas Brawijaya. Jawa Timur.
Kumar, S. (2011). Composting of municipal solid waste. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 31 (2): ─112–136. https://doi.org/10.3109/07388551.2010.492207
Li, Z., Jin, D., Bo, H., Wang, W., Zhang, B., Zhang, W., Zhang, Q., Wang, H., Wang, H., Feng, M. & Li, H. (2023). Long-term deposit of fly ash regulate bacterial communities in different disturbance zones: Evidence from diversity, network complexity and predictive metabolic function. Science of The Total Environment, 888, 1─27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164244
Lin, C., Cheruiyot, N. K., Bui, X. T. & Ngo, H. H. (2022). Composting and its application in bioremediation of organic contaminants. BIOENGINEERED, 13 (1): 1073–1089. Doi: 10.1080/21655979.2021.2017624
Ling, J., Zhang, H., Husain, T. & Kazemi, K. (2017). Feasibility study of potential use of pulp and paper mill fly ash as a co-composting material. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res, 5 (5): 167─173. Doi: 10.19080/IJESNR.2017.05.555675
Marheni & Lubis, L. (2019). Bacteria simbion landscape (Oryctes rhinoceros L.) as a bioactivator for oil palm empty fruit bottle for organic mulsa. ABDIMAS TALENTA, 4 (2): 391─398. Doi: 10.32734/abdimastalenta.v4i2.4101
Mayasari, A., Christita, M. & Suryawan, A. (2018). Keragaman jamur makroskopis di arboretum jenis-jenis pohon asal Wallacea BP2LHK Manado. Jurnal WASIAN, 5 (2): 105─114.
Oktaviani, M., Kamaluddin, N. N. & Simarmata, T. (2024). Enhancing the composting process and quality of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) using indigenous cellulolytic microbes: A review. International Journal of Life Science and Agriculture Research, 03 (04): 274─283. Doi: 10.55677/ijlsar/V03I4Y2024-09
Pitt, J. I. & Hocking, A. D. (2009). Fungi and Food Spoilage: Third Edition. New York, United States.
Pratama, B. A., Sabrina, T. & Sembiring, M. (2019). Uji efektifitas beberapa jenis dekomposer pada beberapa jenis bahan kompos. Jurnal Pertanian Tropik, 6 (1): 142─152.
Ramadhan, S. N., Halim, Rd., Putri, F. E., Lesmana, S. O. & Hidayati, F. (2023). Efektivitas komposting limbah padat serai wangi dengan menggunakan EM4 dan mikroorganisme lokal (nasi basi dan serai wangi). Jurnal Keselamatan Kesehatan Kerja dan Lingkungan, 04 (2): 83─90. Doi: 10.25077/jk3l.4.2.83-90.2023
Roy, G., Iftikar, W. & Chattopadhyay, G. N. (2022). Effect of moisture status on vermicomposting of organic waste amended fly ash. The Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management, 48 (3): 401─407. Doi: 10.5276/JSWTM/2022.401
Shrivastava, S., Mahish, P. K. & Ghritlahare, A. (2018). Effect of industrial fly ash on the growth of some crop field soil fungi adapted with ash content. International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology, 11 (1): 203─207. Doi: 10.30954/0974-1712.2018.00178.26
Suryani, Y., Andayaningsih, P. & Hernaman, I. (2012). Isolasi dan identifikasi jamur selulolitik pada limbah produksi bioetanol dari singkong yang berpotensi dalam pengolahan limbah menjadi pakan domba. ISTEK, 6 (1-2): 1─10.
Talantan, V. M., Marina, Lambui, O. & Suwastika, I. N. (2018). Uji aktivitas selulase dari jamur selulolitik asal Tanah Danau Kalimpa’a Sulawesi Tengah. Natural Science: Journal of Science and Technology, 7 (3): 323─333.
Trujillo, M. B., Berriel, M. C. H., Gómez, I. R., Salas, M. C. M. & de León, M. C. C. (2018). Microbial growth in compost piles of organic waste and biosolids after the aeration process. Centro Azúcar, 45 (1): 1─10.
Usmani, Z., Kumar, V., Rani, R., Gupta, P. & Chandra, A. (2018). Changes in physico-chemical, microbiological and biochemical parameters during composting and vermicomposting of coal fly ash: a comparative study. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technnology, 16 (3). Doi: 10.1007/s13762-018-1893-6
Viikari, L., Suurnäkki, A., Grönqvist, S., Raaska, L. & Ragauskas, A. (2009). Forest Products: Biotechnology in Pulp and Paper Processing. Encyclopedia of Microbiology. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Inc. pp: 80-94
Widawati, S. (2005). Daya pacu aktivator fungi asal Kebun Biologi Wamena terhadap kematangan hara kompos, serta jumlah mikroba pelarut fosfat dan penambat nitrogen. BIODIVERSITAS, 6 (4): 238─241. Doi: 10.13057/biodiv/d060404
Zainudin & Kesumaningwati, R. (2020). Peranan kompos pelepah kelapa sawit dengan bioaktivator mol pome terhadap peningkatan sifat biologi tanah sub optimal. Ziraa’ah, 45 (3): 360─369. Doi:10.31602/zmip.v45i3.3395
Author Biographies
Irdika Mansur, IPB University
Departemen Silvikultur, Fakultas Kehutanan
Sri W. Budi R, IPB University
Departemen Silvikultur, Fakultas Kehutanan
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Alfi Laila Zuhriansah, Irdika Mansur, Sri W. Budi R, Ria Astuti, Rizky Febriana Br Lubis, Hanifa Rahmah, Mona Fitri Shrena, Yosie Syadza Kusuma

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Biologi Tropis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the author as the owner of the paper. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.
Authors are permitted to disseminate published articles by sharing the link/DOI of the article at the journal. Authors are allowed to use their articles for any legal purposes deemed necessary without written permission from the journal with an acknowledgment of initial publication to this journal.