Intan Fajar Suri

Purpose: This community service program aimed to explore the feasibility and benefits of utilizing corn cob waste for biochar production as a sustainable practice that can serve as a solution to address the issues of corn biomass waste, while simultaneously enhancing waste management, improving soil fertility, and stimulating local economic development. Methodology/approach: This community service program involved 27 farmers in Bangun Sari Village, Pesawaran, focusing on biochar benefits for soil improvement. The methodology included technical training on building biochar production facilities from corn biomass using clay kilns, production process training, establishing a biochar production unit, and providing ongoing support for production, packaging, and marketing of biochar. Results/findings: The community service program has significantly improved farmer’s knowledge on the agricultural waste utilization to support sustainable farming in Bangun Sari Village. The community service activity reveals that the application of biochar production technology using clay kiln techniques is easily adoptable by the community and involves relatively low production costs. Conclusion: By focusing on biochar production units, process training, and business development, the program will benefits local farmers and the community. Its success hinges on effective technical implementation and strong community and government support. Continued commitment and collaboration promise long-term positive impacts on environmentally friendly agriculture.

Abstrak: Perhutanan sosial merupakan bentuk izin resmi kepada penduduk desa di sekitar hutan untuk mengelola hutan negara melalui mekanisme yang diatur oleh menteri dalam surat keputusan salah satunya ialah Hutan Kemasyarakatan (HKm). Pemilihan jenis pohon produktif memberikan manfaat bagi pengelolaan hutan yang dilakukan oleh masyarakat tersebut. Proses pemilihan jenis tanaman dan pola tanam juga mempengaruhi apakah petani akan tetap mempertahankan jenis dan pola tanaman yang ada atau melakukan perubahan. Oleh karena itu, perlu peran perguruan tinggi untuk memberi edukasi kepada masyarakat petani sekitar hutan terkait jenis pohon produktif tersebut. Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan persepsi petani yang mengelola hutan lindung dengan skema Hutan Kemasyarakatan di Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan (KPH) Batutegi, Kabupaten Tanggamus tentang pemilihan jenis pohon produktif. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini meliputi survei lokasi, persiapan, penyuluhan, anjangsana dan evaluasi. Didapatkan hasil bahwa pengabdian masyarakat pemilihan pohon produktif yang telah dilaksanakan berpengaruh nyata terhadap pengetahuan dan pemahaman partisipan. Kegiatan ini dapat berpengaruh signifikan terhadap tingkat pengetahuan dan pemahaman partisipan. Petani yang memiliki persepsi yang baik cenderung lebih mampu mengidentifikasi dan memanfaatkan sumber daya lokal secara optimal, termasuk memilih jenis pohon yang paling produktif dan sesuai dengan kondisi lingkungan mereka

This study evaluated the effect of artificial weathering on the surface characteristics, physical properties, and chemical compositions of oil heat-treated (OHT) and air heat-treated (AHT) Paulownia tomentosa and Pinus koraiensis woods. The untreated and heat-treated samples at 180, 200, and 220 °C for 2 h were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) and water for artificial weathering for 168 and 336 h, respectively, according to ASTM G53-96. The weathering experiment comprised 2 h of UV-light irradiation followed by 2 h of condensation cycles. Color change, volumetric swelling, and chemical components of weathered samples were determined. In both species, heat-treated woods showed a significantly lower total color change and volumetric swelling than the untreated woods. The total color change and VS of OHT woods were significantly lower than those of AHT. Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated that the lignin peaks in untreated and AHT woods decreased after weathering exposure, whereas the peaks were stable in OHT woods. Oil heat treatment is an effective method to stabilize dimensional change and color quality during weathering.