Penggunaan sterilisasi iradiasi Sinar Gamma Co-60 dan Mesin Berkas Elektron pada viabilitas inokulan dalam bahan pembawa (kompos dan gambut)

Abstract

Carrier material is very important role to decide the quality of biological fertilizer. The carrier consist of high amount of indigenous microbes about 106 cell/gram carrier even more. Therefore, sterilization of carrier material either for kill or reduce the amount of indigenous microbe is the absolutely thing to do. There are several factors in carrier sterilization, such as sterilization activity, sterilization cost, and sterilization process effect of carrier type. This research used some of sterilization methods, there were Gamma Ray Irradiation C0-60 method and Electron Beam Machine (EBM) method at 50 kGy. Both of them are compared with autoclave method which is conventional method at temperate 121oC for one hour on two days in a row. The carriers that used in this research were compost product of BATAN and peat from South Kalimantan. in testing the ability of inoculants survival (Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Phosphate Solublizing Fungi), they are added in the sterilized carriers and they are saved at 20oC. and then we do counting the inoculants population periodicly until ten weeks. Gamma Ray Irradiation Co-60, Electron Beam Machine, and autoclave the same method to kill indigenous microbes. Whereas from inoculant viability tests, The Effect of Gamma Ray Irradiation Co-60 and Electron Beam Machine to carriers is better than autoclave because this method only give good effect to carrier (peat) less than six weeks, where contaminant will not found visually. On the other hand the Gamma Ray Irradiation Co-60 and Electron Beam Machine carriers still have good condition until ten weeks.