Preliminary Synthesis of Slow Release Fertilizer Material by Using Obsidian Rock

Abstract

Slow release fertilizer is a new kind of fertilizer in which the release rate of elements from fertilizer can be controlled. The controlling of nutrient component release rate lead to the increasing of fertilizer efficiency, decreasing agricultural cost, and decreasing ground water pollution. Obsidian from West Java, Indonesia is one the mineral that can be used to synthesize slow release fertilizer. By using this method, ordinary fertilizer is placed in the matrix of polymerized obsidian. The release test to the slow release fertilizer material shows that the material exhibits slow release property.