University Students Create Environment-Friendly Polybag Nursery

JAKARTA, June 21 (Antara) - Five students, majoring in Forest Management at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta, have created an environment-friendly polybag nursery called Polytube Bagormaling. According to a statement from UGM received by Antara here on Tuesday, the innovation was derived from the high amount of garbage generated from plastic polybags, especially when students undergo a practical course. The Polytube Bagormaling has been invented through the Student Creativity Program funded by the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education. "We feel sad to see the plastic polybag scrap that was just wasted in the nursery. Planting should support the environment, but eventually it generates plastic waste," innovation team leader Anisa Haryani said. Haryani along with her four friends -- Alfian Dwi Cahyo, Ika Mediyahati, Najieh Safier Ibrahim, and Bayu Prasetio -- created an organic-based polybag that is environment-friendly. Polytube Bagormaling is made of coconut fibers placed into a polytube frame made of aluminum. Cahyo explained that the product can be directly planted into the soil, so it will not produce waste and can increase the amount of organic matter in the soil. "In addition to being environment-friendly, it is easy to decompose. Our product can support the growth of plants, as it has a planting media in the form of compost and Trichoderma fertilizer," he noted. Trichoderma is a fertilizer that can prevent pathogens that cause root decay, which usually attacks early plants. "The polybag is also artistic, as it can also be used to plant ornamental plants and decorate houses," Cahyo explained. They hope that the product would be mass produced and would be used in any nursery that produces the saplings of forest plants and reduces plastic wastes. We are currently looking for institutions that are willing to partner with us to produce Polybag Bagormaling in large numbers," Cahyo noted.