Bio-Moisture-Nutrient Absorbing Belt for Promoting the Sugarcane Seedlings Growth from the Local Waste

The problem of drought, limited water resources and pest infestation is a major problem for sugarcane seedling growth. The researcher develop an innovative Bio-Moisture-Nutrient (ฺBMN) Absorbing Belt for Promoting the Sugarcane Seedlings Growth from local waste; Bagasse and Fish Scales (Cirrhinus Microlepis) to  maintain soil moisture, provide plant nutrients and prevent pest. The innovation can solve the problems in water management and agriculture that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green agriculture model.

The result found that the BMN absorbing belt maintain soil moisture before the permanent wilting point 2 times better from control. The belt helping to reduce water usage 50% and save production costs 52.93% from traditional cultivation. For the efficiency of insect protection against pests was 93.12 % decrease in pests compared to the control group. However, the production cost of BMN absorbing belt was low price about 0.06 USD per piece when calculated from 200 pieces production or more.

Sugarcane is an important economic crop; a food, alternative energy, and sugar source. The problem of drought, limited water resources and pest infestation is a major problem for sugarcane seedling growth. Innovation studies the efficiency in maintaining soil moisture, accelerate growth, reduce water usage and prevent pests of sugar cane.

The problem of drought, limited water resources and pest infestation is a major problem for sugarcane seedling growth. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative Bio-Moisture-Nutrient (BMN) Absorbing Belt for Promoting the Sugarcane Seedlings Growth from Fish Scales (Cirrhinus Microlepis) from the Local Waste. The innovation studies the efficiency in maintaining soil moisture, accelerate the growth of sugarcane seedlings, reduce the use of water, and prevent pests of sugar cane. The researcher conducted the experimental by 1) To study the appropriate methods and factors for the extraction of gelatin from Nuanchan fish scales. 2) To study the extraction of fibers from bagasse fibers suitable for use as absorbent material. 3) To study the efficiency of BMN absorbing belt on the growth of sugarcane seedling and effective protection against pests when used in combination with neem extract, and 4) To study the cost of production of BMN absorbing belt. It was found that the BMN absorbing belt maintain soil moisture before the permanent wilting point 2 times better than the control group. The belt helping to reduce water usage 50% and save production costs 52.93%. Using absorbing belt with calcium phosphate shows 1.7 times of seedling growth compare with the one without calcium phosphate. For the efficiency of insect protection against pests was 93.12 % decrease in pests compared to the control group. However, the production cost of BMN absorbing belt about 0.06 USD per piece when calculated from 200 pieces production or more. This invention is a new approach to promote the sugarcane seedlings growth with the Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green agriculture model, which helps to reduce water usage, reduce the use of insecticide, and promote sustainable environmental conservation in the community. According to the results, widely implementation will be another solution to solve the problems in sustainable water management and agriculture that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Keywords: Bio-Moisture-Nutrient Absorbing Belt, Sugarcane Seedling Growth, and Local Wastes