Community Involvement and the Use of Coffee Exocarp as a Growth Medium for Cajuput Plantation in Post-Mining Land Reclamation in PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA)

Abstract

The cajuput plant (Melaleuca cajuputi) is valued for its essential oil production and its ability to thrive in challengingenvironments, including post-mining lands. PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) has cultivated this plant extensively to supply seedsfor reclamation projects on former mine sites, along with the provision of location-specific fertilizers. This study aims to identifythe new alternative organic materials, determining the optimal formula for plant growth media and also to measure the tangibleand intangible impacts of the community involvement. Following the implementation of statistical testing involving the analysisof variance model (ANOVA) and subsequent test, which is the least significant difference (LSD) test, definitive findings revealthat incorporating coffee exocarp as a growth medium significantly impacts the elevation of plant height and the augmentationof Cajuput leaf count. The most efficacious treatment is delineated as P2, characterized by a 1:1 composition of coffeeexocarp and soil. The involvement of the local community has precipitated several advantageous outcomes, encompassing thecreation of employment opportunities, the facilitation of economic equilibrium, and the development of smallholder forestryenterprises within the local community.

Keywords

• community involvement
• coffee exocarp
• growth medium