Forging ahead, breaking barriers
A DESIGNER fertiliser that will deliver the exact amount of nutrients at each step of growth to increase crop yields is brewing in the laboratories of University Teknologi Petronas ( UTP).
Formulated specially for padi farming, this fertiliser is expected to revolutionise the rice industry, as it would result in better yields and healthier crops.
The project received a RM12mil funding from the Government’s long- term research grant, designed to encourage Malaysian research teams to become technopreneurs to lead the country in becoming a high income and technology- savvy nation.
The team working on this effort includes experts in various fields from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, with UTP as the leader.
It was mooted by UTP Prof Dr Noorhana Yahya and Associate Prof Dr Ku Zilati Ku Shaari, both playing leading roles in the research and development of the fertiliser known as OneBAJA.
“Our goal is to create a fertiliser specifically for padi to optimise the health of the crop that will lead to increased yields,” says Dr Noorhana, who is the programme leader of OneBAJA.
She is also the inventor of a new method to synthesise green fertiliser using nanotechnology.
OneBAJA is designed around the concept of controlled release. It uses a special coating and binding technology to incorporate different strengths of nutrients that the padi crop requires at various stages of growth.
The special coating releases the requisite amount of nutrients at the right time to optimise plant health, with a 90% uptake of nutrients. While reducing wastage, this is a more efficient system to fertilise the land compared with hand- operated methods.
“We are evaluating how the plants react to OneBAJA and are looking forward to actual testing in a greenhouse environment by July next year,” says Dr Noorhana.
She adds that once it is shown to be effective in the greenhouse, the fertilisers will be ready for field tests.
The increased yield, in terms of quality and quantity, is a pathway to future food security as countries including Malaysia face the dichotomy between arable land and development needs.
OneBAJA is also a green product. From raw materials right to the final product, the fertiliser is manufactured using environmentally friendly methods. Its application is in synergy with the environment, adding to its advantage and benefits.
Once it is successful for the rice fields, the technology can be applied to produce fertiliser for other crops. This controlled release fertiliser will be the first of its kind in the world, strengthening UTP’s position on the map of international research.
The OneBAJA project is just one of UTP’s many research areas that are poised to offer much benefit to industries, societies and applications across the board.
Already recognised for its educational excellence, especially in the engineering and petroleum fields, UTP is well on its way to reaching its goal of gaining recognition and acknowledgement as a world- class research university.
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