Year: 2025 | Month: November | Volume: 12 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 319-329
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20251135
Socialization of the Use of Vermiculite and Several Organic Minerals to Improve Soil Fertility of Coffee Plantations in Buluh Mario Village, Sipirok District, South Tapanuli Regency
Kabul Warsito1, Nur Asmaq1, Indra Irawan1, Diki Wahyudi Hutabarat1, Dony Sahputra2, Tawanli Manullang2
1Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Pembangunan Panca Budi, Medan, Indonesia,
2Sumatra Rainforest Institute, South Tapanuli, Indonesia,
Corresponding Author: Kabul Warsito
ABSTRACT
This community service program aimed to disseminate the use of vermiculite and organic minerals to improve soil fertility in coffee plantations in Buluh Mario Village, Sipirok District, South Tapanuli Regency, which is experiencing declining productivity. The activities were conducted from March to April 2025 through socialization methods, participatory training, and practical demonstrations including the introduction of agroforestry systems for sustainable coffee cultivation, application of vermiculite fertilizer from household organic waste, training on the use of vermiculite in arabica coffee planting media, and planting 100 perennial tree seedlings to support conservation efforts. The program results demonstrated high enthusiasm with 15 active participants who acquired practical knowledge and skills regarding vermiculite application (water retention capacity 3-4 times its weight, CEC 100-150 meq/100g), agroforestry design, and organic waste valorization. This program successfully demonstrated that sustainable coffee cultivation using vermiculite, organic minerals, and agroforestry approaches is feasible for smallholder farmers, offering economic benefits (reduced input costs, income diversification), environmental benefits (improved soil health, ecosystem conservation), and social benefits (community empowerment), while contributing to the SDGs, particularly SDG 2, 12, 13, and 15.
Keywords: Vermiculite, agroforestry, Arabica coffee
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