fsm.undip.ac.id. Agus Subagyo’s persistence in researching nanosilica has led him to be confirmed as Professor of Material Physics at UNDIP. An in-depth study of nanotechnology in agriculture has resulted in the benefits of using nanosilica as fertilizer. Nanosilica that is sprayed onto the leaves is actually able to maximize the production of agricultural crops such as rice, corn, sugar cane and sago. In the tests carried out, intensive use of nanosilica for two weeks was also able to recover damaged rice plants due to planthopper attacks.
Lecturer of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Mathematics (FSM) Diponegoro University (UNDIP), Dr. Agus Subagio, S.Si., M.Si, said this at his inauguration as a professor in the field of material physics, Wednesday (2/6/2021). In his first scientific oration as a professor at an open session of the Academic Senate, he revealed the ability of nanosilica to enter through the mouth of a leaf because of its very small size.
In a scientific speech entitled “Nanotechnology: Development and Applications in the Energy & Agriculture”, the owner of 22 patents, revealed that nanosilica research has been developed with the team since 2008, shortly after he finished his doctoral studies at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). “We concentrate on silica because many studies show that many soils in Indonesia lack silica. In the past, farmers put rice stems and leaves back into the fields, these stems and leaves were a source of silica, now many people throw them away immediately. Silica is only needed a little by plants, but if there are no plants, it will not be fertile”, said the lecturer who was born in Blora on August 13, 1971.
According to the lecturer who teaches 13 courses including Semiconductor Physics, Fundamentals of Nanomaterials, Mechanical Properties of Materials, Electronic and Photonic Materials, Entrepreneurial Physics, and Biomaterials this, a natural source of silica mostly found in Merapi ash, silica sand from Bangka Belitung, and geothermal ash in Dieng. From these materials, micro nanosilica products were made to be tested on agricultural plants, especially grass species.
Trials have been carried out in several areas, starting from Lampung, North Sumatra, Bali, South Sulawesi and of course in Central Java and West Java. As a result, the application of micro-nanosilica fertilizer was able to build the physiology (physical) of grass types such as rice, corn and sugar cane well. So that the yield increases.
“We also tested it on stadium grass, the results worked well. In Banyumas, we tested it on the borer, we sprayed it every day for two weeks and it was successful in recovering the plant. It turns out that this nano silica makes the plant leaves become jagged and a bit hard so that the planthoppers are unable to penetrate,” said the 1995 Undip Physics graduate.
From various tests and studies, it is known that the silicate content in rice is not only useful for fertilizing, it can also be used as a pesticide or pest control. The challenge of nanosilica application is the delivery method, the most effective being sprayed onto the leaf mouth stomata at 07:00 – 12:00 noon, the time when the leaf mouth stomata open.
The fertilization method must change the habits of farmers who are accustomed to fertilizing by sowing or spreading. However, by providing understanding, the farmers who become testing partners are willing to accept the recommended method. Especially after the farmers know the benefits, they know their harvests are getting better.
In a study conducted with the Research and Development Agency of Agriculture in Pati, in a test using MWCNT ((Multi Wall Carbon Nanotube) it was also found that the growth results of mustard seeds were better because MWCNT in the roots made it easier for nutrients to enter the soil media. Agus Subagio who completed his master’s study at ITB in 2001, he was determined to develop research with scientists in other fields so that the results obtained were of maximum use.
What is certain is that he believes that nanotechnology, which is science and engineering in the creation of materials, functional structures and devices at the nanometer scale, will provide great benefits to human life.
His research intensity was strengthened by his position as Head of the Undip FSM Basic Physics Laboratory which he carried out in 2008 – 2010, and he continued even though he later had to occupy a structural position as Deputy Dean I for Academic Affairs FSM from 2010 – 2015. Time to conduct research and development like getting a new wind with his position as Deputy Director of Research Results Development Undip that he carried since 2016 until now.
The rapid development of technology gives the impression that we are more positioned as technology users. Many researches and innovations from the nation’s children just sink, many of them are even used abroad. “To solve the problems that exist in society and the nation, we need to have the courage to innovate through collaboration between fields. Can’t walk alone. The power of basic science which is elaborated with engineering will produce works of the nation’s children that are superior and not inferior to innovation products from outside,” said the lecturer with the second highest number of patents from Undip in 2019 and third in 2020.
His consistency in research in the field of nanotechnology has succeeded in bringing the father of Fadhil Anugrah Firdaus and husband of Harini Susianingrum SSi to the highest academic level. In addition to developing nanosilica which has become products such as nano fertilizer and Dipone nanosilica fertilizer, another MWCNT material innovation that he has developed is a nanosensor as a sensor electrode for standing water at airport runways. For this innovation we collaborated with the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC), the Research & Development of the Ministry of Transportation and PT Angkasa Pura I. As for the innovation energy sector being developed is a MWCNT-based supercapacitor.
With PT Pertamina, a collaboration is also carried out for research on enhanced oil recovery based on injection nanosilica material to remove residual oil that is still trapped by rocks in oil wells. Facing the Covid-19 outbreak, Agus was also involved in the development of N95 replacement masks and surgical masks using nano carbon/MWCNT coatings, nanochitosan, and nanosilver.
Regarding his achievements as a professor, Agus feels sad if the Prof title is not accompanied by producing something for the community. “Being a professor is a challenge to do more. So the professor can’t be careless,” he concluded