Coastal Zones

Biography

Biography: Dr Agus Hartoko

Abstract

Indonesia with about 81,000 km length of its coastal area is still importing country 1 million tons per year for its industrial needs out the national need of 3 million tons and 2 million tons national production of salt. This was since most of salt production in Indonesia until nowadays still relay on the traditional methods by fisherman families since hundreds years ago. Traditional salt product was identical with poor quality with low NaCl content, turbid-brown and easy melting salt crystal. Such as Demak coastal area as well another coast along the north coast of Java was characterized with turbid coastal seawater, caused by many turbid estuaries and high suspended solid of alluvial riverside systems. Geo-membrane applied in the study was a specially designed with three layer poly ethylene, (Patent ID-P0033348), pore-size 250 micron, size 440 cm x 50,000 cm and 880 x 50,000 cm. Specially designed geo-membrane is a multilayer poly-ethylene which the upper layer function to prevent high the brackish water pond soil porosity, with smooth and scratch-resistance capability for salt harvest. The middle layer will optimally absorbs sun-light heat to increase high sea water evaporation and salinity thus increasing salt production and efficiency. The lower layer will protect for salt production soil table to undergone of soil surface deformation. Result had confirmed a double increase of salt production that is 147 ton/ hectare for three months, increase salt quality from the second or the third class salt quality to become first class salt quality. Increase salt price from IDR. 300 to become IDR 650 (USD 5 cent) per kg, compliance of Iodine concentration range of 50 – 80 ppm with Indonesian Standard.