The Faculty of Science at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has made a notable advancement in sustainable agriculture by implementing the Hügelkultur method for organic roselle cultivation at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Skudai. The project is led by Dr. Siti Pauliena Mohd Bohari from the Department of Bioscience, who was also a recipient of the Knowledge Transfer Programme (KTP) UTM grant. This initiative aims to promote eco-friendly farming practices and enhance community engagement.
Hügelkultur is a gardening technique that creates a raised bed with very steep sides, utilizing a no-dig layering method that is often used in permaculture food gardens. This method involves stacking rotting wood, brush or other bulky organic materials in the centre of the bed, which is then covered with upturned turf and topsoil. The decomposing acts like a sponge, absorbing water and releasing heat while slowly releasing nutrients to the soil.
Roselle was selected in this project due to its unique properties; high vitamin content, being a good antioxidant, and possessing various health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced blood pressure , help in regulating blood sugar level, and enhanced immune function. Organic farming minimizes the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby improving the fruit quality and also reducing environmental impact and paving the way for a sustainable future in local agriculture. Through hands-on experiences, school students are learning about composting and sharing this knowledge with their community.
On July 4, 2024, Dr. Huszalina Hussin, a member of this project and a consultant for Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) under the Green Technology Application for Low Town Development program Carbon (GTALCC), led the Hügelkultur-Compost Making Workshop at SMK Skudai. Participants built raised beds using decayed and dead branches and twigs, followed by adding nitrogen-rich tropical fruit peels—such as durian rind, mangosteen, pineapples and rambutan—as well as ‘brown’ carbon-rich materials using dried leaves to fill gaps between the dead branches. This mixture was topped with green leaves and compost soil to enhance soil quality and moisture while promoting beneficial microbial activity.
During the launch event, approximately 50 students and 15 teachers participated in the hands-on demonstration. Dr. Huszalina highlighted that composting fruit residues, especially peels, is an effective waste management strategy and enhances plant growth by returning essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) to the soil. The selected tropical fruits, particularly durian, mangosteen and rambutan peels are rich in these nutrients, with N levels ranging from 0.76g to 1.4g per kg, P from 0.13g to 0.16g per kg, and K from 0.7g to 1g per kg. This Hügelkultur compost-making event not only provided valuable experience for students but also strengthened collaborative efforts between the faculty, school and various community stakeholders.
The faculty plans to monitor the progress of the organic roselle crops over the coming months, aiming to share the findings on nutrient recycling enhancement, and best practices with schools and local communities. As the demand for organic produce grows, innovations like Hügelkultur offer a promising route towards sustainable and environmentally-friendly agricultural practices in Malaysia.
In attendance at the event were Shahril Izwan, Assistant Director (Community Division) and Ruziman Rahmat, Assistant Director (Community Division/Local Agenda 21), Community Development Department of MBIP; Mohd Razaduan Hamzah, Landscape Department of MBIP; Aizat Osman; SWM Environment; Dr. Huszalina Husin, Dr. Siti Pauliena Mohd Bohari and Dr. Nurliyana Ahmad Zawawi, Faculty of Science UTM.
Officials from the UTM Centre for Community and Industry Network (CCIN) were also present.
By: Dr. Nurliyana Ahmad Zawawi, Dr. Siti Pauliena Mohd Bohari, Dr. Huszalina Hussin