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Dual pillars of agro-energy transition: Irrigation efficiency and corn waste pyrolysis-fermentation for sustainable ethanol production in Papua lowlands

Mechanical Engineering for Society and Industry · Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026) · pp. 101–113

DOI
10.31603/mesi.15625
ISSN
2798-5245
Published
2026-05-24
Publisher
Universitas Muhammadiyah Magelang
Language
en
License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0

Abstract

Agricultural intensification in Indonesia increasingly relies on fossil energy inputs while leaving substantial agricultural residues underutilized. In Papua’s Keerom lowlands (<100 m altitude), maize expansion has created opportunities for integrating sustainable irrigation management with biomass-based energy systems. This study proposes a dual-pillar agro-energy framework combining irrigation efficiency analysis with pyrolysis–fermentation pathways for valorizing corn residues, particularly cobs and husks. Field survey data from 45 respondents were used to estimate energy inputs in maize cultivation, while pilot-scale pyrolysis experiments (450–550 °C) were conducted to evaluate biochar and bioenergy co-product generation. Results show that total energy input for corn production in Keerom averages 3,950 MJ ha⁻¹, substantially lower than values reported for mechanized highland systems. Slow pyrolysis produced approximately 27% biochar, 38% bio-oil, and 35% syngas, with biochar exhibiting a calorific value of 25.5 MJ kg⁻¹. Ethanol production through dilute acid hydrolysis and simultaneous saccharification fermentation yielded 28.3 L per 100 kg corn feedstock. The integrated system demonstrates potential for improving energy efficiency and reducing agricultural waste while generating decentralized renewable energy. These findings highlight the feasibility of circular agro-energy systems in tropical lowland environments and provide insights for sustainable biofuel development in eastern Indonesia.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

31 authors · 121 co-authorship links · 72 across different organisations

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • Universitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura
  • Universitas Jember
  • Keio University
  • Politeknik Negeri Malang
  • Universitas Muhammadiyah Magelang
  • King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
  • Politeknik Negeri Bali
  • Other organisations
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Andi SanataUniversitas Jember5
Masaki YamaguchiKeio University5
Imam SholahuddinUniversitas Jember3
Selcuk SarikocAffiliation unknown3
Muji SetiyoUniversitas Muhammadiyah Magelang3
Herman Tjolleng TabaUniversitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura3
Muhammad Basri KatjoUniversitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura3
Nevada J.M NanulaittaPoliteknik Negeri Ambon3
Muhammad Dimyati NashrullahUniversitas Jember2
Mebin Samuel PanithasanKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology2
I Made RastaPoliteknik Negeri Bali2
Rachmat SubagyoLambung Mangkurat University2
Suyatno SuyatnoUniversitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura2
Masaki YamaguchiKeio University2
Trismawati TrismawatiUniversitas Panca Marga2
Muhammad Akhlis RizzaPoliteknik Negeri Malang2
Satworo AdiwidodoPoliteknik Negeri Malang2
Takuya TomidokoroKeio University2
Nasrul IlminnafikUniversitas Jember1
Muhammad Maulana AsyharUniversitas Jember1
Franciscus Xaverius KristiantaUniversitas Jember1
Dani Hari Tunggal PrasetiyoUniversitas Jember1
Fitri UtaminingrumUniversity of Brawijaya1
Susi MarianingsihUniversitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura1
Yuni HermawanUniversitas Jember1
I Gusti Ketut PujaSanata Dharma University1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unimma.ac.id/index.php/mesi/oai, first harvested 9 Nov 2026, last seen 9 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Dual pillars of agro-energy transition: Irrigation efficiency and corn waste pyrolysis-fermentation for sustainable ethanol production in Papua lowlands</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Suyatno</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Riupassa, Helen</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Mini, Marthina</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Gaspersz, Rolling S.</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Nanlohy, Hendry Y.</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Corn waste</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Ethanol fermentation</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Pyrolysis</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Biochar valorization</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Lowland agroecosystem</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Agricultural intensification in Indonesia increasingly relies on fossil energy inputs while leaving substantial agricultural residues underutilized. In Papua’s Keerom lowlands (&amp;lt;100 m altitude), maize expansion has created opportunities for integrating sustainable irrigation management with biomass-based energy systems. This study proposes a dual-pillar agro-energy framework combining irrigation efficiency analysis with pyrolysis–fermentation pathways for valorizing corn residues, particularly cobs and husks. Field survey data from 45 respondents were used to estimate energy inputs in maize cultivation, while pilot-scale pyrolysis experiments (450–550 °C) were conducted to evaluate biochar and bioenergy co-product generation. Results show that total energy input for corn production in Keerom averages 3,950 MJ ha⁻¹, substantially lower than values reported for mechanized highland systems. Slow pyrolysis produced approximately 27% biochar, 38% bio-oil, and 35% syngas, with biochar exhibiting a calorific value of 25.5 MJ kg⁻¹. Ethanol production through dilute acid hydrolysis and simultaneous saccharification fermentation yielded 28.3 L per 100 kg corn feedstock. The integrated system demonstrates potential for improving energy efficiency and reducing agricultural waste while generating decentralized renewable energy. These findings highlight the feasibility of circular agro-energy systems in tropical lowland environments and provide insights for sustainable biofuel development in eastern Indonesia.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Muhammadiyah Magelang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-05-24</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unimma.ac.id/mesi/article/view/15625</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.31603/mesi.15625</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Mechanical Engineering for Society and Industry; Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026); 101-113</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2798-5245</dc:source>
	<dc:language>en</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unimma.ac.id/mesi/article/view/15625/6744</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Suyatno, Helen Riupassa, Marthina Mini, Rolling S. Gaspersz, Hendry Y. Nanlohy</dc:rights>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>