LEMNA MINOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH FERMENTATION USING TRICHODERMA HARZIANUM AND SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE ON WATER, LIPIDS, GROSS ENERGY, AND MINERAL CONTENT

Lemna minor has been used as animal feed which contains high nutrients, i.e proteins and amino acids, however, water content is too high to be supplemented to animals. This research was conducted to lower water content, improve crude lipids, gross energy, mineral calcium and phosphor content by the approach of fermentation process. Lemna minor fermentation is divided into two stages, firstly, by using Trichoderma harzianum (Th) with the addition of ZnHCO3 and dl-methionine, secondly, by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc). Completed randomized design (CRD) was used in experimental design with 20 experimental units, with five treatments of different incubation length between fermentation by Sc and Th with four replications. The results showed that fermentation using Th and Sc has a significant effect (P<0.05) on lower water content, higher crude lipid content, higher gross energy, higher mineral (calcium and phosphor) in the Lemna minor. The best duration of fermentation is Th for 3 days and Sc for 7 days (P2) that lowers water (7.29%), increasing crude lipids (2.37%), gross energy (3169 Kcal/kg), mineral calcium (0.93%), and phosphor (0.36%). Lemna minor fermentation with the combination of Th for 3 days and continued Sc for 7 days with added dl-methionine and Zn yield the highest dry matter, mineral calcium, and phosphor content, and lowest crude lipids contents. This study implied that the fermentation process by Th, Sc, dl-methionine, and Zn in the correct fermentation duration seems reliable to increase the quality of Lemna minor so that it more proper to be supplemented to animals.