Formulation and Testing of Combined Organic Liquid Supplement from Trichoderma spp. and Fermented Plant and Seed Extracts on the Growth of Organic Pechay

Abstract

The Ramon Magsaysay Center for Agricultural Resources and Environment Studies (RM-CARES) has isolated Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Trichoderma asperellum from carabao manure. Since Trichoderma is mass produced in solid form and applied basally, the conversion Trichoderma into liquid form allows the supply of nutrients at different growth stages of crops. This study aimed to formulate and test the efficacy of combined organic liquid supplement (OLS) from Trichoderma spp. and fermented extracts from kakawate and malunggay leaves, banana fruits, soybean and mungbean seeds. Based on the results for one trial on pechay, undertaken in a certified organic area at the Ramon Magsaysay Center for Agricultural Resources (RM-CARES), Central Luzon State University Science City of Muñoz (CLSU), Nueva Ecija, yield was significantly increased by the supplementation of Trichoderma spp. in combination with fermented plant and seed extracts. Treatment with 1:0.5 ratio of T. asperellum: fermented plant and seed extracts significantly gave the highest computed yield of 12 t/ha which is 47% higher than the yield obtained in commercial OLS and 106% higher than the control. The treatment with 1:0.5 ratio of T.longibrachiatum: fermented plant and seed extracts, and treatment with commercial OLS produced comparable yield with 9.80 t/ha and 8.17 t/ha, respectively. Since the developed OLS from Trichoderma and fermented plant and seeds extracts is at par or even surpassed the yield of commercial OLS, it has the potential as bio-liquid fertilizer for organic pechay production which could be possibly substituted to commercial OLS.