HOW TO USE TRICHO FOR RAPID COMPOSTING Importance Tricho a short term for trichoderma harzianum - a single-celled fungus

that hastens the decomposition of organic materials. Tricho is particularly effective in decomposing lignocellulose like rice straw, corn stalks, sugarcane bagasse, grasses and weeds. Compared with the traditional method of composting which takes about 3 months to make, the use of Tricho accelerates the process in just 3 to 4 weeks. The trichoderma fungus is also known as Compost Fungus Activator or CFA. It is available in powder or granular form. Lately however, pure culture contained in agar-oatmeal medium has been found to be more convenient and practical to use with similar effectiveness in hastening decomposition. Procedure:

1. Select site
The ideal composting site is shaded and well drained area near a source of water. To compost one (1) ton of agricultural wastes, we need a pile area of 2 x 6 m or 12 square meter. Additional space is needed for ease in operation.

2. Prepare materials
a. Compost materials o o Cellulosic agricultural wastes (rice straw, grass, corn stalk, sugarcane bagasse, etc.) Leguminous plant materials (ipil-ipil leaves, azolla, sesbania, mungbean, peanut, soybean, etc.)

Note: For ease in handling and for faster decomposition, compost materials should be cut or chopped into small pieces (3-5 cm and moistened 6-12 hours before filing)

b. Animal manures (dried chicken dung, alone or in combination with cow, hog, or horse manures) c. Tricho inoculants (pure culture). Fill the 350 ml. bottle of Tricho inoculants with tap water. Shake and pour into a drum of water (200 liters). This diluted inoculant solution is good for (1) ton of compost materials. Use immediately. 3. Pile materials Make six (6) layers of compost materials, each layer about 25 cm thick. A layer of compost materials consist of three parts cellulosic waste and one part mixture of leguminous plant materials and animal manure.

Apply Tricho inoculants Sprinkle each layer of piled compost materials with 32 liters (two kerosene cans) of Tricho inoculant solution. 5. Keep compost heap moist

Sprinkle additional water if necessary to keep the compost heap moist. Cover with plastic sheet or sack to increase temperature and prevent too much water in case of rainfall.

6. Turn compost heap Turn compost heap from top to bottom after two weeks. While this step is optional turning will facilitate and induce uniform decomposition.

7. Harvest compost The Tricho compost is ready for harvest four weeks after preparation. The material can now be put in sacks and stored or applied directly into the soil. One ton of rice straw can be converted into 400 kg to 8 bags of good quality compost.

Reminders Store and keep Tricho in a refrigerator until six (6) months. Discard the inoculant when color changes from dark green to dark brown or black. Tricho inoculant is prepared by: Biological Production Section, Laboratory Services Division, Bureau of Soils

and Water Management, Quezon City, DA-Regional Production Center Region I (San Fernando, La Union) Region II ( Tuguegarao, Cagayan,Iligan,Isabela) Region V (Legaspi City) Region VI (Iloilo City) Region VII (Cebu City) Region X (Cagayan de Oro City) Region XI (Davao City)