Isolation Of Trichoderma Species From Carabao Manure And Evaluation Of Its Beneficial Uses

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the selected microorganisms isolated from carabao manure in an effort to produce compost activator that will reduce the period of decomposition and also to test its other potential use as bio-fertilizer and bio-control agent. Six genera of fungi were isolated from carabao manure namely Penicillium Aspergillus Cladosporium Fusarium Trichoderma and Rhizopus. Among these only Trichoderma was selected as beneficial fungi. Fungal populations at different ages of carabao manure were observed ranging from 6-26 x 106 cfug. Two species of Trichoderma Trichoderma sp. 1 and Trichoderma sp. 2 were isolated and observed to be dominant on the 3rd and 4th week old carabao manure. Trichoderma sp. 2 grew best in rice bran and oatmeal substrates at 4 days of incubation period. The addition of combined Trichodema sp.1 and Trichoderma sp. 2 on the compost 3 parts of rice straw and leaf litters 1 part of carabao manure and 0.5 part of carbonized rice hull lessened the period of decomposition from 45 to 36 days as well as increase N P and K content with 1.49 N 0.73 P and 2.28 K. The CN ratio of compost with introduced Trichoderma sp. was recorded at 81 O.M. at 20.52 Organic carbon at 11.93. Trichoderma sp.2 was also found to have the potential use as bio-fertilizer on the growth and yield of pechay particularly when it was combined with Trichoderma sp.1 as the growth of pechay increased by 7.10 cm with the mean of 23.6 cm. Results further showed that the weight of pechay grown in soil with combined Trichoderma sp.1 and Trichoderma sp.2 was heaviest by 56. In mustard different concentration levels of Trichoderma sp.2 enhanced the growth of the crop specifically at the rate of 30 gli of water. Antagonistic effects of Trichoderma sp.1 and Trichoderma sp.2 were found to inhibit the growth of Rhizoctonia sp. and Fusarium sp. with the percent inhibition of 39.0 39.16 and 24.0 and 18.62 in the dual culture method respectively. The Trichoderma isolated from carabao manure were found beneficial and effective as compost activator and likewise enhanced the nutrient content of the compost. It also helped improve the growth of pechay and mustard as well as inhibit the growth of some fungal diseases.