Use of Agriwaste Compost and Trichoderma Microbial Inoculant (TMI) for LGU and Community-based Rehabilitation of Agricultural Lands Damaged by Mine Wastes in Mogpog, Marinduque

This field research was conducted in Mogpog, Marinduque from 2017-2021 in cooperation with the Mogpog LGU and farmers. The project’s principal goal was to remediate heavy metal-contaminated rice paddies (particularly copper) to increase productivity, harvests and incomes, and help alleviate poverty of the farming community. The projected implemented a new method of in situ rice straw composting using a Trichoderma compost activator. A Trichoderma microbial inoculant for seed-coating and soil-drenching was also used. Field experiments showed that use of the Trichoderma technologies increased harvests relative to the control. It also increased resistance to drought during an El Niño season. Farmers likewise reported reduced pests and diseases and better seedling vigor. There were also indications of bioremediation caused by combining the two Trichoderma technologies leading to a reduction in soil copper content in treated fields. Harvested rice grains have copper content within the allowable limit for the element. Vegetables, root crops and some selected fruits likewise showed increases in productivity and harvest. They also had Cu levels within the allowable range. Economic analysis showed that, with an average of 27% yield improvement with corresponding reductions in investments for pesticides and fertilizers, an estimated potential net financial impact of P 22,338/ha for farmers who used the technologies was computed.