The SIGED C+ Fortified Compost, an innovative organic fertilizer of the Pansigedan Advocacy Cooperative (PAC), aims to help farmers rehabilitate and recover soil fertility and reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in crop production among highland vegetable farmers.
The SIGED C+ Fortified Compost is composed of turmeric waste, ginger waste, wild sunflower, chicken manure, and Trichoderma.
Composting is a method in the decomposition process of materials such as food waste, natural materials, and more. It is an eco-friendly practice that reduces waste in landfills.
Craig Lucas, Program Leader of Food Innovation and Enterprise Enhancement through Sustainable Technology and Approaches (FIEESTA) Program of PAC, explained, “Instead of using inorganic inputs, organic fertilizer is used which is beneficial to the health of the farmers.
The idea of SIGED C+ Fortified Compost is derived from the master’s thesis of Craig P. Lucas where he formulated different substrates out of turmeric waste, ginger waste, wild sunflower, and chicken manure.
The project was launched in June 2022 and started volume production in January 2023 at the Tublay Composting Facility (TBC) of Tublay, Benguet with the aid of PAC which supports and funds the innovation.
Lucas elaborated, “The company of Yamang Bukid (Turmeric Tea) has a problem in the waste landfill of the processing waste of Turmeric and ginger. One of their garbage dumps was piled at Benguet State University (BSU) and it was not processed.”
As a result, he thought of an alternative way to be able to use the byproducts. He formulated different ratios and proportions of the substrate by mixing turmeric/ginger waste, wild sunflower, and chicken manure. Based on his test, the best proportion is one is to one ratio; one part of the turmeric-busting waste, one part of chicken manure, and one part of wild sunflower.
Additionally, he tests the formulation on a Broccoli crop for organic production which concluded that the application of 20 tons per hectare of a decomposed mixture of Turmeric waste, ginger waste, Wild sunflower, chicken manure, and Trichoderma, gives the highest result in terms of yield. Trichoderma serves as the decomposer of compost production.
“The economic benefit of the SIGED C+ Fortified Compost is having 10 tons per hectare of application under organic production. Although 20 tons has a good yield, however, it affects the cost of production. It is recommended to have 10 tons application than 20 tons”, Lucas advised.
A mixture of 20 tons of sunflower, turmeric/ginger processing waste chicken manure compost gives the highest result in terms of yield in the organic soil production.
Process of creating SIGED C+ Fortified Compost
The first process is hoeing of the substrate such as turmeric/ginger waste, chicken manure, and Trichoderma. To speed up the degradation of the substrate, wild sunflowers are shredded. This technique, which is conducted at TBC, is carried out twice a week.
Moreover, Trichoderma acts as an organic compost decomposer and is then combined with the substrate. It is advised to mix the substrate every week until it reaches full maturity, which takes three to four months.
To know if the substrate is fully decomposed, it should not have an odor and has a friable texture. The substrate will be filtered and ready to package for marketing.
There are two ways on using the SIGED C+ Fortified Compost, apply 90 grams per hole/plant before planting and add another 90 grams per hole/plant 2-3 weeks after planting. By Charm Riech B. Liwangen
