Pilot study on microbial performance and economic viability of agro-waste-based substrates for low-cost production of trichoderma spp. as compost fungus activator

Trichoderma spp. is extensively utilized in sustainable agriculture due to their abilities to suppress pathogens, stimulate plant growth, and accelerate organic matter decomposition. However, commercial mass production often depends on costly media such as oatmeal agar, limiting broader adoption. Meanwhile, agro-industrial by-products like rice hull, coconut coir, and sawdust are abundant yet underutilized in many tropical regions. To evaluate the microbial performance of Trichoderma spp. grown on locally available agro-waste substrates as alternatives to oatmeal agar, and to determine the economic feasibility of producing compost fungus activators (CFAs) using these low-cost materials. Conducted at DA-RFO 02 Ilagan Soil Laboratory, three sterilized agro-waste substrates—rice hull, coconut coir, and sawdust—were tested for their capacity to support Trichoderma spp. colonization. Each substrate was inoculated and incubated under laboratory conditions for seven days. Fungal growth was documented visually and a comparative cost analysis performed. Rice hull demonstrated the most extensive colonization, coconut coir showed rapid but patchy sporulation, while sawdust exhibited sparse growth. Switching to agro-waste reduced production costs by over 99%, lowering expenses from ₱5,625 to ₱15 for 1,500 CFA packets. Rice hull and coconut coir are effective, highly economical substrates for mass-producing Trichoderma spp. intended for CFA use, supporting circular agriculture and low-cost bioinput systems.