To increase crop production in a sustainable manner and help rejuvenate the country’s degraded soils, the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) developed the enriched rice-based spent mushroom substrate (SMS) soil conditioner for vegetable crops.
The process of preparing this technology is simple. The first step is the preparation of the liquid organic plant supplements such as Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) and Oriental Herbal Nutrients (OHN).
To prepare IMO, one kilogram of cooked rice is placed in a wooden box covered with paper and plastic then placed in a shady, leaf-littered area for three days. The moldy rice is then mixed with 1kg crude sugar, and fermented for seven days.
While OHN is prepared by chopping and mixing together water and 100 grams each of onions, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, and hot pepper. After 12 hours, 300g of crude sugar is added to the mixture, and the material is left to incubate for 7 days.
The second step is the collection and shredding of rice-based SMS. These are then mixed with dried chicken manure at a 4.5:1 ratio.
The third and last step is the formulation of the rice-based SMS soil conditioners. This is done by mixing 5% liquid organic plant supplements (IMO and OHN starters), 5% molasses, and 90% clean water. The diluted IMO or OHN are then sprinkled on the rice-based SMS and chicken manure mixture, ensuring a moisture content of approximately 60%. The formulated rice-based SMS soil conditioners are placed in plastic containers and covered to undergo composting until the desired soil-like texture is attained.
This technology was developed through a DA-BAR-funded project implemented by DA-BSWM and implemented from 2018-2021. The results of this project were reported during the virtual pre-completion review in March 2023.
The project addressed the problem of low crop yield and decline in soil quality. First, the addition of liquid organic plant supplements (IMO and OHN) in carbon and nitrogen rich-SMS contributed to increase in yield of selected vegetable crops such as lettuce and long pepper with an average of 26% yield increment over the recommended inorganic fertilizer alone. Moreover, through the project, all rice-based SMS soil conditioners complied with the specifications on total N-P2O5-K2O 5-content, C/N ratio, % organic matter, and allowable level of pathogens and heavy metals, based on the PNS/BAFS 183:2020 on organic soil amendments. Soil chemical properties were generally improved as well with the addition of the rice-based SMS soil conditioners. Soil pH, organic carbon, organic matter, phosphorus, and potassium levels were improved by the rice-based SMS soil conditioners.