Thammasat students invented “3P, granulated cow manure mixed with beneficial microorganisms”
Students from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Agricultural Technology Program, Thammasat University invented granulated cow manure, a comprehensive treatment of root rot and stem rot disease in durian.
Root rot and stem rot disease in durian is considered the main problem faced by durian farmers from the production process in the field. The causative agent of the disease is Phytophthora palmivora, which spreads during heavy rain and high humidity which when the durian tree catches the disease, it will die, resulting in less productivity and income. Currently, there is no effective cure for root rot and stem rot disease.
The right treatment to root rot and stem disease in durian is nourishing the tree and eliminating the fungus to the amount that can not cause the disease. Most farmers therefore use both chemical spraying and biological products such as Trichoderma however, such methods will cause labor problems and subsequent risks from the use of chemicals that affect both people and the environment. Therefore, the ‘3P, granulated cow manure mixed with beneficial microorganisms’ is the answer to reducing farmers’ problems through the use of fertilizers at once which as well comprehensively and directly solve the root rot and stem rot problem in durian by both nourishing the tree and eliminating the infection.
‘3P, granulated cow manure mixed with beneficial microorganisms’ is an innovation from the invention of Tiannapa Rongpanang and Suwichak Khaothong, 4th year students from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Agricultural Technology Program with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dusit Athinuwat, a lecturer from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Agricultural Technology Program, Thammasat University as an advisor
The starting point of this innovation, Tiannapha Rongpanang, said that it started with a study visit at a farmer’s durian orchard which has encountered a problem of root rot and stem rot disease in durian. This disease has greatly affected and damaged the durian business because when a durian tree suffers from root rot, it can affect the entire tree, resulting in less productivity and defects to durian. The problem management of most farmers is still the use of chemicals which we see that it affects the user and the environment, causing us to reconsider and solve the problem with biological methods.
As for the components and working principles of the innovation, Suwichak Khaothong explained that the main component used in the granulated cow manure mixed with beneficial microorganisms is manure fertilizer and cellulose that is responsible for food storage of microorganisms. The cellulose is made from rice straw which help reduce the burning of rice stubble of farmers who grow rice as well. There are 3 main microbial strains used: Bacillus subtilis TU-Orga1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Trichoderma harzianum, these microorganisms are capable of inducing root rot and stem rot disease in durian by fixing nitrogen in the air and in the soil, and decomposing phosphate compounds and various nutrients that are beneficial to plants.
The working principle of granulated cow manure mixed with beneficial microorganisms is when we put fertilizer on the plants and then water them. Cellulose releases food, then the microorganisms will consume such food, increase its number and perform their own various functions. Therefore, when we use granulated cow manure. It will help promote the growth of durian, treat root rot and stem rot disease along with providing durian with higher immunity without the need for chemical fertilizers, causing the farmers’ use of chemical fertilizers to decline.
‘3P, granulated cow manure mixed with beneficial microorganisms’ is an innovation that support farmers in solving durian root rot and stem rot disease comprehensively, helping both plants, farmers and as well the environment. The ‘3P’ derives from protect plant, protect people and protect the world.
