THE MARINDUQUE State College launched a project to recycle left-over coconut husks into fertilizers and mulching agents.

MSC’s School of Agriculture aims to maximize the use of coconut husks under its “Intensification of the Utilization of Coconut Husks” project.

The university invested in a coconut decorating machine that separates husks into coco fiber and coco peat. It said that coco peat fertilizers produce better yield.

“Initial results from field trials using pechay (Brassica rapa var. Chinensis) grown with cocopeat in raised beds showed marked improvement in yield performance compared with those grown without cocopeat supplements. Higher yields were also observed from radish grown with cocopeat supplemented soil,” MSC said.

“Meanwhile, coco fibers were used as mulching agents in crop production. When laid on raised beds, coco fibers are able to maintain soil moisture and control the growth of weeds. Tests on the efficacy of coco fibers as mulching agents are now being conducted in selected areas in the municipality of Torrijos,” it added.

Coco fiber can also be used to create cushions for mattresses.