To consolidate and review project outputs, identify operational constraints encountered and find recommendable solutions, and plan upcoming activities for the next cropping season, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) with partners from DA-GMA Corn, BSWM, UPLB, and SEAP- IPNI, conduct the first National Review and Planning Workshop on Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) for Maize. The activity was held on 28-30 April 2009 at the RDMIC Bldg., Visayas Avenue, Diliman Quezon City.
Mechanized sweet potato harvester for efficient post-production
Sweet Potato is one of the most important food sources in the Philippines. Aside from its starchy tuberous roots, young leaves and shoots are also edible and a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. It is likewise appreciated as a source of antioxidants for neutralizing body toxins as by-products of metabolism.
SSNM corn crop survives despite dry spell in Isabela
Isabela is the country’s top producer of corn but with the current dry spell affecting the country specially the province, corn production is expected to drastically decrease this harvest season. In an interview to Dr. Danilo Tumamao, Isabela provincial agriculture officer said that, more than 90,000 of the 130,000 hectares of corn farms in the province have already been damaged. This is equivalent to a total production loss of more than two billion pesos worth of corn. Out of the 500,000 metric tons (MT) of projected harvests from January to June, more than 200,000 MT is already been declared as lost. “We foresee that the number of losses will increase in the next coming weeks”, Dr. Tumamao added.
Seasonal Climate Forecast determine risk of climate change to agriculture identified
An efficient and helpful tool to determine the future risks of climate change in agriculture was reported by experts from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) during the symposium titled, “Climate Variability and Change,” organized by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) during its celebration of the 7th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM).
Bicol explores potential of seaweed farming; 20 innovative products developed
Research center in Bicol region explores potential of seaweed farming and features 20 innovative products developed.
The commercialization of seaweeds and seaweeds products in Bicol Region is now underway, said Aida S. Andayog, manager, Regional Fisheries Research and Development Center (RFRDC) Region V. This was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – National Seaweed Technology and Development Center (BFAR-NSTDC), the local government units (LGUs), and fisherfolk partners.
Promoting pigeon pea coffee as a nutritious alternative beverage explored
As agriculture research and development (R&D) continuous to discover and rediscover potential agricultural crops like pigeon pea, a lot of nutritious products are also developed.
Pigeon pea, locally known as kadyos, functions as both food and forage crop. It is also used as cover crop for controlling soil erosion due to its strong woody tap root that can penetrate deeply into the soil. It has the capability to host nitrogen fixation and this makes it adoptable to dry and poor soil conditions.
As a food crop, pigeon pea seeds were previously processed only as flour for baking various food products such as cookies and biscuits. This time, through the project, “Development, Utilization, and Commercialization of Pigeon Pea and Sweet Sorghum Nutri-based Food Products” other food uses from pigeon pea are being explored. One of these is pigeon pea coffee.
According to Professor Raul Palaje, project proponent from the Isabela State University (ISU), roasted pigeon pea seeds brewed like coffee gained good acceptance and positive remarks during a technology forum conducted in various municipalities of Isabela and Cagayan. “This is a good start for the work on pigeon pea as coffee,” said Prof Palaje in an interview.
Prof. Palaje being a coffee hobbyist, tried to roast and brew various grains and cereals such as corn, rice, soybean, and other crops to approximate the flavor of coffee. “But pigeon pea is different compared to those crops I have tested,” Palaje revealed. Pigeon pea coffee is noted for having a strong aroma compared to traditional coffees that are sold in the market. Some participants also observed that pigeon pea coffee, when added with cream and a little sugar, tastes like “Sustagen™” or “Milo™”, he added.
On the process, Prof Palaje said that pigeon pea coffee is easy to prepare. “Harvest mature brown pods by cutting the stem two-feet from the ground or manually hand-pick the seeds. Dry the seeds in open sunlight and clean it twice before roasting. The seed is roasted for about 20-25 minutes with constant stirring in a frying pan to produce strong aroma. Start roasting at a high temperature and gradually adjust to a lower one. This is then cooled down and ground to its finest texture. And then you can get your all new roasted pigeon pea coffee,” he explained.
As of now, the technology is still in the process of fine tuning, and testing for its nutritional value, marketability and production.
Development of products such as organic vinegar, “basi” wine, handmade paper, vermin compost, pigeon pea syrup, different cookies and other flat bread baked from pigeon pea flour are also included in the project’s agenda.
While the project recognizes the importance of agricultural crops as an alternative to fossil fuels, Prof Palaje stressed that, it is also important to generate more of food products from these crops to help ensure the country’s food and nutritional security particularly in the rural areas.
The project is funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP) which is in sync with the long term programs of the government to promote agribusiness in the country and create job opportunities.(Edmon B. Agron)
Mitigating measures against pathogenic fungi in onion intensified
Following the detection of another plant pathogenic fungus in onion causing the anthracnose disease, Secretary Arthur C. Yap instructed concerned agencies of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to intensify mitigation measures and make the necessary actions to prevent further damage to onion industry.
The detection of the fungal pathogen, Gibberella moniliformis, in onion was a result of the study of Dr. Ronaldo T. Alberto of Central Luzon State University (CLSU) and Dr Vermando Aquino of UP National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UP-NIMBB), which was presented in a public seminar at the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). The study was funded under a research fellowship program of DA-BAR and the UP-Natural Science Research Institute (UP-NSRI). Previously, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was thought to be the only causal organism. G. moniliformis is one of the microorganisms that can produce gibberellins, a substance with hormone properties.
According to Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Joel S. Rudinas, the presence of giberrelins in affected plants had already been suspected even way back because of the elongation of the plants that is characteristic of gibberellins. Thus, BPI management was glad that the study of Drs. Alberto and Aquino confirmed their previous observations.
Rudinas explained that BPI has been working with the local government units in developing effective cultural management to abate the treat in the industry. BPI has recommended crop rotation, sanitation, and good agricultural practices as among the mitigating factors. BPI also welcomed the measures recommended by Drs. Alberto and Aquino particularly on the safe and judicious use of fungicides to control the disease.
According to Dr. Alberto, effective solutions to address the disease include the use of fungicides like phenylthalimides and, benzimidazole which show evidence of efficacy against both C. gloeosporioides and G. moniliformis. Similarly, the use of Triazole fungicides together with a gibberellin inhibitor could be one of the best approaches in managing the disease because of the high probability of gibberellins produced by G. moniliformis playing an important role in disease development.Alberto added that the discovery and characterization of these pathogens bodes well for the formulation of an effective solution and suitable management strategies to neutralize or defeat the disease as scientists have now a better undertaking of the its complexity.Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap expressed optimism that with the result of the study and the steps to be taken by concerned DA agencies, the threat to the onion industry can be managed.Responding to Yap’s call for action, BAR is continuously supporting the onion growers and stakeholders through the implementation of its Onion Production Resource Management System (OPREMS). This is a custom-built software application system developed specifically for use by the onion sector through a community-based resource management system. This database is designed to provide a unified information system applicable for multi-stakeholder development projects in a cross-functional environment.(Edmon B. Agron)
Oregano tea: A profitable venture for the health conscious Filipinos
Given that the Philippines is not a traditional tea-drinking country, tea consumption continues to increase as health-conscious consumers choose this beverage more for its medicinal benefits.
A study conducted by Euromonitor International in 2007, showed that tea consumption in the Philippines has dramatically increased. The abrupt consumption growth is related to the increasingly busy lifestyle in urban areas of major cities in the country and the emerging health and wellness trend.
Ensuring profitable fertilizer use with Site-Specific Nutrient Management
Table of Contents
Nutrient Management
A healthy crop requires a perfect match of nutrient supply with plant demand: enough to support high yield, the right mix to avoid deficiencies, and availability at the right time to achieve optimal growth.
NPK is Not Enough
Plants acquire most nutrients, dissolved in water, through their root system from soil and other indigenous sources such as decomposing crop residues. However, the indigenous nutrient supply, particularly nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), is typically insufficient to achieve high and profitable yield in cereal crops such as rice and maize. Additional nutrients, supplied by fertilizers, will need to be added to safeguard yields and food supply. However, with surging prices of farm inputs, especially fertilizer, farmers and policy makers may be tempted to cut costs by reducing the use of one or more fertilizer nutrients – a risky strategy. At some point, less fertilizer use can mean lower crop yield, less profit for farmers, and – eventually higher risk of food shortage in the country.
According to Dr Christian Witt, Director for Southeast Asia Program of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), high fertilizer prices are the result of a tightening global market that follows the basic principles of supply and demand. The demand for food – and thus, fertilizers – has been increasing through the years, driven by population growth and increasingly diversified diets as income in developing countries grow.
Fertilizer production of some nutrients, on the other hand, has not always kept pace with demand and it will take some time and investment in production facilities to correct this. While the situation has eased a little in 2009, fertilizer prices may continue to remain relatively high in the near future. Farmers – especially those with low cash flows – will need to change their fertilizer strategies and make better use of fertilizers to optimize their production systems. Fortunately, new technologies are now available to assist farmers in their decision making.
As part of the comprehensive program of the Philippine government to raise food sufficiency level and ensure adequate, accessible, affordable and nutritious food for Filipinos dubbed as FIELDS (Fertilizer, Irrigation, Extension, Loans, Dryers and other post harvest facilities, Seeds and other genetic materials), the Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) in partnership with the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM), the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), launched a national initiative to increase the productivity and profitability of maize (corn) farming through site-specific, integrated crop and nutrient management.
Site-Specific Nutrient Management
The project on Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) for Maize in the Philippines is part of a multi-national research initiative that aims to i) quantify and understand the yield potential of maize in favorable environments of Southeast Asia and ii) develop and evaluate a new SSNM appro ach and best crop management practices for maize through on-farm research in major agro-ecological zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Concepts of SSNM were first developed for irrigated rice in Asia, but its principles are generic and applicable to other cereal crops like maize. The SSNM approach strives to enable farmers to adjust fertilizer use to fill the deficit between the nutrient needs of a high-yielding crop and the nutrient supply from naturally-occurring indigenous sources, including soil, crop residues, manures, and irrigation water. SSNM does not specifically aim to either reduce or increase fertilizer use. Instead, it aims to apply supplemental nutrients from fertilizer at optimal amounts and times to match the needs of the crop.
SSNM provides guidelines and tools for site-specific management of N, P, K – the major nutrients needed by the crop, as well as other essential elements. One of the tools available for managing N is the leaf color chart (LCC). The LCC is a plastic ruler-shaped strip containing four or more panels ranging in color from yellowish green to dark green. It is used to assess the crop’s need for N based on the color of the leaves. Plants with dark green leaves indicate little or no immediate need for N. Yellowish green leaves indicate a relatively higher and urgent need of the crop for N fertilizer. Originally developed for rice, the LCC is also suitable for maize providing farmers with a good diagnostic tool for detecting N deficiency during the season. Following the strategy used in rice, the principles of SSNM for maize were developed through a series of researcher managed on-farm and on-station experiments covering a wide range of bio-physical and socio-economic conditions in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, on-farm trials were conducted in the three key maize-producing provinces of Isabela, Bukidnon, and Nueva Ecija/Tarlac in 2005-2007. Data from these trials showed that the SSNM concept has significant potential to enhance the productivity and profitability of maize farming in favorable irrigated and rainfed environments. With SSNM, yield increased on average by 1.0 t/ha and net benefit by PhP5,170/ha as compared with the farmer’s practice across all sites and seasons. In August 2008, a new 2-year project in partnership with the Regional Integrated Agricultural Research Centers (RIARCs) commenced with exploratory trials in all 16 regions in the country to develop, evaluate, and disseminate improved nutrient and crop management strategies for maize from 2008 to 2010. First results presented at a review and planning workshop in April 2009 confirmed earlier studies. Based on data from seven regions obtained in 2008/09, used led to a yield advantage of about 1 t/ha compared to the farmers’ practice with even greater yield improvements in reached with refined SSNM strategies to be tested in 2009. Field trials further revealed a lower contribution of Bio-N and organic matter application to nitrogen supply than previously assumed. Based on first season results, Bio-N and applied organic matter (ranging from 500 kg/ha to 5000 kg/ha depending on the source) contributed only about 23 kg N/ha or one bag of urea/ha and not 46 kg N/ha or two bags of urea/ha as previously assumed. Work is underway to provide farmers with options particularly where the risk of crop failure is high (i.e. from flooding or drought). Low-risk strategies (with lower input costs) are under development at sites where farmers face a high risk of crop failure while the standard SSNM strategy would be deployed in the more favorable environments where farmers consistently achieve high yield and profit. Inspite of higher fertilizer prices, there is still hope for profitable yields to Filipino farmers. Site-specific strategies coupled with best management practices promise higher returns through higher yields and effective fertilizer use.
For more information, please contact Mrs. Jocelyn Labios, Agricultural Systems Cluster College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines, College of Agriculture, Los Baños, Laguna, 4031 Tel nos: (+ 63 49 536 4455, fax: + 63 49 536 5282/4455) Email : jdlabios816@yahoo.com