Researches

PYROLIGNEOUS ACID AS GROWTH AND YIELD ENHANCER OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas L.)

One of the ways to prevent pest infestation is to provide pyroligneous acid, a kind of vinegar that contains some elements that makes the plant resistant to pest and diseases. In this study, different rates of pyroligneous acid were evaluated to determine its effect on the growth and yield of sweet potato (cv. Miracle). The growth parameters that were considered were number of leaves, leaf area, vine length, biomass and yield, and leaf folder infestation. An anlysis on the correlation between the number of leaves and tuber weight was also done.

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Microbial Fertlizers for Increasing and Sustaining Rice Production on Organic Areas and Area Under Conversion

Two studies were conducted on the use of solid and microbial fertilizers on rice for four cropping seasons (June to October 2010, January to April 2011, June to October 2011 and January to April 2012) at the RM-CARES experimental area, Philippines. One study was conducted in a converted organic area certified organic by Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP) and the other one was in an area undergoing conversion for two years. The objectives of the study were to formulate organic fertilizer inputs and test for their efficacy; determine the best solid organic fertilizer; and test the best combination of solid organic fertilizer inputs and microbial nutrient sources for organic aromatic rice production. Two solid organic fertilizers namely vermicompost and RM-CARES organic fertilizer were used in the main plot and six microbial and organic fertilizer teas namely; EM vermi tea, manure tea, RM-CARES OF tea, EM + vermi tea and EM + RM-CARES OF tea were used in the subplots. Results showed that in both converted and under conversion organic areas, the computed grain yield (t/ha) of CL-1 was significantly influenced by solid organic fertilizer with different microbial and organic fertilizer tea application. Interaction effects of solid fertlizers, vermicompost and RM-CARES OF in combination with EM+ RM CARES OF tea of EM + vermi tea produced the highest average grain yield of 3.57 t/ha (WS) and 2. 94 t/ha (DS) in under conversion area. Similar interaction effects were observed on fully converted organic area obtaining computed yield of 2.26 t/ha (WS) and 3.23 t/ha (DS) implying both vermi-compost and RM-CARES organic fertilizers performed best when combined with EM+RM-CARES OF tea or with EM+vermi tea. The application of different microbial and fertilizer tea augmented the nutrient released slowly from solid OF. Hence, it is very important that during the process of conversion, the use of organic fertilizer must be supplemented with foliar sprays such as EM + RM-CARE OF tea or with EM + vermi tea or its equivalent organic foliar fertilizer.

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Formulation and Testing of Combined Organic Liquid Supplement from Trichoderma spp. and Fermented Plant and Seed Extracts on the Growth of Organic Pechay

The Ramon Magsaysay Center for Agricultural Resources and Environment Studies (RM-CARES) has isolated Thrichoderma longibrachiatum and Thrichoderma asperellum from carabao manure. Since Thrichoderma is mass produced solid form and applied basally, the conversion of Thrichoderma into liquid form allows the supply of nutrients at different growth stages of crops.

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Evaluation of Suitable Rate of Organic Fertilizer in Combination with Different Plant-based Fermented Extracts for Aromatic Rice Grown in a Certified Organic Area

The research was conducted in four cropping seasons in a in a certified organic area to determine the suitable rate of organic fertilizer (OF) in combination with plant-based fermented extracts in CL-1 variety of aromatic rice. Rates of 4 t/ha, 6 t/ha and 8 t/ha OF were used in mainplot and combinations of plant-based fermented extracts of subplots. Verification trials were also undertaken, comparing the suitable rate with 8 t/ha OF alone.

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