Planting calendars: development based on agro-climatic indices, water availability and avoidance of pests and adverse conditions
2005
Alquiza, P.C. | Castro, R.C. | Ganotisi, N.D. | Baysac, F.S. | Maloom, J.M. | Tumbaga, R.T., Philippine Rice Research Inst. Batac, Batac, Ilocos Norte, 2906 (Philippines)
The optimized planting calendars of 5 cropping patterns (rice-pepper-corn relay, rice-corn-onion, rice-mungbean + corn-corn, rice-mungbean-mungbean + corn and rice-onion-mungbean + corn), were developed, based on agro-climatic indices, water availability and avoidance of pests. The study was conducted at the PhilRice Experimental Farm in Batac for 2 years and the planting calendars were verified in farmers' fields in 2 municipalities of Ilocos Norte (Batac and Currimao), and 1 municipality in La Union (Bacnotan). Groundwater availability, pests and disease occurrences and soil fertility status were periodically monitored. The results indicate that the income performance of planting calendars depends on the geographical location; that is to say, different sites and different cropping patterns require different planting calendars. thus, in Batac, the rice-pepper-corn relay for the months of June to May gave the highest net income of PhP 110,346/ha/year. In Currimao, rice-corn-onion-corn grown from July 15 to April had the highest net income (PhP 107,901/ha/year). In Bacnotan, the rice-corn-onion pattern set from June to April obtained the highest net income (PhP 134,497/ha/year). Populations of insects and disease vectors were minimal. The continuous rotation of crops also suppressed the growth of weeds. In rainfed areas, the groundwater can still support crop production from January to March. Through mulching and other water conservation techniques, planting can be further extended up to May. a tremendous decrease in soil organic matter content was noted with continuous cropping. Hence, supplemental application of organic fertilizer is recommended to make the soil sustainable for crop production.
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