Assessment of agricultural resources use and management in selected corn agroenvironments: the Mindoro Occidental [Philippines] case
2003
Labios, J.D. | Labios, R.V. (Philippines Univ. Los Banos, College, Laguna (Philippines). Farming Systems and Soil Resources Inst.)
While adaptation of appropriate technologies are being done through on-farm research, the biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of the site must be (1) identified and described to gain complete understanding of the environment over which these technologies perform, (2) assessed of its capacity to sustain productivity, and (3) described to facilitate potential replication in similar settings. An important aspect of the biophysical characterization is the study of the current status of agricultural resources (soil, water, genetic resources) and how these are used and managed at the farm level. In a corn agroenvironment in Mindoro Occidental, the PRA, baseline survey, Kl interviews, field observations, and direct field measurement, are used to gather data. Survey results reveal farmers' perception on soil fertility decline. Soil analysis show high pH (6.5 to 8.3), ESP values as high as 11% to 13%, and low to medium OM content, but farmers generally apply only Urea at rates lower than recommended for corn. Deficient levels of Zn are found in high pH soils. Irrigation water from groundwater and surface water sources is inadequate for corn during drier months. Water quality monitoring to ascertain possible contribution to soil salinization shows high pH at 6.0-8.1, and higher conductivity and salinity readings and Na and Cl contents in groundwater than in surface water sources. Despite their present state, application of irrigation water from both sources has not yet caused soil salinization. regarding genetic resources, improved corn varieties are generally used, while traditional varieties are still grown in its marginal hilly areas
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