Participatory interactive research on the evaluation of soil conservation options in San Migara, Malitbog, Bukidnon, Philippines
2002
Samson, J.N.G.
Participatory interactive research is a way of bringing together the knowledge and experiences of researchers and farmers in determining research and development agencies. This case study in barangay [village] San Migara, Malitbog, Bukidnon [Philippines] integrated the use of participatory approaches in evaluating soil conservation options using contour plow, mixed forage hedgerow and pure Setaria hedgerow technologies against current farmers' practice of vertical plowing. Results showed that in the vertical plow system, soil erosion rate averaged 59 tons/ha (660 kg/ha/day) in a single wet corn-cropping season. Contour plow reduced erosion rates by as much as 45%, while the use of forage hedgerows reduced soil loss by 60-67%. Corn yields in the contour plowing system (3.41 tons/ha), pure setaria hedgerow system (2.8 tons/ha), and mixed forage hedgerow system (3.37 tons/ha), were significantly higher than the yield of vertically plowed plots (2.21 tons/ha). The non-adoption of any soil conservation technology reduced potential crop yield by as much as 16 to 35%, estimated to amount from P3,528 to P 7,176 per hectare. Adoption of contour plow reduced nutrient losses by as much as 40%, 68% and 80% for N, P, and K, respectively. Forage hedgerows systems provided better reduction of nutrient losses of about 10-20% more compared to contour plowing system. Although the contour plow and the two forage hedgerow systems have labor cost 9-20% higher than the vertical plow, farmers still can derive 47-62% improvement in their net income as compared to the current practice. Additional economic benefits equivalent to P2,600 and P2,421 per hectare can be derived from the fodder yield of the mixed forage hedgerows and setaria hedgerows, respectively. Among the four systems tested, mixed forage hedgerow proved to be the most promising soil conservation option, based on the joint evaluation of the researcher and the farmers. Although the production benefit of contour plow system (P6,318) was 36% higher than the setaria hedgerow (P4,056), farmers still prefer the latter due to the availability of fodder and its better control of soil erosion by as much as 29% as compared to that of contour plow. The experience in this participatory research supports the use of this method in helping farmers evaluate means of addressing an important concern such as soil erosion problem
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