Enhancing soil resiliency of conventionally cultivated cassava production systems
2023
Villegas-Pangga, G.
Many past research and development projects have had effectiveness in terms of adaptation to climate change. This field study was conducted to evaluate the soil resiliency and soil health of conventionally cultivated cassava farms enabling its soil qualities to sustain and improve its production systems under a changing climate. Resiliency is the potential to recover functional and structural integrity after a disturbance. This potential is a product of the past and present soil management, and at the same time prospect of possible soil responses to future disturbances. The selected cassava farms in the Province of lsabela, Philippines were appraised, and suitable best management practices were identified for enhanced soil resiliency, increased soil productivity and sustainability. Such results were correlated with the multiple soil functions by evaluating the physical and chemical processes in soil. Using a boundary line approach, the contribution of soil fertility, pest and disease infestations, and farmers' management practices to the cassava yield gap were also examined. There are many ways by which farmers can improve the soil quality and soil health devoted for cassava production. However, with the slash and burn method done for cassava growth cycles, this practice is not sustainable in the long run due to soil nutrient depletion. Hence, balanced fertilizer application and integrated soil nutrient management should be employed to achieve potential yield and higher return on investment. The different strategies such as agronomic and soil management measures; soil and water conservation; agroforestry; crop-livestock integration; organic matter utilization; and reduction of synthetic pesticides were recommended to rejuvenate the degraded soil.
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