Research Program: | Integrated Management Strategies for Sustainable Organic Farming in the Ilocos Region (Program) |
Research Title | Development and Assessment of Organic Production Management Technologies for Rice-based and Upland Agroecosystem |
Studies: |
|
Researcher(s) | Floramante Pastor, Noralyn Legaspi, Lea Agbigay, Mario Remolacio, Corazon Diana Pastor, Maria Concepcion Birginias, Benito Balneg, Rodel Banez |
Research Category | Project |
Research Status | completed |
Duration | Jan 01, 2011 to May 31, 2016 |
Commodity | Environment |
Research Site(s) | MMSU Experimental Farm |
Source of Fund(s) | |
Abstract | |
This research primarily assessed organic production management system for rice-based agroecosystem during the conversion period in two schemes: abrupt and gradual. Different cropping patterns involving dry season (DS) crops were evaluated along with fertilizer management options. Generally, there was no marked trend on yield increase in all crops in the different cropping patterns evaluated though an increase in the yield of rice was observed toward the end of the conversion period. Of the DS crops, tomato has the highest potential for organic conversion scheme as it consistently yielded high throughout the conversion period. Insect pest population was found higher in plots applied with inorganic fertilizer and as the conversion progresses, insect pest population decreases while the population of natural enemies increases. Also, there was no significant trend on the yield of crops applied with green manure (GM) but incorporating GM at maturity could give comparable benefit to that incorporated at flowering stage. An increasing trend of nitrogen (N) and organic matter (OM) content in both conversion schemes was observed. For the manuring option, though its effect on yield was not clearly established, it still has a favorable prospect for organic conversion because of its positive effect on soil fertility. |