Simple Practices to Maintain and Improve Soil Quality

During the last Conservation Agriculture Workshop held at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines, all the presentations of the invited Speakers highlighted that soil quality deterioration and soil erosion as a consequence of land degradation are becoming a problem especially in the sloping marginal areas. Speakers noted that to address these land degradation, farmers should be encouraged to adopt practices that:

• Produce biomass by utilizing suitable crops, appropriate varieties, proper crop rotations and high planting densities

• Maximize the percentage cover of the soil surface through the use of live cover crops or mulch (non-removal of residues from the field, no burning and no-grazing of animals)

• Promote biological activity with the addition of organic residues

• Promote nutrient recycling

As a soil scientist working in marginal areas, I observed that many farmers in remote areas have poor infrastructure and market access and it is often uneconomical for them to use high level external inputs. The alternative is the use of low-external-inputs; however, low-external-inputs are labor-intensive which could be a constraint on their adoption. The challenge, therefore, is to develop low-external-input technologies that boost labor and land productivity. In this context, the simplest and probably most appropriate practices that can be used are the following:

• Use of cover crops and leave plant residues on the soil surface
• Zero tillage or minimum tillage, in combination with soil cover
• Proper crop rotation
• Longer fallow period
• Use of organic fertilizers

When the above practices are used singly or in-combination, these can give positive effects on the soil such as the following:

• More biological activity in the soil
• Better soil aggregation and porosity
• Good downward water movement (infiltration) thus reducing the occurrence of runoff
• Prevention of excessive high temperatures
• Lesser weeds occurrence
• Reduction in the loss of soil moisture and due to evaporation
• Increased availability of plant nutrients
• Less pest and diseases problems
• Increased in the amount of organic matter

For more info: Call: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza At: (02) 923-04-59 Or email us a gurriza258@yahoo.com or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress.com

 

 

Nutrient Depletion through Erosion from Micro-watersheds under Different Land Uses of Rizal

Gavino Isagani P. Urriza^a, Joseph M. Foronda^b, Jose D. Rondal^a, Arnulfo B. Gesite

^aSoil Conservation Management Division, Bureau of Soils and Water Management, , Diliman, Quezon City
^bNational Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City

Abstract

Runoff and erosion rate were measured in upland soils for different land uses (cultivated with and without conservation measures, grassland and wooded area) in Rizal province. The study was done to determine the rate of nutrient depletion of macro-elements due to runoff and erosion and in order to assess the sustainability of different land use types in terms of soil fertility. Three most important nutrients for plant growth were considered: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The study was conducted for the years 2001 and 2002.

In 2001, due to the well distributed rainfall throughout the year and the higher connectivity because of existing water channels, highest runoff was measured in the wooded area (1303 m³/ha) followed by the grassland (793 m³/ha), the cultivated land with conservation measures (368 m³/ha) and the least was obtained in cultivated land without conservation measure (324 m³/ha). The greater volume of runoff in the wooded area also resulted in greater volume of nutrient lost. In 2002, when conservation measures were already established, significantly lower runoff was observed in the cultivated land with conservation measures (25 m³/ha) compared to that of without conservation measures (158 m³/ha). Grassland and the wooded area also yielded lower runoff values (143 and 137 m³/ha). Higher volume of runoff in the cultivated land without conservation measures resulted in higher amount of nutrient lost.

In 2001, significantly lower soil loss values were observed in the cultivated land with conservation measures and grassland (<1 t/ha) compared to the cultivated land without conservation measure (11 t/ha). Wooded area because of rainfall characteristics during the year and because of the strong connectivity provided by the existing water channel yielded as much as 10 t/ha sediments. In 2002, the cultivated land without conservation measure recorded as much as 53 t/ha sediment loss, all other land uses produced significantly lower soil loss (<1 t/ha). These were also translated to a very low nutrient outflow.

Results of this study suggest that nutrient loss through runoff and sedimentation are major pathways of nutrient losses on these Tanay soils. The study clearly indicates that management practices affect runoff and erosion processes which in return affect nutrient depletion on the different micro-watersheds.

It is recommended that organic matter content of the soil be improved with residue incorporation and hedgerow biomass addition. These technologies not only add biomass but also replenish soil nutrients. Different soil conservation methods are critical and a must for sustainable crop production.

Keywords: Soil erosion, runoff, nutrient depletion

For more info: Call: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza At: (02) 923-04-59

Or email us a gurriza258@yahoo.com or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress.com

 

 

Conventional vs Conservation Tillage

Accelerated erosion as a result of human and animal activities, including tillage is a major environmental and economic problem throughout the world. The severity of soil erosion and changes on soil as a whole is a result of a combination of factors which include tillage and management practices (Moore et al, 1986). Conventional agricultural practices require extensive tillage usually carried out by incorporating residue into the soil using a moldboard or animal drawn plow. The soil surface will then be further tilled using a harrow to provide a seedbed devoid of clod. Once row crops were planted, a cultivator is used, often several times, to keep the weeds down. Thus, in the process the soil was tilled repeatedly at great cost in terms of time and energy. More importantly, this conventional tillage operation usually left the soil bare immediately after plowing until later in the period when crop growth was sufficient to provide ground cover. This means that conventional tillage left the soil unprotected during the early part of the cropping period and can severely be affected by erosion and runoff pressure especially in sloping lands. In addition, Steiner (2002) cited that soil organic matter decomposes more rapidly in the tropics compared to subtropical and moderate climates because of the higher temperature. In case where machineries are use, conventional tillage increases soil inversion and thereby increased soil aeration which accelerates organic matter breakdown. Further, the fast breakdown of soil organic matter releases more CO₂ in the atmosphere that contributes to global warming.

 

Until recently, conventional tillage is the common practice in most agricultural land. However, in the past two decades or so, several developments in the field of agriculture have dictated drastic changes in tillage practices. First, the availability of herbicides capable of controlling most of the major weeds has become available at reasonable cost. This development reduced the need for cultivating and even plowing in some cases. Second, dramatic increases in fuel costs forced tractor-dependent farmers to seek means of reducing their tillage operation costs. Third, the increasing environmental awareness has forced a re-evaluation of soil erosion as source of off-site water pollution. These major developments have triggered scientist and farmers the opportunity to examine the effects of reduced-tillage methods, most of which allow less erosion than the conventional tillage systems.

Conservation tillage system varies with specific field operations involved. Zimincheck et al. (2001) described the practices could range from stubble mulch tillage system (disk undercut weeds and crop residues to loosen soil and kill weeds); reduced tillage which could be of several combinations (moldboard plow + minimum secondary tillage; moldboard plow with no other tillage; tandem disk with most residues left in the surface) and the no-tillage system (no primary tillage only rotary tillage or similar implement to the soil for seed planting). These conservation tillage all involve less tillage system in comparison to the conventional tillage which involve plowing with 2-3 times harrowing and one time furrowing then crop planting. Sometimes subsequent tillage system follows with series of cultivation (hill-up operation and weeding). The no-tillage system permits direct planting in the residues of the previous crop and utilizes only localized tillage necessary to plant the seeds. Such system minimizes incidence of soil erosion. The no-tillage gives better soil protection than conventional tillage as confirmed by field research (Basic et al., 2001). This happens as the conventional tillage system leave about 1-5% of the soil surface covered with crop residues. Reduced tillage system commonly leaves 15-25% soil coverage, while the no-tillage system, about 50-75% of the land is covered with residues. These differences in residues land cover have marked effects on both soil erosion and runoff (Hussain et al., 1998).

Numerous studies have showed that the conventional up and down slope ploughing is the least favorable method (Laflen and Moldenhauer, 1979; Basic et al., 1991; Edwards et al., 1993; Schultz and Malinda, 1994; Meyers and Wagger, 1996; Rejman, 1997). It leads to higher erosion whereas ploughing across the slope and the no-tillage is more effective in terms of erosion control. The no-tillage system that maintains the soil cover with crop residues results in less erosion than the conventional tillage system. Likewise, surface runoff is generally decreased (Rondal and Kon, 2000), although the differences are not pronounced as with soil erosion. Baker and Laflen (1983) have shown that even in soils with high erosion potentials, soil loss is far below the tolerable limit under the no-tillage system. The high percentage of soil cover (42-76%) of the no-till system is responsible for the low soil loss. Consequently, the no-till system also provides low nutrient losses (Warren et al., 1997). The low nutrient losses specifically nitrogen happens because the finer fraction of the soil are among the first one to be carried out through erosion, which mostly contain nitrogen and in no-till system, less fine fraction are carried out through erosion.

On crop yield, conservation tillage generally provides yields equal or even greater than those from the conventional tillage provided that the soil is not poorly drained and can be kept free of weeds through the use of chemicals (Philips et al., 1980). Conservation tillage steadily improves soil fertility and water use efficiency. This together with timely planting leads to increasing yield (Steiner, 2002). Reasons for the low yield in poorly drained soil include lower soil temperature and incidence of certain plant diseases, which may be higher somewhat in higher moisture condition. Also certain weeds tend to be more problem on wet soils, thus exerting limitation on the practice of conservation tillage.

Conservation tillage has variable effects on soil properties depending on the particular system chosen. However, evidence suggests that the no-till system have some effect. For example, the no-till system leaves the upper 10-cm of soil lower in total porosity than conventionally tilled system. Additionally, in the no-till system, moisture is higher in the upper soil layer due to the reduced evaporation brought about by the residues left on the surface. This effect is sometimes coupled with greater leaching losses of nitrate especially in poorly drained areas (Doran, 1982). As to energy and labor cost requirements, previous documentation have shown that the primary reason for a farmer to adopt the conservation tillage practices is due to their low labor and energy requirements which would vary depending on the conservation tillage chosen. Ploughing or hoeing is replaced by ripping, pot holing or is completely abandoned in the case of no-tillage. Study suggests labor requirements are cut in half by the farmers switching to conservation tillage.

 

For more info: Call: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza At: (02) 923-04-59

Or email us a gurriza258@yahoo.com or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress.com

 

The P3 Award: People, Prosperity and the Planet

A Student Design Competition for Sustainability

Apply by December 1, 2006

Got an innovative solution that protects the environment while growing
the economy?  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
sponsoring an exciting environmental design contest for undergraduate
and graduate students

The P3 Award.  Through this national design competition, students and their faculty advisors submit cutting-edge,
sustainable solutions to environmental challenges and compete for
$10,000 to develop their designs.  Winners from the first phase of the
competition advance to the National Sustainable Design Expo in
Washington, DC, in the spring of 2008 where they compete for the chance
to win up to $75,000 in funding to move their designs to the
marketplace or implement them in the field.

Last year, 42 teams were awarded grants, including a team from Oberlin
College that designed and tested a low-cost system for observing and
interpreting energy and water consumption for individual dorms and
college campuses.  The project led to the creation of Lucid Design
Group, a small business that designs and implements data acquisition
and
display systems for the green building industry.

You can see all the grant winners, designs and ideas at www.epa.gov/P3.

P3 stands for People, Prosperity and the Planet.  EPA and its
partners launched the P3 Award in 2003 to promote innovative thinking for moving
the world toward sustainability.  Participating college students gain
new skills and knowledge as they research, develop, design and
implement scientific and technical solutions to environmental challenges.

Teams of undergraduate and/or graduate students at institutions of
higher education located in the U.S. are eligible to apply.  But time
is running out!  This year's P3 competition closes on December 21, 2006.

Learn more by visiting www.epa.gov/P3.  Assemble your team and apply
today!

 

How to Increase Milkfish Production through Adequate Pond Preparation

How to Increase Milkfish Production through Adequate Pond Bottom Preparation

The step by step procedure compiled here started to shape during my field work (early 1990) in Negros Occidental (Cadiz and Silay City) while doing my Master Degree in Agriculture (major in Soil Science). I did my MS Degree Thesis field experiment in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. While in Negros, we worked on prawn ponds particularly those setting on acid sulfate soils. As a “Soils Man”, I and my colleague at the Bureau of Soils and Water management, Dr. Perfecto P. Evangelista focused on the improvement of prawn pond bottom soils. While doing works in the area, we learned and tried several technologies. Most of these technologies are from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and SEAFDEC, while others are indigenous in the area.

Some of the technologies were modified to suit in the specific site. We religiously noted the combinations we tried and the modifications we did. Then we tried to come up with the general procedure for milkfish production. Specifics of the methods depend on the site characteristics which vary from one location to another. Our works were also inspired by the earlier work of Dr. Paul Singh on acid sulfate soils. The knowledge/technologies gained in Negros were tested first in-part in Hagonoy, Bulacan in the Milkfish production ponds of Mr. Marcelo Crisostomo while I’m advising several students from the Far Eastern University doing their BS Thesis. I also have a chance to validate the methods in Quezon province while working on “Toxicity Study”. To date (October 2006), the technology is being used in La Union, Pangasinan Milkfish production ponds.

In general, ideal pond site for good milkfish production requires high tidal range; can hold water at least 1 meter depth; with good water quality (constant salinity and temperature; long dry season-milkfish grow bigger during the dry season); with sandy clay loam or silty clay loam soil; away from domestic and industrial pollution; and with sufficient clean fresh water supply. In terms of pond design, ponds must have separate inlet and outlet gates so that incoming water is clean and kept separate from pond effluents. Pond bottom must be even and flat but inclined towards the outlet gate so that the ponds can be drained properly.

Step by step procedure to improve milkfish pond production (Note the quantity of material stated here could vary depending on the site characteristics).

No.	Activities	Days Required	Details
1.	Pond draining	1	This can coincide during harvesting. Note: To facilitate draining and harvesting of stock, construct inside-pond diagonal canal as drain canal with slight down slope towards the outlet.
2.	Pond drying	2 – 7	Depending on weather condition; it can last for 2 weeks; dry the pond bottom until the soil cracks; this is to oxidize the soil at the same time kill predators or the unwanted species like the snails.
3.	Pest predator control (unwanted species i.e. snail Cerithidea cingulata, and bangungon)	2 – 7	Simultaneous with pond drying; use tobacco dust @ 250 to 500 kg/ha); spread evenly in the pond bottom; if fresh water is available it can be used to flush in the pond and kill the snails; manual removal is also an alternative; Ammonium sulfate application is another option.
4.	Liming		This is optional; only if the pond bottom soil pH is lower than 6.8. Use CaCO3 at rate depending on the soil pH. Very low pH will require higher rate.
5.	Washing	8	Do it 2 to 3 times; to remove substances i.e. tobacco dust that can affect water quality; it will also remove unwanted dead species.
6.	Tilling/ cultivation	9	This should be done at least once a year during the pond preparation or after every two cropping. To improve oxidation, decomposition and for good growth of lablab (natural food).
7.	Organic Fertilization	10	To increase nutrient N content of the soil and improve the growth of lablab; Use 1.5 to 2.0 T/ha of chicken dung depending on the soil analysis; ideally for good growth of lablab, pond bottom soil must have 3% or more O.M.; >18 ppm Olsen P and >75 ppm extractable K by Hot H2SO4 method and 6.8 to 8.6 soil pH.
8.	First water intake	11	5 cm depth; Water intake should be gradual to avoid disturbance of mat of lablab (will detach and float) that will start to form. Change in color of water from clear to brown, yellow brown and greenish color indicates development of lablab. Note: Install fine-meshed screen (bastidor or lumpot) at the gates to prevent entry of wild species or possible escape of stock.
9.	Inorganic fertilization	14	15 kg Urea/ha; this should improve the decomposition of organic fertilizers applied and consequently increased the N content of the soil. Rate of fertilizer would depend on the soil analysis.
10	Second water intake	18	10 cm depth
11.	Inorganic fertilization	18	25 kg/ha 16-20-0; immediately after 2nd water intake.
12.	third water intake	25	15 cm depth
13.	Fertilizer dressing	25	25 kg/ha Urea; immediately after 3rd water intake
14.	Fourth water intake	32	20 cm depth
15.	Fertilizer dressing	32	25 kg/ha 16-20-0;
16.	Fifth water intake	39	25 cm depth
17.	Fertilizer dressing	39	25 kg/ha Urea;
18.	Sixth water intake	45	30 to 40 cm depth
19.	Monitor water quality	45	Parameters to be monitored: DO should be 3-5 ppm; measured by DO meter; pH should be 6.8 to 8.7 (optimum level 7.2 to 7.6) measured by pH meter; Salinity 10 to 32 (optimum 24 to 26 ppt) by refractometer; Temperature 20 to 33 oC (optimum 26 to 30) by thermometer; Turbidity at 50% by Secchi disc (ex. when the water depth is 40 cm, at 20 cm water should be turbid). Note: Not enough dissolved oxygen can cause stress, fish tend to swim in circles at the surface, and they appear to be gasping for breath.
20.	Fish stocking	46 to 50	Stocking should be done at the cooler time of the day. Density that should be observed at different growth stages: 1 to 30 days old fry (size of 0.02 to 0.5 g) = 40/m2 31to 60 days old fingerlings (0.5 to 10 g) = 5/ m2 61 to 90 days juveniles (10 to 40 g) = 2/ m2 91 to 150 days grown fish (50 to 250 g) = 1/ m2

For more info:

Call: Dr. GavinoIsagani P. Urriza

At: (02) 923-04-59 or email at: gurriza258@yahoo.com or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress.com

 

Conservationist Job

Conservationist manages natural resources, such as the watershed. They make conservation plans and programs that both make resources productive, healthy, sustainable and very conducive to live on.  We, conservationist protect the natural resources ensuring that minimal degradation happens to the resources. As a “conservationist”, we constantly faced with a range of challenges to help support the needs of human  with emphasis on the needs of nature’s replenishment and flourishment. The job is a balancing act of careful management and scientific practice which aims to ensure the sustainability of human’s co-habitation with its natural environment.

An example of this is the management of farmland so that it supports the most number of stocks (diversity) while maintaining the land for the natural wildlife and its staple requirements. A “conservationist” would be responsible for investigating ways to ensure that people meet their needs (water and food), and fulfilled their goals with minimal effect on the natural ecosystem. Most of the “conservationist” makes intricate decisions to come up with plans that give sense of balance economic goals with minimum environmental impact and meet government policy and worldwide standards.

The perfect aspirant for a “conservationist”  would be someone who is an exact nature lover, appreciate inter-relationship and enjoys working outdoors. He must be very attentive and watchful  who likes coming up with innovative solutions to problems and issues. He should get pleasure from the sciences and math; statistics probability and relationships will probably be a large factor in the job as a means for assessing and forecasting progress or trends. He must be able to work by himself and at the same time communicate with many types of people. Some “conservationist” become popular figures and pose as role models and mentors for society. Many “conservationist” won’t look for public recognition but still offer an important behind-the-scenes contribution to help human and nature live together in harmony.

If you are fascinated in “conservation job” as a career, you’ll need to pursue further education.  Most universities will offer an agriculture and biology degree with a major in a specific conservation work. Alternatively, you could pursue a marine sciences or socio-economic degree depending on where you’re interests lie and the flow you’d like to take forth for a career. There are several related “Short Courses” that offer training in applied sciences which may also be relevant. If you’d like to give “conservation Job” a try, volunteer with a local nature park or eco-rebuilding program and you’ll get a good overview of the type of work a conservationist is involved in and it may help you determine which area of conservation you’d like to take on as a career. 

For more info:  Call: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza  At:  (02) 923-04-59 Or email us a gurriza258@yahoo.com or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress.com 

 

Increasing Farmer Participation in Extension through Farmer-led Approaches

Echoing the 11RR (Sept. 19 to Oct. 7, 2005; Silang, Cavite, Philippines) Training Experience…

Increasing Farmer Participation in Extension through Farmer-led

I. Course Description

This course was designed to advance rural development objectives through improved agricultural research and extension practices with increased community participation. From experienced, it is very clear that conventional, technology transfer-oriented agricultural extension has failed to promote rural development in much of the world, particularly those regions characterized as agro-ecologically diverse, resource-poor and risk-prone. Moreover, there is an on-going search for institutional arrangements which will foster 1) greater sustainability, 2) increased participation of rural communities, 3) the incorporation of indigenous technical knowledge into agricultural research and development strategies. Thus, there is a need to consider alternatives within a constantly changing environment.

Today, change rather than sustainability has become the operative norm within which most rural development institutions make decisions, allocate resources and plan programs and activities. Examining alternative extension approaches can provide a wealth of lessons and rich opportunities for comparing and contrasting extension programs that employ participatory approaches.

Using farmer-led approaches better integrates research and extension functions, combining knowledge and research capacities of local communities and research and development organizations in an interactive learning process. It involves identifying, generating, testing and adapting new techniques and practices to help solve local agricultural problems. The primary goals are to strengthen local capacity for experimentation and to support the adaptation of technology and its wider dissemination.

From this training, we were able to developed new capacities for planning, managing and evaluating participatory extension programs. We also developed an action plan appropriate to the Community-based Watershed Management Project.

II. Course Objectives

As participants, we were able to appreciate and discussed a historical perspective of the provision of agricultural extension services to farmers and their communities which was tackled in Module 1; we analyzed and explained basic concepts and principles which guide participatory and farmer-led extension approaches and methodologies (Module 2); we identified the advantages and disadvantages of various participatory extension methods (Module 2); examined the set of factors (i.e., social, institutional, financial, etc.) that influence the decisions and actions to incorporate participatory approaches into agricultural extension programs (Module 3); and prepared an action plan that will complement and strengthen participatory agricultural extension approaches into our own on-going programs/project (Module 4).

III. Course Content and Activities

In the course introduction, we discussed factors, which contributed to a conducive learning environment during the entire duration of the training. The training started with a getting to know each other, followed by leveling of expectations, and then course overview. Finally, different responsible team that was in-charged throughout the duration of the training was formed.

Module 1 Overview of Agricultural Extension Approaches: The Path Towards More Participatory Extension

In this module, we participants l have the opportunity to described our own experiences in our agency agricultural extension programs. Then, we looked at the historical overview of various agricultural extension approaches concluding with the emergence of participatory approaches. The module encouraged us to analyzed these approaches and reflected on the past and look to the future of extension.

Here, we engaged on activities such as the individual visualization exercise “what extension means to me?” We also shared our own of agricultural extension experiences and discussed the historical overview of agricultural extension approaches

Module 2 Participatory and Farmer-led Approaches to Agricultural Extension: Principles, Methods and Applications

In this module, we begin analyzing basic principles and concepts, which support participatory and farmer-led extension approaches. The module provided a forum for discussion on various components of farmer-to-farmer methodology which include issues about methods and techniques for creating learning/sharing opportunities for farmers; and management considerations of an extension strategy that is based on the use of participatory approaches.

This part focused on farmer participation, empowerment, capacity building and leadership development, combination of outside technical knowledge with practice-based farmer experience and Applications of farmer-led extension

Module 3 Transitions Toward Farmer-led and Participatory Approaches to Agricultural Extension: Challenges and Opportunities

For some agricultural development practitioners the introduction and use of farmer-led and participatory extension may just be a small step away. But for many, especially within the public sector, the application of the methodology may be very difficult given existing institutional and attitudinal constraints. Recognizing that these constraints are real, this module presented us the opportunity where we discussed the issues and challenges in moving toward more participatory extension approaches.

In this third module, we identified institutional and attitudinal constraints specific to our work situation and context which face the inclusion or integration of participatory extension approaches into existing extension programs; and assessed the relevance of these experiences to overcome existing institutional and attitudinal constraints within our work context.

Module 4 Action Planning

Before beginning the action planning, we synthesized lessons from the previous course modules. We reflected on how these lessons may (or may not) be applied in our particular work situations, and then we developed an action plan for implementation in our assigned work. The action plan we prepared were presented for constructive critiquing and feedback from the other course participants and facilitator.

For more info:

Call: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza

at: (02) 923-04-59 or email at: gurriza258@yahoo.com

or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress.com 

 

Conservation Assistance for Your Farm

Conservation Assistance for Your Farm

We want you to be informed consumers of our services and make use of our knowledge gained thru several years of working in the field of soil conservation. We hope you give us a call, so that we can assist you.

Who We Are

We are professionals in the field of Environmental Science, Chemistry, Agriculture, Engineering, Socio Economics and Cartography working at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management. Thru the years we obtained expertise in the various fields we are working. In the early years of our career as an organic component of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, we help farmers minimize soil erosion, but now we help farmers and other landowners solve a variety of natural resources problems on their land by providing technical assistance for resources conservation.

As a group of “Conservationist” we strongly advocate – what we call “locally-led conservation” .

What Help Can We Give You?

The first step for you as a farmer/land owner public or private is to think about your operation. There are many issues with a farm business just as with any business, but farming is a profession that is often intimately connected with the land. So, start by thinking about your land and its natural resources. What are your natural resource needs, areas where you need more information, or suspect there may be a problem?

Ask yourself of the following:

• Do I have a good quality water supply?

• Is the water as clean when it leaves my property as when it arrived? Can I re-use the water leaving my land thru small water impounding? Could I be wasting water?

• Do I have too much manure around? Can I engage in organic farming?

• How much fertilizer should I use? When to apply? What to apply?

• What can I do to improve diversity on my land?

• Is there evidence of soil erosion or water runoff from my field like sheet erosion, rill erosion, rain splash, gullies or mass soil movement?

• How can I control pests without too many pesticides? Can I do IPM?

• How can I start bio-composting? Or combine other livelihood scheme?

• Do I have good access to my forest land? Is it well managed?

• Am I doing some things on my farm that I know are good for the natural resources?

These are just some of the natural resource questions that could come up when you are thinking about your farming operation. The questions can be limitless. Since it is our business to help people deal with their natural resources and promote good land stewardship, these are issues that we may be able to help you with.

Contacting Us

When you are ready to start working on your natural resource problems or want help identifying natural resource management opportunities, the next step is to contact us. We will be able to guide you with information about current resources available to you, your strength and weaknesses including the opportunities and threat you are facing in the farming business.

The Next Task

Please keep in mind that a “Conservationist” may need to visit your farm before answering all your questions. Also, the availability of Conservationists for field visits is limited due to the workload but we can arrange “Work Time” with you.

Conservation Plan

The major part of “Conservationist” assistance is helping people develop and implement a Conservation Plan for their farm. A Conservation Plan is a record of decisions on how to wisely manage your soil, water, plant, animal, and air resources.

A conservation plan is a working sheet/customized document that outlines the use and best management practices of the natural resources on public or private lands. The plan defines and explains the resources in a simple, easy to understand manner. Typically, the plan will include land use maps, soils information, and inventory of resources, engineering notes, and other supporting information. In the plan, the land user, make all the decisions, but we will help you tackle resource problems alone.

The Conservation Plan identifies opportunities to improve these resource conditions by solving problems. It seeks to balance natural resource issues with economic and social needs.

We believe all farmers need a Conservation Plan, the plan makes it easier for you and your conservationist to work together.

Maintenance by the farmer is also required to ensure that the conservation practice functions properly as it was designed.

The Conservationist Guidance

Some conservation work requires that a “Conservationist” visit your property for a topographic, soil survey, land use, socio economics and other engineering survey. This various survey will include focus discussion and other means of appraisal. The activities are needed in order to design practices that will fit your property and continue to work long after installation. The complexity of the project will often determine how long it takes to complete the design, and install the practice.Conservation work done on your land need to be maintained by you and periodically inspected by the “Conservationist” to verify that the plan is being carried out.

Remember –

The more informed you are about soil and water quality, land management, habitat improvement, nutrient management, soil erosion control, and other natural resources issues… the better you will be prepared to develop and apply a Conservation Plan that is right for your land.

For more info:

Call: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza

At: (02) 923-04-59 or email at gurriza258@yahoo.com or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress> com

 

Who Needs Conservation Farm Planning?

You want sustainable production, higher income and healthy environment?

It is difficult to succeed without goals and a plan of how to get there.

The “CONSERVATIONIST”

Professional staff of the BSWM with technical expertise on Soil Conservation and Fertility Rehabilitation (Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza), Soil Conservation (Mr. Joseph Rojales), Soil Chemistry (Ms. Florpina Sanches), Soil Survey (Mr. Oscar Costelo), Land Use Plan (Engr. Eduardo Alberto), Socio Economics (Filipina Ventigan), Soil Engineer (Engr. Bony de la Cruz) and Cartography (Patricio Yambot) can help you reach informed decisions about soil, water, air, plants, and animal resources while considering human, social and economic concerns…

WHAT IS A CONSERVATION FARM PLAN?

A conservation plan is a working sheet/customized document that outlines the use and best management practices of the natural resources on public or private lands. The plan defines and explains the resources in a simple, easy to understand manner. Typically, the plan will include land use maps, soils information, inventory of resources, engineering notes, and other supporting information. In the plan, the land user, make all the decisions, but we will help you tackle resource problems alone.

Conservation Farm Planning is a process which can be used by the farm family to balance the quality of life they desire with the farm’s resources, the need for production and profitability, and long-term stewardship.

WHO NEEDS CONSERVATION FARM PLAN?

Farmers and land users on public or private land who want to achieve a healthy working landscape; develop a vision for their farm twenty, or fifty years into the future; improve the profitability and efficiency of the farm operations; and make the farm a safe and healthy place for the family.

FARM VIABILITY

A conservation plan can result in more viable and productive land, giving the farmer a sustainable production and higher income.

Conservation Farm Planning is distinct from other farm planning approaches because it ties all the planning you do together for the whole farm and bases it on the long-term vision your family has for itself and the farm in the future. It is farmer controlled, voluntary, and flexible. The plans are owned by the farmer and the information contained in the plans is confidential.

WHY YOU NEED A CONSERVATION PLAN

We can help you develop a conservation plan one step at a time, while looking at your parcel of land.

• Would you like the opportunity to enhance the natural resources on your land?
• Do you have muddy runoff, carrying precious soil nutrients and water away?
• Are your surface soil depth decreasing and gullies growing and difficult to cross?
• Do you see sediment accumulations at the lower part of your land or field?
• Are your fields less productive now than before?
• Is your fertilizer usage increasing? Do you need more and more fertilizer and water to sustain yields?
• Is your property providing wildlife habitat?
• More resource problems?

BENEFITS OF CONSERVATION FARM PLANNING

• Maintaining or improving profitability while enhancing sustainability.

• It can also lead to protection and enhancement of the soil quality, water, and other natural resources on and near the farm.

• More importantly, the planning process helps the farm family define long- and short-term goals which lead to an improved quality of life and a better relationship with the community.

MAKING A CONSERVATION FARM PLAN

When you are ready to start a conservation plan, we will meet with you to discuss your goals, plans, resource problems, the soils. We will ask which crops you want to grow, the livestock you want to keep, the wildlife or recreation uses you want to plan, and any other interests you have that will affect the land. We will help you consider the effects a planned practice may have on an adjacent farms or parcel of land and the down slope areas. We will help you think on-site as well as offsite.

Conservation Farm Planning involves four steps:

• Setting goals

• Making an inventory and assessment of farm resources

• Developing and implementing an action plan

• Monitoring on-farm progress toward goals

Examples of goals for your long range vision of the farm:

• Might include wooded or grassland areas around streams which benefit wildlife and improve water quality; windbreaks for fields, livestock, and buildings;

Goals for how your farm will produce the income and good living environment:

• Listing the enterprises or livelihood undertaking you would like to continue, or add to your farm, such as locally marketed vegetables, or a cash crop corn, beans, and other.

Some examples of short-term goals:

• Include adopting conservation tillage, crop diversification, improving your livestock feeding system, and profitable marketing strategy.

The second step in Whole Farm Planning involves

• Inventory and assessment of resources, including the natural resources, human resources, financial and capital assets, crops and livestock systems.

• Information needed to complete the inventory and assessment may include soil maps, soil test results, cropping and animal management records, and financial data.

The third step in the process is to identify and evaluate management alternatives, and to develop and implement an action plan

• For instance, you may want to evaluate the effect that a change from a continuous cropping system to an agro-forestry system would have on your income, quality of life, and natural resources such as soil and water.

• You may want to evaluate the impact of adopting soil conservation practices such as conservation tillage, vegetative control measures or the income possibilities of direct marketing.

• You might consider the effect of organic farming and chemical management alternatives on the safety of your drinking water and your family’s health, as well as profitability.

The final step after developing an action plan is to monitor progress toward these goals.

• Try to evaluate how the plan is working, and make minor corrections and refinements as time goes by.

• Keep records and check your progress toward the goals set, so you can see how your plan is working.

• If the work you’re doing isn’t helping reach your goals, or if something just isn’t working out the way you expected, its time to make adjustment.

THE DECISION IS YOURS

• You make the decisions. We will give you many good alternatives and make some economic comparisons. However, you decide how, what, and when. It’s your plan!
• Decisions are needed on both the uses of the land and its treatment. When you make a decision on land use, you will need to consider how to treat each field to get the desired results. These treatments are known as conservation practices. Several practices may be used in combination to solve resource problems.
• We can help you understand how the conservation practices fit together in a farm management system, and what is necessary to provide the maintenance for continued effectiveness in the future.
• The plan can be a guide for you for several years, and can be modified as your goals and objectives change.

APPLYING THE CONSERVATION PRACTICES

Once planning decisions have been made, we will assist you in implementing the planned conservation practices.

KEEPING YOUR PLAN UP TO DATE

Your written conservation plan provides you with a ready reference guide for your year-to-year operations. However, economics or other circumstances may change, and prevent you from following your conservation plan. We conservationists can help you revise the plan when needed.

REMEMBER…

CONSERVATION FARM PLANNING process is voluntary, flexible and open ended. You make the decisions and carry them out, including maintenance. It is your plan for your own land for your own use. We are ready to help you.

Feel free to contact: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriuza

Call: (02) 923 04 59

E-mail at gurriza258@yahoo.com or

visit: conservationist.wordpress.com

 

 

 

Training for “Sustainable Farming Methodologies for Marginal Soils”.

Training For “Sustainable Farming Methodologies for Marginal Soils“.

The Course will be conducted in accordance with the following:

Title of Training

The Course will be entitled “Farmers Training on Sustainable Farming Methodologies for Marginal Soils“.

Purpose

• To teach and introduce to the farmers the sustainable and readily available farming methodologies for the improvement of productivity of sloping marginal soils,

• To identify farmer cooperators who will be willing to use his farm as demonstration farm and who is willing to provide his labor, farm equipment and animals for free;

• To recommend them the crops, soil conservation and farming practices suitable to marginal lands;

• To encourage farmers the concept of “learning while doing”,

Expected Output

At the end of the training, farmers should learn the following:

· Familiarize themselves with the readily available farming methodologies in sloping marginal areas;

·  Assess and identify potential problems/limitations in sloping marginal lands;

· Learn to characterize (simple) their own land;

· Design an appropriate technologies to the identified problems/limitations;

· Test and validate their own recommendation; and

· Learn, disseminate and share their findings/experiences on the designed technologies through the conduct of Cross Visits and Farmers Field day.

4. Duration of the Training

The training will be composed of several activities (ANNEX 1):

Activity 1: Lecture Training Proper.

Duration of the training will be five (5) days; compose of lectures (2 days), field tour, hands-on exercise (field practicum) and workshop (Details are provided in ANNEX 2).

Activity 2: Establishment of Techno-demo sites.

One techno-demo site each will be established, a Farmer participant, willing to be a Farmer Cooperator and have his farm as Farmer-Managed Techno-demo site will be identified. The Farmer Cooperator should have the following qualification:

· Can read, write and speak “Tagalog” or English;

· Has his own farm; willing to provide resources for the techno-demo i.e. land, animal and labor;

· Member of cooperative/ peoples organization

· Not over 55 years old;

· In good health, both physically and mentally; and

· Willing to continuously attend other training’s such as Cross-visit, Farmers Field day and share experiences

Activity 3: Farmers Cross-Visit

Once, the techno-demo sites were established, one-time Farmer Cross-Visit will be organized. The participants for this activity will be the participants during the Lecture Training Proper (Activity 1). This activity will be done during the third year of the techno-demo. The objective is to expose the farmers to variety of technologies on marginal soils being adopted in other areas. During the said Cross-visit activity, the participants will share experiences observed and learned in the techno-demo site in their own area.

Activity 4: Farmers Field Day

One-day Farmers Field Day will be done during the third year of the techno-demo. The Field Day will coincide with harvest time. This activity will be highlighted with sharing of Farmer Cooperator experiences and lessons learned.

5. Curriculum

List of topics during the Lecture Training Proper are listed below and details of the training is provided in ANNEX 2.

1.  Sloping Marginal Soil Management

Status of soil resources

Extent and severity of soil erosion

Farming in sloping land

Concepts and principle of SLM

Importance of conservation farming

2. Soil Erosion

Process of soil formation

Soil erosion: mechanics and process

Factors affecting soil erosion

Principle of erosion control

3.  Major Technologies of Conservation Farming

Appropriate technologies for sloping marginal lands

Biological

Mechanical

Combination

4.  Supporting Technologies

Farm characterization

Farm Problem Identification

A-frame

Water harvesting

Livestock integration

Forestry integration

5.  Basic Soil Fertility

Soil sampling and analysis

Use of Soil Test Kit

Deficiency symptoms

Fertilizer computation

Seed inoculation

Amelioration

Composting

Balance Fertilization Strategy

Cropping Pattern and Crop Rotation

6.  Economics of Soil Conservation

6. Qualification of participants

Can read, write and speak “Tagalog” or English

Willing to attend in all the activities

Has his own farm

Member of cooperative/people organization

Not over 55 years old

In good health, both physically and mentally

For more info:

Call at: Dr. Gavino Isagani P. Urriza

At: (02) 923-04-59 or email at: gurriza258@yahoo.com or visit us at: conservationist.wordpress.com