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Organic Fertilizers From Farm Waste Adopted by Farmers in The Philippines
Organic Fertilizers From Farm Waste Adopted by Farmers in The Philippines
Introduction
The Oil Crisis of 2008 created a big stir in the agriculture sector mainly due to
the escalating prices of inorganic fertilizers. With prices of fertilizers tripled,
farmers were forced to look for alternative sources (as always) of nutrients in
which the Department of Agriculture (DA), through the bureau of Soils and
Water Management (BSWM) responded with the Project on Rapid Composting
as a part of the DA’s National Organic Agriculture Program addressed mainly to
rice farmers. The project involves training and provision of shredders to
capacitate farmers to produce their own organic fertilizers
The High Value Crops (HVCs) sector however, has been taking a slightly
different tact. Vegetable and fruit growers had been using indigenous micro
organisms (IMO) and fermented farm products as a part of Nutrient
Management based on Korean Natural Farming (KNF) through the
assistance of NGOs and SCUs in various training and extension programs.
“Korean Natural Farming” is a system of farming being practiced in over
30 countries. The basic premise in KNF is that farmers can generate most, if
not all, of the necessary inputs to food production onsite. It is also the premise
in the Philippine National Standard for Organic Agriculture. KNF is a holistic
approach to farming that utilizes the nature’s powers for maximum performance
rather than human intervention. “Natural materials instead of chemicals as its
unique inputs. Materials are locally available and cheap, and the farming inputs
are made by the farmers instead of being purchased from the market; thus
lowering cost for the farmers and converting waste into resources. Being
“farmer-friendly,” it is also being used as a tool to improve the living of the
poor farmers in the third world.” (Cho Han Kyu President of Janong Natural
Farming Institute March, 2004).
He attributed Natural Farming to three formless teachers and three human
teachers. The three formless are God, Nature, and conscience. As now being
regarded by many, the gains from `Green Revolution’ is instant but the outcome
is short term. We are now seeing the adverse effects of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides not only on the soil that becomes acidic and low in organic matter,
ground water contamination, adverse health effects but also on social and
economic decay the latter due to the concentration of wealth on a few big
companies.
Materials (FPJ)
Plant materials: leaves, grass, buds, young fruits, etc.
Raw sugar or molasses at the rate of 1/3-1/2 of the plant material
Procedure (FPJ)
1. Collect the materials early in the morning. Chop and finely mix these with
sugar or molasses.
2. Place the mixed material in a suitable container such as earthen jar, or plastic
drum if prepared in big volumes
3. Cover the pot or drum with paper or cheese cloth
4. Store in a cool dark place for 7-10 days to allow fermentation. The juice will
change color from dark green to yellow brown or brown and would smell sweet
and alcoholic.
5. After 7-10 days filter the material to extract the juice. Net bag can be used for
small scale production. For big scale FPJ production, an improvised extractor or
press can be used.
6. The FPJ can be stored in a glass or plastic bottle in a cool, dark place for up
to 6 months. It is important not to tighten the cap completely on the bottle to
allow aeration. Shake the bottle once a week to provide air to the
microorganisms.
Use 1 tsp/5L water (minimum application rate for plants in healthy soil) or 1-2
tsp/L water (for plants in soil that is being rehabilitated) (Jensen et al, 2006).
Apply to plants as a foliar spray.
Procedure (FAA)
1. Mix equal parts fish trash and brown sugar or molasses. Lactic acid bacteria
serum (LABS) may be added to minimize the foul smell.
2. Place in earthen jar or any convenient container, cover with paper and allow
the fish juice to extract and fermentation to occur for 14 days.
3. Filter out the solids and retain the liquid fish amino acids.
4. Store in glass or plastic bottles. Do not completely close the cap on the bottle.
5. Shake the solution weekly and add sugar to it every month (20% of the
volume) as is done for IMO.
The CaCO3 is not in soluble form. To convert it into soluble form heat or acid
treatment is needed. The common method in KNF is the combination of the two
agents, heating and use of natural vinegars.
Materials (CaCO3)
Egg shells or sea shells including snail shells.
Natural vinegar (made from coconut sap, sugar cane, pineapple or banana).
Procedure (CaCO3)
1. Burn or roast the shells in open fire or over a hot tin sheet until the color
changes from brownish to black in color.
2. Grind or pound the shells to a powder consistency.
3. Place in a suitable jar or plastic container.
4. Add 5-10 parts natural vinegar. Shake to produce bubbles indicating a good
reaction between the shell and the vinegar. The bubbles are due to CO2 being
released.
5. Cover with paper and store in a cool dry place. The concoction may be
shaken from time to time to speed up the reaction.
6. The water soluble calcium is ready in 7-14 days when there is no more
bubbling.
7. Filter the preparation and put it in a new container (a glass jar).
8. CaCO3 has a long shelf life and can be stored for up to a year. Do not shake
or add sugar to the CaCO3 solution during storage.
2. Materials in FFJ
In FFJ, the materials being used are generally the most commonly available in
the locality. In the case of the SOBAGROMCO squash and banana are the
materials being used. Others use cucumber fruits, pineapple peelings, tomato
and eggplant.
3. Materials in Caphos
The common material is egg shell for CaPhos but in areas where sea shells are
abundant these are also being used. The shells of Golden Snail (Pomacea
canaliculata Lamarck) is also commonly used. In SOBAGROMCO the animal
bones from slaughter houses are collected and converted into organic inputs.
To save on raw sugar or molasses, the rate of this ingredient is also being
reduced by some growers to as low as 1/6-1/10 of the plant/fruit parts.
5. Application
The usual application rate is 1-2 tbs/liter of water applied as soil drench or as
foliar spray. The combination of the different ingredients is based on the stage
of plant growth. The KNFA recommends growth management on the basis of
the Nutrioperiodism theory, which was developed and advocated by a Japanese
horticulturist, Yasushi Inoue, in the 1930s. They emphasize the different
nutritional requirements of crop plants at different growth stages. In Bayawan
City, the proportion of the different preparations is 60:30:10 ratios depending on
the stage of the plant. During the vegetative stage, it is 60% FAA, 30% FPJ and
10% FFJ. During the change-over, it is 60% FPJ, 30% FAA and 10% FFJ.
During the fruiting stage, it is 60 % FFJ, 30% FPJ and 10% FAA.
Utilization of the Fermented Farm Products
1. Organic Banana
In organic banana production, the general guidelines in nutrient management are
as follows:
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1. Organic manure should only be seen as an additional fertilizer, and not as the
main source of nutrients;
2. Regular application of organic material gained from cutting/pruning work
helps to maintain a layer of humus and activity in the soil;
3. This includes adding dead leaves and pseudo-stems grown on the plantation
as mulching material;
4. It is important that the material is spread evenly throughout the entire
plantation;
5. These measures will suffice to maintain the fertility of the soil on sites suited
to growing bananas, despite continual harvests.
The organic inputs are the foundation of organic banana production in Toril,
Davao City by the Sibulan Organic Banana Growers Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(SOBAGROMCO) and in Tupi, South Cotabato by the Sta Teresita Multi-
Purpose Cooperative. Both cooperatives are using the different natural farm
inputs and have made modifications suitable for their conditions. The proximate
analysis of the fermented inputs in SOBAGROMCO is given below.
The rate of application depends on the soil analysis and target banana yields. In
Toril, Davao City for Bungulan, the fertilization protocol is as follows:
2. Organic Pineapple
Among the HVCs, pineapple is probably the most difficult to grow organically
specially for variety MD-2, which is the favorite variety for fresh pineapple for
export. In organic pineapple production, FPJ and FFJ are being used as source
of nutrients in addition to vermicompost and seaweed extract. The material for
FPJ started with the use of swamp cabbage and muscovado sugar. But FPJ yield
is low and cost is high.
The material being used now is banana pseudo stem with molasses instead of
muscovado sugar. The other materials being used include wild sunflower and
lemon grass which is also being used for pest control. The materials for FFJ
includes banana and pineapple. They have also made an improvised press to
facilitate the extraction of the liquids.
3. Organic Vegetables
Bacolod
Bayawan City
Preparations in Bayawan City for the fermented farm inputs has a slight
variation in that water is used in both FPJ and FPJ, generally at about 30% by
weight.
The organic farmers in the Municipality of Surallah are being assisted by The
Don Bosco Foundation for Sustainable Development, Inc. (DBFSDI), formerly
the DonBosco Diocesan Youth Center, Inc. (DBDYCI). The basic production
system is based on Biodynamic Farming but parts of KNF are also being
practiced as well as Agnihotra.
Looking Forward
While these fermented farm inputs have been adopted by many organic farmers
and the number is increasing, the academe has been slow in integrating these in
their research and development agenda in improving production systems,
largely content mainly on the elemental and inorganic chemistry of nutrient and
pest management. Use of the natural inputs is sometimes regarded as
unscientific. But science is actually just catching up.
Rodel G. Maghirang
Institute of Plant Breeding-Crop Science Cluster,
College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines Los Baños,
College, Laguna 4031, 2011-07-13
Source: http://www.agnet.org/library/eb/626/