SOIL AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT

FOR IMPROVING CROP

PRODUCTION

Maribel R. Jalalon
Chief, Laboratory Services Division
Bureau of Soils and Water Management
Outline of Presentation
1. Key objectives in agricultural production
2. Soil; soil properties; soil functions
3. Essential elements for plant growth
4. Guidelines for Interpreting Soil Test Results
4. Soil Fertility Status of the Philippine soils
5. Factors affecting soil fertility decline

Soil and Nutrient Management

1. NPK and Zn
2. Soil acidity
3. Balanced Fertilization Strategy
Key objectives

1. To increase crop production and attain food

security
2. To improve soil fertility / soil health
3. To decrease agricultural production cost
Data
• Agricultural area – around 12,440,000 million hectares (World Atlas 2018)
• Major crops – rice, corn, sugarcane, coconut, HVCC
CROPS AREA (Has)
Irrigated rice 1,270, 585
Rainfed Rice and Corn 4,910,987
Coconut 6,044,307
Sugarcane 397,200
Diversified Crops (HVCC) 116,977
Total 12,740,076
LADA 2013

• Rice Production in the Philippines (2021) – 19.96 million metric tons

• Average rice yield/ha – 3.6 to 4.26 tons (17%)
• Average rice consumption per person – 109.88 kg (PhilRice, 2016)
• Population (2022):112,321,991 (Ave. increase of 1.58%)
95% of the
food we eat
comes from
our land,
and start
with Soil
and Water
(FAO).
WHAT IS SOIL?
Soil is a major component of the Earth’s ecosystem.
It is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together
support life.
It may take hundreds to thousand of years for one inch of soil to form.

Well-drained Soil
SOIL PROPERTIES
Physical Properties - affect the appearance and feel of a soil. It determines
aeration, water movement, plant root growth and resistance to erosion, water and
nutrient retention.

❖ Soil texture, structure, porosity, water movement and availability

Chemical Properties - is the interaction of various chemical constituents that

takes place among soil particles and in the soil

❖ Soil pH, nutrient availability, soluble salts, nutrient holding capacity

Biological Properties - related to the microbial and faunal activity in soil such as
mineralization, nitrification, nitrogen fixation, etc.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR PLANT GROWTH

Macronutrients (from air & water)

C : CO2
H : H 2O
O : O2 and H2O

Nutrients (from soil solids)

Photo credit:
https://agriculture90.blogspot.com/2015/10/essential-nutrients-list-for-plant
s.html
8
*Interpretation of Soil Test Results
Parameters Very low Low Medium High Very High
Electrical Conductivity, mmhos/cm or <0.15 0.15-0.40 0.41- 0.80 0.81-2.0 >2.0
mS/cm
Organic carbon, % <2.0 2.1 – 4.0 4.1 -10 10.1 -20 >20
Nitrogen, % <0.10 0.11 – 0.30 0.31-0.60 0.61-1.0 >1.0
Phosphorous, Olsen P, ppm <10 10.1 – 20.0 20.1-30.0 30.1-50 >50
Phosphorous, Bray P-2, ppm <10 10.1-20.0 20.1-40.0 >40.0
Potassium, cmol/kg <0.1 0.11-0.30 0.31-0.60 0.61-1.20 >1.20
Calcium, cmol/kg <1.0 1.1-5.0 5.0-10.0 10.1-20.0 >20.0
Magnesium, cmol/kg <0.5 0.51-1.0 1.1-3.0 3.1-7.0 >7.0
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) <10 10.1-15.0 15.1-25.0 21.1-40.0 >40
Zinc, ppm <0.30 0.31-0.80 0.81-5.0 5.1-15.0
Iron, ppm <2.5 2.6-4.5 >4.5
Copper, ppm <0.1 0.11-0.30 0.31-5.0 5.0-15.0
Manganese, ppm <1.0 1.1-2.0 2.1-50.0 50-500
Boron, ppm 0.5 0.51-1.0 1.1-2.0 2.1-5.0

*BSWM Guidelines for Interpretation of Soil and Water Test Results (Conventional analysis)
Source: FAO Soils for Nutrition: State of the Art
SOIL
FERTILITY
STATUS
Soil fertility is the
ability of a soil to
sustain plant
growth by
providing essential
plant nutrients and
favorable
chemical, physical Total Area Low to Percent
and biological (Has) moderately low (%)

characteristics as a Irrigated 1,077,523 875,311 32.25

habitat for plant Non-Irrigat 1,636,717 1,357,229 50.00

growth ed
Total 2,714,240 2,232,540 82.25
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the most
limiting element in
almost all soils.
N promotes rapid
plant growth and
improves grain yield
and grain quality
through higher
tillering, leaf area
development, grain
formation, grain
filling, and protein
synthesis
Total Area Low to Percent
Symptoms – (Has) moderately low (%)
yellowing of the older Irrigated 1,077,523 960,647 35.39
leaves
Non-Irrigat 1,636,717 1,280,119 54.34
ed
Total 2,714,240 2,240,766 89.73

12
Phosphorous

Phosphorous (P) is an
essential plant nutrient
important for root
development, tillering,
early flowering, and
ripening. It is mobile
within the plant, but not
in the soil.

Symptoms
Stunted dark green
plants with erect leaves Total Area Low to Percent
(rice) (Has) moderately low (%)
purple stem and leaves Irrigated 1,077,523 689,095 25.39
(vegetable) Non-Irrigat 1,636,717 1,073,595 39.56
No flowering at all in ed
severe cases Total 2,714,240 1,762,690 64.95

13
Potassium
Potassium (K) is an
essential plant nutrient
that improves root
growth and plant vigor,
helps prevent lodging
and enhances crop
resistance to pests and
diseases.

Symptoms
Stunted dark green
plants with yellowish
brown leaf margins Total Area Low to Percent
and/or older leaves (Has) moderately low (%)

with necrotic tips and Irrigated 1,077,523 630,266 23.22

margins Non-Irrigat 1,636,717 811,310 29.90

ed
Total 2,714,240 1,441,576 53.12

14
Zinc
Zinc (Zn) deficiency affects several
biochemical processes in the rice
plant, thus severely affecting plant
growth. Zinc deficiency is the most
widespread micronutrient disorder in
rice.
In Zn deficient soil, NPK fertilizers
alone cannot provide good yield
unless the deficiency is corrected

Symptoms
Symptoms appear between two to
four weeks after transplanting.
Dusty brown spots on upper leaves of
stunted plants; uneven plant growth
and patches of poorly established
hills in the field

15
Soil pH
-measure of soil
acidity and alkalinity

• Soil pH affects the

availability of
nutrients within
your soil
• Different plants
prefer different pH
levels.
• Nutrient
deficiencies can be
a direct result of
soil pH.
• pH value can affect Total Area High to Percent
(Has) Moderately High (%)
the level of
bacteria. Irrigated 1,077,523 807,985 29.76
• pH allows plants to Non-Irrig 1,636,717 1,285,116 47.35
reach nitrogen ated
sources. Total 2,714,240 2,093,101 77.11

16
Nutrients availability in relation to soil pH

Source: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ho/ho-240-w.pdf

17
Effects of Soil Acidity
Results of Soil Analysis in Bukidnon

Aluminum are available in soil pH less than 5.5. Aluminum is toxic to plants

18
 Factors affecting
soil fertility decline
Factors affecting soil fertility decline

NATURAL HUMAN RELATED

1. Rainfall – annual rainfall of 1000-4000 mm aggravated with Poor Management
15-20 typhoons per year which resulted to soil erosion and 1. Inappropriate kind, amount and timing of
water run off fertilizer application
2. Slope - about 60% of the country has rugged and 2. Inappropriate application of technologies
mountainous topography resulted to soil erosion • Sloping agricultural lands
3. Climate/Temperature – high rate of • Monocropping
decomposition/mineralization of organic matter which results to • Application of pure inorganic/organic alone
loss of organic matter/carbon. • Low carbon-maintenance
volatilization of nitrogen
4. Removal of the plants – Every time a crop is harvested, the 3. Limited access/knowledge of farmers to
nutrient absorbed are removed from the soil. And with high information/technology
yields, a corresponding amount of nutrients is taken from the
soil
5. Inherent soil fertility/Philippine Soil taxonomic classification 4. Low adoption of farmers to farming
(Major Soil Orders) technology
Soil Taxonomic Classifications
Soil Orders Land Area POSITION/ DESCRIPTION
Covered (%) LAND USE
Ultisols 41.5 Elevated terraces Red clay soils, strongly acidic, high concentration of
Pineapple, cassava, iron and lack of organic matter. It is the ultimate
sugarcane, banana, product of continuous weathering of minerals in a
forest trees humid, temperate climate without new soil formation.
Inceptisols 13.7
Alfisol 9.9
Vertisol 3.6 Plains With heavy texture, suitable for rice production but
Rice, some difficult for planting vegetable because it is very hard
vegetables when dry and very sticky when wet.
Entisols 2.5
Oxisols 0.3 Undulating, rolling
hilly to mountainous
Cogon
Unsurveyed 28.6
Mountains
 Nutrient Pathways

Ammonia volatilization (gaseous

loss as ammonia) may range from
20 to 40% of the N applied

Source: FAO Soils for Nutrition: State of the Art

Impacts of misuse and overuse of nutrients on environmental pollution and climate change

Source: FAO Soils for Nutrition: State of the Art

 SOIL AND NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Determine soil nutrient contents and crop requirements

Balanced Fertilization Strategy

Rice Crop Manager Advisory Service (RCMAS)

Laboratory analysis

BSWM Fertilizer Guide Map for Rice

and Corn
Minus-One Element Technique

Leaf Color Chart

 Visual Examination
Tips in proper visual diagnosis of nutrient deficiency

Nitrogen Phosphorous

Potassium Zinc
https://www.pinoyrice.com/palaycheck/nutrient-management/#squelc Source: IRRI Knowledge Bank
h-taas-accordion-shortcode-content-1
Nutrient Management
NITROGEN
✔ Apply N fertilizer efficiently.
✔ Adjust the number of splits
and timing of N applications
✔ Maintain proper water
control
✔ Control weeds that compete
with rice for N.
✔ Correct deficiencies of other
nutrients (P, Potassium, and
Zinc)
✔ Over the long term,
maintain or increase the
supply of N from indigenous
sources (manure, crop
residues, compost, organic
fertilizer, etc.) Increase the
indigenous N-supplying
power of permanently
submerged soils by periodic
drainage and drying.
PHOSPHOROUS
✔ Apply fertilizers efficiently.
✔ Incorporate rice straw.
✔ Incorporate all fertilizer P
before the last soil
puddling before
transplanting or top dress
all P within 10−15 days
after direct seeding.
✔ Apply optimum doses of N
and K and correct
micronutrient deficiencies.
✔ Replenish P removed in
crop products by applying
P fertilizers, farmyard
manure, or other materials
POTASSIUM ZINC
✔ Apply fertilizer efficiently ✔ Broadcast ZnSO4 in
✔ Incorporate rice straw. nursery seedbed,
✔ Apply optimum doses of 1-2 kg
N and P fertilizers and ✔ Dip seedlings or
correct micronutrient presoak seeds in a
deficiencies. 2−4% ZnO
✔ Apply K fertilizers, suspension (e.g.,
farmyard manure, or 20−40 g ZnO
other materials (rice L-1 H2O)
husk, ash, compost) to ✔ Apply organic
replenish K removed in manure before
harvested crop seeding or
products. transplanting
✔ Split K in at least two ✔ Apply zinc foliar
doses based on
✔ Use of K at flowering manufacturer’s
increases resistance to recommendation
lodging and diseases
Management of Soil Acidity

1. Analyze the soil to determine nutrient composition / determine the root cause
2. Addition of Liming Material – increase soil pH which is satisfactory to the
availability of nutrients; increase K-fixing power, lessening losses of K due to
leaching; satisfactory to biological activities
3. Use of Basic Fertilizer - Use urea instead of ammonium sulfate
4. Addition of Phosphate fertilizer, if possible, rock phosphate since it contains
30-50% CaO – acid soils fix P in the soils
5. Soil Management - addition of organic materials. It will increase cation exchange
capacity, thus, minimize leaching
6. Growing of Acid Tolerant Crops
7. Water Management. Acidification can be prevented by continuous flooding or
saturation. After submergence the soil pH rises due to precipitation of aluminum
hydroxide and by the reduction of ferric ion.
Soil pH Preference of various plants

Field Crops Preferred soil Field Crops Preferred soil Field Crops Preferred soil
pH range pH range pH range
Corn 6.0 – 8.0 Potato 4.8 – 6.5 Rice-lowland 6.0 – 7.0
Asparagus 6.0 – 7.8 Sweet Potato 5.0 – 7.0 Rice-upland 5.0 – 6.5
Banana 6.0 – 7.5 Cucumber 6.0 – 8.0 Tomato 4.5 – 6.5
Beans (Baguio, 5.5 – 6.5 Eggplant 5.5 – 6.7 Yam and Ubi 4.5 – 6.5
Lima, snap)
String beans 5.0 – 6.0 Garlic 5.4 – 6.8 Sugarcane 6.0 – 8.0
Broccoli 6.0 – 7.2 Ginger 5.5 – 6.5 Watermelon 6.0 – 7.0
Cabbage 6.0 – 7.5 Saluyot (Jute) 4.7 – 6.8 Onion 5.8 – 6.5
Cacao 6.0 – 7.0 Lemon 5.5 – 8.5 Coconut 5.0 – 8.0
Coffee 4.5 – 7.0 Sweet Pepper 5.8 – 6.8 Lettuce 5.5 – 7.0
Ampalaya 6.0 – 6.7 Pineapple 5.0 – 6.5 Strawberry 5.0 – 6.0
BALANCED FERTILIZATION
STRATEGY
Legal Basis
• Proclamation No. 1071 series of 1997 (Pres. Fidel Ramos)”Adoption of the
Balanced Fertilization Strategy under the Gintong Ani Program of the
Department of Agriculture

• DA Memorandum Circular No. 20 series of 2020 “Adoption of Adaptive

Balanced Fertilization Management to enhance crop productivity and increase
income of rice farmers

• DA Memorandum Order No. 74 series of 2021 “Sustaining farm productivity,

scaling balanced fertilization using fertilizer more effectively, applying
cost-reducing practices and diversifying to increase income”

• DA Memorandum dated March 14, 2022: Scaling-up of the Balanced Rice

Fertilization to Mitigate the Impacts of Rising Fertilizer Cost through
Information Campaigns and Technology Demonstration
32
Agencies Involved in
“ABONONG SWAK” Campaign
• DA-BSWM (Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Chair)

• DA-PhilRice (Philippine Research Institute, Co-Chair)

• DA-ATI (Agricultural Training Institute)

• DA-AFID (Agriculture and Fisheries and Information Division)

• DA-RFO (Regional Field Office)

 WHAT is Balanced Fertilization Strategy?
The Balanced Fertilization Strategy (BFS) is a science-based farming method
which focused on the use of cost-efficient and proper combinations of organic and
inorganic fertilizers to sustain the increases in rice productivity.

BFS addresses concerns on soil fertility and plant nutrition not only to maximize
crop yields but also to produce/maintain healthy soils and reduce production cost.

BFS is the key to improve fertilizer use efficiency; refers to the application of plant
nutrients in optimum quantities in the right proportion through appropriate methods
at the time suited for a specific crop and agro-climatic condition; and leads to soil
health building

34
Benefits of Balanced Fertilization
• Application of both organic and inorganic fertilizers,
thereby lowering production cost through nutrient
recycling and reducing application of inorganic fertilizer

• The organic fertilizer improves soil properties (biological,

physical and chemical) whereas, the inorganic fertilizers
are the primary source of nutrients for plant growth

• The use of combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer

restore soil health, cost efficient, improve agricultural
productivity and minimize impact to the environment.

35
Issues and Concerns
1. Increasing cost of inorganic fertilizer while addressing nutrient needs of palay

High price of fertilizer Palay needs sufficient nutrient to

ensure good growth and uniform
panicle development
Cost of Urea (46-0-0)
2018 – PhP 948.00
2022 – PhP2,600 - 3,000

36
Issues and Concerns
2. Improving Soil Health

Majority of our lowland irrigated and rainfed rice

land are moderately low in fertility, estimated at
83%.

Lowland irrigated – about 650, 000 hectares

Ranfed – about 800,000 hectares

37
To save on fertilizer costs and improve Nutrient Use
Efficiency, follow the Right EAT

ELEMENT (uri)
Right Element needed by the rice plant

AMOUNT (dami)
Right Amount to prevent deficiency and toxicity

TIMING (tiyempo)
Right Timing for efficient nutrient use; to avoid
nutrient losses
 1. Application of combined organic and
inorganic fertilizer, do not apply inorganic
fertilizer alone

Messages 2. Select tha combo-sustansiya na swak sa’yo.

Choose the right combination of organic and

inorganic fertilizer

3. Guide for Fertilization: Leaf Color Chart,

Minus-One-Element Technique, Rice Crop
Manager, o Soil Test Kit.
RICE BFS RECOMMENDATION AND PROTOCOL

TIMING OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS AMOUNT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

MATURITY COMBO 1: Yield COMBO 2: Yield COMBO 3: Yield

TIMING
100-110 araw 111-120 araw 121-130 araw 3,000-4,000 kgs 5,000-6,000 kgs 7,000-8,000 kgs

BEFORE PLANTING

3,000-4,000 kgs of 5,000-6,000 kgs of 7,000-8,000 kgs of

30 days before transplanting
14 days before transplanting
Seedbed: 7-10 DAS
spread in the rice field or decompose
rice straw rice straw rice straw
Spread in the rice field the 10 bags of airdried
10 bags of airdried chicken manure or commercial organic
chicken manure or commercial organic fertilizer or
fertilizer or vermicompost
vermicompost
Apply in the seedbed n/a 1-2 kg ZnSO4

Seedbed: 10-14 DAS Apply in the seedbed 2-4 kg 14-14-14

AFTER PLANTING
1st Application 0-10 DAT/ 0-14 DAT/ 0-14 DAT/ 1.5 bag 2 bags 14-14-14 or 4 bags
Vegetative stage 10-14 DAS 10-14 DAS 10-14 DAS 14-14-14 2 bags 16-20-0 14-14-14
2nd Application 18-22 DAT/ 22-26 DAT/ 26-31 DAT/
N/A 1 bag 46-0-0 2 bags Urea
Active Tillering 24-28 DAS 32-36 DAS 36-40 DAS
3rd Application 28-32 DAT 32-36 DAT 36-40 DAT 1 bag 46-0-0 1 bag 46-0-0 2 bags 46-0-0
Panicle Initiation 38-42 DAS 48-52 DAS 58-62 DAS 0.5 bag 0-0-60 0.5 bag 0-0-60 1 bag 0-0-60

40
RICE BFS PROTOCOL USING BIOFERTILIZER

AMOUNT OF INORGANIC
TIMING OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS
AND BIOFERTILIZERS
MATURITY Yield
TIMING
100-110 days 111-120 days 121-130 days 6,000-7,000 kgs.

30 days before transplanting spread in the rice field or decompose 6,000-7,000 kgs of rice straw
Seedbed: 7-10 DAS Apply in the seedbed 1-2 kg ZnSO4 /
Seedbed: 10-14 DAS Apply in the seedbed 4 kg 14-14-14

Biofertilizer Apply Biofertilizer based on the Manufacturer Recommendation

1st Application 0-10 DAT/ 0-14 DAT/ 0-14 DAT/ 3 bags

Vegetative stage 10-14 DAS 10-14 DAS 10-14 DAS 16-20-0
2nd Application 18-22 DAT/ 22-26 DAT/ 26-31 DAT/
Active Tillering
1 bag 46-0-0
24-28 DAS 32-36 DAS 36-40 DAS
3rd Application 28-32 DAT 32-36 DAT 36-40 DAT 1 bag 46-0-0
Panicle Initiation 38-42 DAS 48-52 DAS 58-62 DAS 0.5 bag 0-0-60

41
BFS Soft Launching
DATE LOCATION
Munoz, Nueva
Ecija
April 6-7, 2022 Munoz, Nueva
Ecija
Masbate
May 5, 2022 Aklan

Aklan
May 6, 2022 Capiz

May 11, 2022 Bohol

Samar
June 2, 2022 Samar
Capiz June 6, 2022 Masbate

Masbate
Information Dissemination
• DA Information Officers
• Agricultural Training Institute
• DA Officials
• DA Regional Field Offices
✔ Regional Soils Laboratories
✔ Operation
✔ Rice and Other Banner Programs
✔ Research
• DA Operation Management Group
• BFS Virtual Presser
• Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF)
• Regional Training Center
• BSWM Employees and Community Development Officer
 THANK YOU
AND
GOD BLESS US ALL
 BFS PROTOCOL – COST ANALYSIS OF FERTILIZER USE
INPUTS COMBO 1 COMBO2 COMBO 3 COMBO BIOFERTILIZER
(3-4 TONS) (5-6 TONS) (7-8 TONS) (6-7 TONS)
Organic 10 bags 10 bags 10 bags
Zinc Sulfate 1-2 kg 1-2 kg 1-2 kg 1-2 kg
14-14-14 1.5 2 4 3
46-0-0 1 2 4 2
0-0-60 0.5 0.5 1 0.5
Biofertilizers 1

INPUTS COMBO 1 COMBO2 COMBO 3 COMBO

(3-4 TONS (5-6 TONS) (7-8 TONS) (6-7 TONS)
Organic (P700/bag) 3,000 3,000 3,000
Zinc Sulfate (P150/kg) 300 300 300 300
14-14-14 (P2500/bag) 3,750 5,000 10,000 7,500
46-0-0 (P3000/bag) 3,000 6,000 12,000 6,000
0-0-60 (P2200/bag) 1,100 1,100 2,200 1,100
Biofertilizers (P5000) 0 0 0 5,000
TOTAL (PhP) 11,150 15,400 27,500 19,900

Note:
1. For target yield of 10 tons, use Hybrid seeds. All other targets, use quality or high yielding inbred rice variety
2. Makakatulong ang paggamit ng 20 packs of Compost Fungus Activator o Trichoderma harzianum upang mapabilis ang pagkabulok ng dayami