Agriculture Business Week

Before nematodes or eelworms, which infect the roots of agricultural crops, were controlled by applying synthetic nematicides to the soil. These chemicals, however, are highly toxic, disrupt the natural soil ecosystem, and can cause serious environmental problems.

In the course of finding alternative control measures, a team of Filipino nematologists led by Dr. Romulo G. Davide, then professor of Plant Pathology in the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), thought testing the capability of the fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus Strain 251 (PL 251) as a biological nematicide.

PL 251, which in 1980 can only be found in the Philippines, is parasitic to all stages of development of common plant-infecting nematodes particularly root knot, potato cyst, and spiral and burrowing nematodes. In their vermiform stages, nematodes are infected as they migrate through the soil. The infection starts when a spore of the fungus adheres to the cuticle and then germinates. The growing fungus then overwhelms the nematode and eats its body.
(more…)

Bookmark It

Posted on October 10th, 2008 under Fruits, Soil. Tags: Banana, Root, Soil. Comments: None

Roots, the hidden half of a plant, are less studied than its above-ground counterparts. This was on the mind of Dr Roel R. Suralta, PhilRice agronomist, when he was starting his research on roots.

The seeming neglect of root research challenged him to make roots the subject of his dissertation at the Nagoya University, Japan. Titled “Significance of Root System Development Responses to Transient Soil Moisture Stress Conditions for Adaptation of Rice Plants”, his thesis centered on root plasticity or the ability of a plant’s root system to change developmentally and functionally in response to changing soil conditions, thus maintaining overall plant growth.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Posted on September 27th, 2008 under Other Crops, Soil. Tags: Rice, Roots, Soil. Comments: None

Brothers Manuel and Dr. Lino Cortes, advocates of zero pesticide farming, are spreading their soil conditioning technology to the grassroots.

Manuel Cortes, known in the broadcast industry as Ka Maning, is not only a farmcaster, forester but also a plant nutritionist. Meanwhile, his older brother, Lino is a doctor of plant genetics who, for 40 years, was based in the US. By a twist of fate, both brothers found themselves bonded by a cause: to promote zero pesticide farming in the country through complete plant nutrition and soil conditioning.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 under Rice, Soil, Technology. Tags: Farming, Rice. Comments: None

The condition of the soil is the most important factor in successful farming because if the soil is healthy, the crops planted in it would be healthy, too.

This is the conviction of Wilfred Noriel of Baloc, Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija. Believing that the crop’s nourishment is the best shield against plant sickness, this economics graduate of De La Salle University who has been farming for more than 11 years has been seeking ways to bring back lost soil nutrients.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Posted on July 14th, 2008 under Other Crops, Soil. Tags: Fertilizer, Organic, Soil. Comments: None

Vermicompost, the organic soil enhancer produced by composting farm wastes with microbes and earthworms, is now widely applied by small farmers in Compostela Valley, Mindanao. This development is mainly due to the efforts of Congressman Manuel Zamora, fondly known as “Way Kurat” (fearless) to his friends and constituents in the First District of the province.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Posted on July 11th, 2008 under Organic, Soil. Tags: Organic, Soil, Vermicompost. Comments: None

It is said that land is the most important component of any crop production system. It is vital to our survival and the food production system that we enjoy. That is why taking good care of our soil is basic to care of the environment and the perpetuity of the human race. It is good to know that technologies are available to better produce high quality, nutritious food and maintain the quality of the soil. This combination happens not by chance. Careful planning and consideration of some basic principles is required for sound soil management.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Posted on July 4th, 2008 under Soil. Tags: Soil. Comments: None