The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) urged Filipino palay farmers to practice balance fertilization as incorporating organic fertilizer, such as rice straws, would allow them to save as much as P4,000.
In a news statement, PhilRice said their nutrient experts have discovered that rice farmers could save P2,000 to P4,000 if they will complement inorganic fertilizer application with organic ones.
Wilfredo B. Collado, a nutrient management expert from PhilRice, said rice farmers must “maximize the benefits of natural sources of nutrients” in terms of productivity and economic opportunities.
“One hundred cavans of palay [5 metric ton-yield] produces 5 metric tons of rice straw. If this is incorporated into the soil and decomposed, it can produce 30 kilogram [nitrogen], which is equivalent to 1.3 bags [65 kilograms] of urea,” Collado said.
PhilRice said it has been promoting balanced fertilization among rice farmers since it started its campaign titled “Abonong swak (Swak sa budget, swak sa palay)” recently. The campaign, Philrice added, seeks to help farmers cut their fertilizer costs amid rising price of the commodity.
“It is important for farmers to know the specific nutrients and the amount needed by their crop to avoid applying excessively or sparingly,” Collado said.
“These can be identified through Minus-One Element Technique, Leaf Color Chart, Leaf Color Computing App, and Rice Crop Management Advisory Service,” he added.
Latest Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority data showed that the average price of urea (prilled) is at P2,803 per 50-kilogram bag, more than double of its average quotation last year of P1,104.24 per bag.
“Aside from saving money, organic fertilizer application has a long-term benefit as it improves soil fertility,” Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) Assistant Director Gina P. Nilo said.
PhilRice said around 500 on-site participants and 15,000 online viewers participated in their two-day Lakbay Palay last April 6 and 7 learned about the possible organic-inorganic fertilizer combinations based on their budget and target yields.
The agriculture department has been aggressive in promoting balanced fertilization as one of the solutions to mitigate the impact of rising fertilizer prices on the country’s farm sector.
