SANREM-CRSP Conservation Agriculture for Food Security in the

PhilippinesInitial Results on Soil

Qualityby

Victor B. EllaProfessor, UPLB

Claveria, Misamis Oriental

January 18, 2011

Project Objective (S in GETS)

Assess soil quality and measure crop yield and biomass from CAPS, and compare them with soil quality and crop yield and biomass from conventional plow-based systems.

Project Site

Claveria, Misamis Oriental(Researcher-managed and

Farmer-managed sites)

Data Gathering

Researcher-managed Site, July 2010

Data Gathering

Farmer-managed Sites, July 2010

Laboratory Analysis

UPLB CEAT Soils and Hydraulic Lab and Soil Sci Lab, July to September 2010

Initial Results

Average Bulk Density at RM and FM Sites

Variation of Bulk Density with Depth at Researcher-Managed Site

0.960.98

11.021.041.061.08

1.11.121.141.16

0-5 5-15 15-30 30-45 45-60 60-90

Soil

Bulk

Den

sity

(g/

cc)

Soil Depth (cm)

Average Soil Bulk Density at RM Site

Average % Soil Organic Matter at RM and FM Sites

0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.505.00

RM FM Upper FM Middle FM Lower

% O

M

Soil Organic Matter at RM and FM Sites

0-15

15-30

Variation of % Organic Matter with Depth

at Researcher-Managed Site

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

7.00

0-5 5-15 15-30 30-45 45-60

% O

M

Depth (cm)

Vertical Distribution of Soil Organic Matter at Lower RM

Average % Nitrogen at RM and FM Sites

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

RM FM Upper FM Middle FM Lower

% N

Soil Nitrogen at RM and FM Sites

0-15

15-30

Variation of % Soil Nitrogen with Depth

at Researcher-Managed Site

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0-5 5-15 15-30 30-45 45-60 60-90

%N

Depth (cm)

Vertical Distribution of Nitrogen at Lower RM

Average Soil Phosphorus at RM and FM Sites

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

RM FM Upper FM Middle FM Lower

P Co

ncen

trati

on (

ppm

)

Soil Phosphorus at RM and FM Sites

0-15

15-30

Variation of Soil Phosphorus with Depth

at Researcher-Managed Site

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

0-5 5-15 15-30 30-45 45-60 60-90

P Co

ncen

trati

on (

ppm

)

Depth (cm)

Vertical Distribution of Phosphorus at Lower RM

Average Soil pH at RM and FM Sites

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

RM FM Upper FM Middle FM Lower

pH

Soil pH at RM and FM Sites

0-15

15-30

Variation of Soil pH with Depth at Researcher-Managed Site

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

5

0-5 5-15 15-30 30-45 45-60 60-90

pH

Depth (cm)

Vertical Distribution of Soil pH at Lower RM

Summary of Initial Findings

• The soil texture at the project site is generally clayey particularly for the middle and lower elevation zones. The soil in the upper elevation zone is generally coarser in texture than in the lower zones.

• The soil bulk density at the project site is generally low particularly for middle and lower elevation zones. Relatively higher soil bulk density was generally observed in the upper elevation zones. Moreover, the soil bulk density generally increases with soil depth at the researcher- managed site.

Summary of Initial Findings (cont’d.)

• Regardless of elevation and soil depth, the soil at the project site is generally acidic although soils in the lower and middle elevation zones are more acidic than those in the higher elevation zone. The soil pH generally increases with soil depth at the researcher-managed site indicating greater acidity near the ground surface

• The soil organic matter content is generally higher at the upper soil layers than at deeper layers regardless of site elevation.

Summary of Initial Findings (cont’d.)

• The soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus contents are also higher at the upper soil layers than at deeper layers

• The concentrations of potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium in the soil exhibited no distinct pattern of variability with soil depth for all elevation zones

Thanks !!!