SRA-LGAREC

Published by the SRA-La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center La Granja, La Carlota City Negros Occidental, Philippines Phone/Fax (034) 735-0132 www.sra-lgarec.net e-mail: lgarec@yahoo.com Vol. 7 No 2 February 2005

UPDATES

SRA FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATION EFFICIENCY: The Case of Hacienda de Fuego 1 & 2

Their attendance to the five-day live-in seminar on Sugarcane Farm Management at La Granja Agricultural Research & Extension Center (LGAREC) motivated Oscar Pajes, Jr., Orlando Aonuevo and Claudio Gerochi, Jr., encargados and farm overseer of Hacienda de Fuego 1 & 2, Silay City to convince the farm owners Atty. Bernardino G. Jalandoni and Rodolfo G. Jalandoni, in adopting the SRA fertilizer recommendations based on soil analysis. The de Fuego Farms apply 10 bags of Urea, 5 bags of 18-46-0 and 8 bags of 0-0-60 per hectare before adopting the SRA fertilization technology. Results of soil analysis indicated that their fields needed only 160-180 kg N/ha and none of P2O5 and K2O. Thus, SRA-LGAREC recommended 7-8 bags urea and maintenance dose of P and K at 2 bags 18-46-0 and 2 bags 0-0-60, respectively. The soil was also acidic and it was recommended to apply 3 tons of lime/ha. Four year production data Before OPSI
Hacienda de Fuego 1 Area LKg/Ha 87.30 135.14 1998-1999 88.90 120.78 1999-2000 91.90 132.93 2000-2001 92.00 149.11 2001-2002 Two year production data After OPSI 92.10 161.50 2002-2003 92.80 166.82 2003-2004 Crop yr. Hacienda de Fuego 2 Area 66.51 64.38 61.93 64.17 63.93 65.27 LKg/Ha 126.02 112.62 134.87 149.03 162.25 185.11

These recommendations gave the owners savings of 2 bags urea, 3 bags 18-46-0 and 6 bags 0-0-60 per hectare, plus the increase in sugar yield for both farms by 22% and 33% respectively. Thanks to the SRA Outreach Program for the Sugar Industry (OPSI)! We were able to cut down fifty percent of our fertilizer input and yet increased our yield- said the graduates. Other technologies like using new high yielding varieties and trichogramma application to prevent borer infestation were also implemented in both farms. This testimony implies the significance of subjecting farms to soil analysis and following the fertilizer recommendations. SRA invites sugarcane farmers to avail of the discounted fee for soil analysis, which is P75/sample. This is good for CY 2004-2005 only. /R.M. Bombio & G.L. Talam)

10 bags urea 5 bags 18-46-0 8 bags 0-0-60 7-8 bags urea 2 bags 18-46-0 2 bags 0-0-60

Comparative cost of fertilizer input before and after OPSI on the assumption that all farms were fertilized
Total Fertilizer Cost of Hacienda de Fuego 1 (92 ha) Fertilizer Urea (P590/bag) 18-46-0 (700/bag) 0-0-60 (610/bag) Total BEFORE OPSI 542,800 322,000 448,960 1,313,760 AFTER OPSI 379,960 128,800 112,240 621,000 Total Fertilizer Cost of Hacienda de Fuego 2 (64 ha) BEFORE OPSI 377,600 224,000 312,320 913,,920 AFTER OPSI 264,320 89,600 78,080 432,000

Savings

692,760

481,920

Total Savings/Crop Year

1,174,680

for comments or suggested topics please write or e-mail us