Technology Demonstration of Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy (ABFS) for Vegetable Production in Hillyland Soils

Rationale

The negative impacts of conventional use of inorganic fertilizers on crop productivity, soil health and environment as well as the rising cost of these fertilizers have led to growing interest on alternative fertilization strategies for crop production. In pursuit of addressing these concerns, the Department of Agriculture (DA) aimed for different strategies including balanced fertilization. Adaptive Balanced Fertilization Strategy (ABFS) is seen to provide a solution through the judicious use of nutrients from inorganic, organic and biological sources in an integrated manner in order to sustain or further improve both crop productivity and soil health.

The DA also issued a memorandum circular in 2020 regarding the adoption of adaptive balanced fertilization management for enhanced crop production and increased income of rice farmers. But aside from rice, ABFS can also be extended to commonly produced vegetables in the country to increase its crop productivity.

The National Soil and Water Resources Research and Development Center for Hillyland Pedo-ecological Zone (NSWRRDC HILLPEZ) of the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) is mandated to screen and validate agro-technologies and showcase cost-efficient, socially acceptable and environment-friendly soil and water management technologies in hillyland pedo-ecological zone. For several years, the Center has established various technology demonstrations on vegetables such as tomato, pole sitao, cucumber and squash where higher yield was observed under ABFS as compared with the use of recommended rates of inorganic fertilizer.

With these reasons, this project was proposed in support to the National Soil Health Program (NSHP) and ABFS mainstreaming of the DA-BSWM to showcase and promote vegetable production using ABFS through technology demonstration.