Integrated NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT to Enhance RICE ECOSYSTEM for Sustainable Productivity.

The economic situation in the Philippines is dwindling as prices of chemical fertilizers are increasing to heights, which become unaffordable to small farmers. This resulted researchers to seek for an effective and appropriate technologies to reduced cost production without necessarily degrading the environment.

        Considering the present scenario being experienced by the lowly-income rice farmers, it is imperative to practice Integrated Nutrient Management, hence the conduct of this research in order to a) determine the effectiveness of INM on the yield and yield components of rice and, b) assess the profitability of practicing integrated nutrient management that could benefit farmers.

        An on-farm experiment on the practiced of Integrated Nutrient Management was undertaken with the following treatments: T₁ = 90-60-60 kg NPK/ha (farmers’ practice);  T₂ = 45-30-30 kg NPK + 500 kg rice straw + 500 kg corn cobs/ha;  T₃ = 45-30-30 kg NPK + 500 kg carbonized rice hull + 2 liters foliar fertilizer/ha; T₄ = 90-60-60 kg NPK + 600 kg homemade organic fertilizer/ha;  T₅ = 45-30-30 kg NPK + 600 kg homemade organic fertilizer/ha, T₆ = 12.5 -15-15 kg NPK + 600 kg homemade organic fertilizer + 4 liters foliar fertilizer/ha.

        Result of the research revealed that highest average rice grain yield of 6.85 tons/ha was obtained in the application of 45-30-30 kg NPK + 600 kg homemade organic fertilizer per ha closely followed with 45-30-30 kg NPK + 500 kg rice straw + 500 kg corn cobs/ha (5.60 tons/ha). Plants applied with 45-30-30 kg NPK + 600 kg homemade organic fertilizer/ha gave significant higher grain yield of 6.85 tons/ha compared to farmers’ practice (5.13 tons/ha).

        In terms of economic benefits, highest net income of Php 94,455 with ROI of Php 5.08 was realized in the combination of inorganic fertilizer and homemade organic fertilizer (45-30-30 kg NPK + 600 kg homemade organic fertilizer/ha). In comparison, the farmers’ practice showed second to the lowest ROI of Php 3.84.

         Considering that the typical Filipino farmers are resource-poor the technology on Integrated Nutrient Management is recommended. It could help the farmers to produce more profit due to a lesser cost of production and even enhance the environment.