An effective microbial fertilizer

Bio-N is effective in increasing the yield and income in rice and corn farming.

This was confirmed in an evaluation research titled "Biotechnologies in Agriculture: Production and Market Potentials, Socio-Economic Evaluation and Policy Analysis" supported by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR) and the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD).

Bio-N is a microbial fertilizer derived from a nitrogen fixer. Dr. Mercedes U. Garcia developed Bio-N in 1984 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños-National Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (UPLB-Biotech).

Researchers Agnes R. Chupungco, Merlyne M. Paunlagui and Elvira E. Dumayas of UPLB’s Institute of Strategic Planning and Policy Studies (ISPPS) reported the research results in the PCARRD biotechnology seminar held recently at the PCARRD headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.

Thirty-five users and 35 non-users of Bio-N in corn in two municipalities in Cebu, and 23 users and 23 non-users of bio-N in rice in five municipalities in Laguna were interviewed in the study.

In Cebu, corn yield was found higher at 1,728 kg/ha for Bio-N users compared to 1,147 kg/ha for non-users of Bio-N.

In Laguna, rice yield was likewise higher at 6,302 kg/ha for Bio-N users compared to 4,865 kg/ha for non-users. Bio-N users likewise got a higher benefit-cost ratio (1.74/ha) than the non-users (1.48/ha).

Farmers are continuously using Bio-N because of increased yield, reduced production cost, increased savings and income, easy application and other positive effects such as greener color of the leaves, improved soil quality and less susceptibility of the crops to pests and diseases.

No users complained of any negative effects of Bio-N.

The main constraint, however, in the use of Bio-N fertilizer, is its limited source and inaccessibility to the farmers. At present, the only source of Bio-N is UPLB-Biotech. Another important problem is the relatively short shelf life of the product.

To make Bio-N more accessible to farmer users, there is a plan to establish a mixing plant in Argao, Cebu. Dr. Garcia advised that there should be a regional distribution of the concentrate so that mixing can be done in the region. The memorandum of agreement (MOA) between UPLB and the Technology Learning and Resource Center (TLRC) regarding this matter has yet to be finalized. – S&T Media Service