Fertilizer technology for lahar-laden lands developed

An applied fertilizer technology that can increase nitrogen efficiency in lahar-laden soils and coarse agricultural lands has been developed.

The scientific headway was chalked up by researchers of the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, and the Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI).

Fertilizers are classified into soluble, highly soluble, and slow release.

Easily soluble fertilizers are those that release almost 100 percent of their nutrients into the environment immediately after they are applied.

Central release fertilizers (CRF) are classified under the slow-release fertilizer. CRF are coated with semi-permiable material through which nutrients are slowly diffused. This allows CRF, usually capsulated, to release nutrients in a determined fashion.

In the study, the CLSU and DOST-ITDI researchers studied the nutrient release characteristics of CRF in lahar-laden and coarse-textured soils both under submerged and upland conditions on onion, tomato, and rice.

First, a test was conducted to determine the release pattern of nutrients from four CRF formulations manufactured at the DOST-ITDI.

A pot test was also done to study the efficiency of CRF. Pots filled with lahar were planted to rice, onion, and tomato.

Results showed that the performance of onion treated with full CRF was best among those treated with conventional fertilizer, even those applied with combined organic and inorganic fertilizers. It also grew tallest.

The same was true in tomato. After being treated with CRF, it yielded the highest. Fertilizer efficiency was also increased from 35 percent in conventional inorganic fertilizer to 52 percent in CRF.

Rice yield increased with the application of recommended amount of nutrients from higher pure CRF and CRF combined with either organic fertilizer or full fertilizer. – RAF