Fertilizing sugarcane with the aid of computers

Now, with the aid of a computer program, the right amount of fertilizer needed by a sugarcane plant proportionate to the nutrients already in the soil can be accurately calculated.

Named Sugar Farm Information System, the software was designed by the Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation, Inc. (Philsurin) after standardizing the analysis methods of the soil laboratories of five entities; Department of Agriculture-Iloilo, Philsurin, Lopez Sugar, First Farmers, and Negros Prawn.

Philsurin developed the user-friendly system following its observation that sugar planters send soil samples to different laboratories to determine the amount of fertilizer needed by the soil.

With such a practice, soil analysis results vary, leaving planters "more confused than ever," noted Philsurin director general Leon Arceo.

Plants utilize nutrients in the soil such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, resulting in healthier growth and higher yield, explained Arceo, an outstanding alumnus of UP Los Baños.

"Applying fertilizer guarantees that the soil retains the proper nutrients needed by sugarcane," he pointed out.

Dr. Ramon Cu, Philsurin deputy director general, said that scientists and sugarcane planters alike can navigate the computer program by themselves.

He explained: "The user simply indicates the soil type and acidity, and the amount of organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium present in the soil. He then clicks the compute button and the program immediately calculates the amount of fertilizer that must be applied. A list of fertilizer combinations (14 in all plus the cost of each) will appear on the computer screen in answer to the queery."

The Sugar Farm Information System has been distributed to various mill districts in the country, Arceo reported.– RAF