EFFICACY TESTING OF AGRICOLA BIO-SOIL CONDITIONERS WITH PECHAY AS TEST CROP

June 6, 20071

MR. JAIME VISTAR
#1750 N. Garcia St., Near J.P. Rizal
Santiago Village, Makati City

Dear Mr. Vistar

This is to submit the results on the efficacy test conducted on Unigrow Bio-Soil Conditioner with Pechay Green-Behi variety as test crop. The test was conducted in Amadeo, Cavite last April to June.

For any additional information you may wish to know concerning the test please do not hesitate to write us.

Very truly yours,

(SGD.)
NORA B. INCIONG, Ph.D.
Researcher
#20 Santan St., Ynchausti Subd.
Malabon, Metro Manila

OBJECTIVES:

1. To determine the effects of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the growth and yield of plants with Pechay Green-Behi variety as the test crop.

EXPERIMENTAL SITE:

The testing on the effectiveness of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner was conducted at Amadeo, Cavite.

DURATION OF THE STUDY:

The test was conducted last April to June 2007.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION:

A Randomized Complete Block Design (RBD) was adopted for the test. There were three blocks with each block consisting of six (6) plots. Each plot represented a replicate. Each plot measured 3.0 meter squares. The distance of planting was 25 cm between rows and 25 cm between hills. There were a total of 40 plants per plot. The following treatments were tested.

T1 - Control

T2 - RIF (80-20-200

Basal application per plot - 42.86 grams 14-14-14
39.0 grams 46-0-0

The chemical were dissolved in 40 glasses of water and applied at one (1) glass per plant directly to the whole plant and down to the roots at three (3) days after transplanting.

T3 - ½ RIF

Basal application per plot - 21.43 grams 14-14-14
19.5 grams 46-0-0

The chemical were dissolved in 40 glasses of water and applied at one (1) glass per plant directly to the whole plant and down to the roots at three (3 days after transplanting.

T4 - Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner at one (1) kilograms per hectare

Dissolved approximately three (30 grams in 40 glasses of water and used to water the whole plant and down to the base of the plant applied the next day after transplanting.

T5 - RIF – Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner at one (1) kilograms per hectare

The same application with chemical fertilizers as in T2 and Agricola Bio-soil Coditionedras in T4 were followed

T6 ½ RIF + Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner at one (1) kilogram per hectare

The same application with chemical fertilizers as in T3 and Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner were followed.

LAND PREPARATION

An area of approximately 300 square meters including an area for buffer was thoroughly cultivated. Three blocks, each measuring approximately 15m x 3m were laid out. Approximately one-half (1/2) meter was provided between plots to prevent contamination of treatments. Each block was divided into six (6) plots. Each plot measured 3 square meters.

Approximately ½ meters wide of border area surrounding the blocks on four sides was also cultivated to serve as buffer.

SEEDLING PREPARATION AND TRANSPLANTING

Pechay seeds of Green-Behi variety were sown uniformly ina prepared seedbed. The seedlings were ready fortransplanting after 23 days.

One seedling was transplanted per hill in the prepared test plots. Distance of planting was 25 centmeters between rows and 25 cm between hills. A total of 40 hills were present in each plot. Transplanting was done last May 10, 2007.

CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PLANTS

a. Weed Management

Regular hand weeding and cultivation around the base of the pechay plants were done to prevent the growth of weeds.

b. Water Management

Regular watering was done or when necessary to ensure that the soil has enough moisture for the growth of pechay plants.

c. Pesticide Management

The test was conducted inside a fine nylon net sewed like a mosquito net. As a result there were no pest infestation as well as no pesticide or insecticide was sprayed during the conduct of the experiment.

DATA COLLECTION

Tweve (12) pechay plants at the center of each plot were selected and marked as observation plants for plant height, number and weight of marketable stems with leaves.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

All data gathered were tabulated and statistically analyzed following the F-test.

TO INSERT THE FOLLOWING TABLES IN EXCEL:

1. Table 1A The influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the height of pechay plants Green-Beh9i variety.
2. Table 1B. Analysis of variance on the influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the height of pechay Green-Behi variety
3. Table 2A. The influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the average number of marketable stalks per pechay plant Green-Behi variety
4. Table 2B. Analysis of variance on the influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the average number of marketable stalks per pechay plant Green-Behi variety.
5. Table 3A. The influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the average weight per pechay plant Green-Behi variety
6. Table 3B. Analysis of variance on the influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the average weight per pechay plant in grams Green-Behi variety.
7. Table 3C. Computed* weight of pecha plant Green-Behi variety per hectare in tons as influenced by Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

The biological soil conditioner is a product of fermentation which when applied to the plants particularly to the soil would result to bigger, healthier plants. The root stem is more developed and with the help of the friendly microorganisms, more nutrients are absorbed by the plants, resulting to bigger and taller plants.

The influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditione ron the height of pechay plants (Table 1A, 1B).

Table 1A shows the average height of pechay plants as influenced by the application of the biological soil conditioner. control plants were the shortest (TT) with an average height of 19.27 centimeters. The application of the Bio-soil conditioner showed to be effective in improving the growth of pechay plants. The Bio-soil conditioner at T4 applied after transplanting resulted to significantly taller plants compared with the control (T4 vs T1). The bio-soil conditioner were 32.90% taller than the control (T1). The RIF plants reached the average height of 27.53 cm., the ½ RIF reacbed 23.97 cm and the T4 reached an average of 25.61 centimeters. Statistically they were similar.

When the bio-soil conditioner was applied to plants with the chemical fertilizers as in T5 and T6 the pechay grew taller. The T5 had 31.5 centimeters. The increase due to the bio-soil conditioner was 3.97 cm and was equivalent to 14.42 percent. In T6, where plants were fertilized with ½ RIF and bio-soil conditioner, the increase in plant height was 4.24 cm which was approximately 17.69% compared with ½ RIF only.

The influence of Agricola Bio-soil conditioner foliar fertilizer on the number of leaves of pechay plants (Tables 2A, 2B)

The number of leaves presented in Table 2A are those left after removing the first two (2) undeveloped stalks as well as the rotten stalks due to insect or disease damage. In case of this study, pest or disease damage was avoided since the experimental plots were enclosed inside a fine nylon white net sewed together like a mosquito net. The counting included not only the fully developed leaves but also the newly emerging young shoots.

As shown in Table 2A, the pechay plants grown in plots fertilized with the chemical fertilizers as the RIF and ½ RIF, had more leaves than the control plants. The control plants T1 had developed an average of 8.87 leaves per plant. The RIF and ½ RIF were equivalent to 48.93% and 8.79% respectively compared with the control plants. These increases were statistically significant. The average number of leaves of the bio-soil conditioner applied plants was 14.13. The increase over the control was equivalent to 59.30 percent.

When the bio-soil conditioner was applied to the base of the plants grown in plots fertilized with the RIF and ½ RIF, significant increase in leaf development was observed. Compared to RIF alone (T2), the RIF + bio-soil conditioner (T5) had developed an average of 13.88 leaves or stalks. This increase was approximately 5.07 percent. The ½ RIF + bio-soil conditioner (T6) had resulted to an increase of 5.42 leaves which was equivalent to 56.17 percent compared with ½ RIF (T3) only.

The influence of Agricola Bio-soil Conditioner on the weight of pecha plants (Tables 3A, 3B, 3C)

Both the chemical fertilizers and the bio-soil had significantly resulted to bigger plants. Not only did the plants developed more leaves but also weighed even more significantly than the control plants.

In Table 3A, it is shown that the control plants (T1) had an average weight of 64.38 grams per plant. The RIF plant (T2) had 197.33 grams. The increase due to fertilizer application was 132.95 grams or 206.51 percent. The ½ RIF (T3) plants had 165.97 grams more compared with the control plant. This increase waS equivalent to 157 percent compared with the control.

The bio-soil conditioner applied plants (T4) had slightly heavier plants compared with the ½ RIB (T4 and T3). The T4 fertilized plants were heavier by approximately 3.27 percent compared with ½ RIF plants.

When bio-soil conditioner was applied as supplement to the chemical fertilizers as in T5 and T6, the plants were more than double in weight compared with the control plants. In T5 vs T1, the increase was 304.87 grams or 473.55 percent.

The effect of bio-soil conditioner as supplement to the chemical fertilizers was equivalent to the increase between T5 and T2. In T2, the plants received the chemical fertilizers whereas in T5, the plants received both the chemical and the bio-soil conditioner. The T2 plants had an average weight of 197.33 grams whereas the T5 had 369.25 grams. The increase due to the bio-soil conditioner was 171.92 grams or 87.12 percent. In T6 vs T3, the bio-soil conditioner had resulted to an increase in weight by 139.31 grams compared with ½ RIF. This increase was 83.94 percent.

The computed yield per hectare (Table 3C) was obtained by multiplying the average weight per plant with an assumption of 102,400 plants per hectare. The number of plants per hectare was based on the assumption that only 80% of the land was utilized for planting while the 20% was occupied for alleys and borders. Distance of planting was 0.25 m between rows and 0.20 cm between plants within the row. Pechay are usually planted in prepared plots of 1 ½ wide and variable lengths depending on farmer’s convenience during watering and cultivation.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

1. The pechay plants responded significantly in terms of growth and weight to the application of chemical fertilizers and the biological soil conditioner.

2. The application of chemical fertilizers alone had improved the growth of the pechay plants by 24-42% in height and 157.206% in weight.

3. The application of the biological soil conditioner alone had resulted to an average increase 32% in plant height and 166% in weight compared with the control.

4. As supplement to the RIF and ½ RIF the bio-soil conditioner had resulted to an additional increase in weight by 87.12% with RIF and 83.94% with ½ RIF.