Vermiculture and Vermicomposting Guide

The growing popularity of vermicomposting has cast the lowly earthworm in a new light.

Vermicomposting refers to the process of using earthworms to turn organic waste into vermicompost — also known as vermicast, worm compost, worm castings, worm humus or worm manure — a high quality natural fertilizer and soil conditioner.

In a nutshell, worm composting is a process for recycling food waste into a rich, dark, earth-smelling soil conditioner. Read more

Preventing “Kurikong” Problem In Mango

The damage inflicted by the Cecid fly on mango fruits, more popularly known as ‘Kurikong,’ is becoming an important concern of mango growers in many parts of the country.

Affected fruits are usually unmarketable because of the circular black or brown scabby lesions on the skin of the fruits. Both small and big fruits are affected. If the infestation is early, the affected young fruits usually drop from the tree.
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Questions About Hydroponics Gardening

Q. What is hydroponics?

A. Hydroponics is the science of growing plants without soil. The plants thrive on the nutrient solution alone. The medium merely acts as support for the plants and their root systems, and perhaps to hold moisture around the roots. The growing medium, if any, is totally inert.

Q. What are the advantages of hydroponics versus soil grown plants?
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Duckweeds, The Alternative Fish Feeds

The high cost of commercial feeds, around 60% on production cost of tilapia in Region 02, has prompted the bureau to undertake research study on duckweeds as alternative fish feed.

Duckweeds (Lemna spp.) are small free floating plants with reported 18-42% crude protein (CP) content depending on the nutrient added on the culture media. Fertilization is necessary in order to ensure high CP content. Read more

Organic Control (BioControl) of Crop Diseases

Many of our local plants contain helpful chemicals, particularly alkaloids, that are effective against fungal and bacterial diseases of other plants. Thus, they are mixed with the soil to control the fungus that causes the diseases of seedlings. Allow the leaves to decompose for about one week before transplanting the seedlings.

Thus, using plant leaves in controlling disease-causing organisms is no doubt cheaper than pesticides and insecticides. Read more

The Living Fence, It’s Role on Small Farm

Why Fence?

There are several reasons that a small farm needs fences:

• Marking the boundary lines between farms or next to roads.
• Separating fields used for distinct purposes
• Keeping animals from straying
• Keeping animals out of crop fields

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