| Sandy
loam, clay loam, loam and volcanic soil are fertile soil
ideal for fruit trees and other crops. But mostly upland
areas are barren or marginal soil because of soil erosion
which is not suited to high value fruit trees and crops.
"There
are no barren land, only barren mind, " as stated by Mr.
Hilario Davide Sr., father of chief Justice Hilario Davide
Jr., and Dr. Romulo Davide.
Barren
or poor land can converted into productive orchard by using
the right technology as showcase by Dizon Exotic Fruit
Trees.
In
Argao, Cebu, Dr. Romulo G. Davide, Professor Emeritus of UP
Los Baņos, College of Agriculture trained farmer-scientist
to incorporate chicken dung during land preparation on their
barren soil thus increasing their production 5 times or more
of corn harvest.
Barren
lands are areas with no more top soil as a result of erosion
and wrong soil management.
The
top soil or Horizon A is the upper thin part of soil profile
that is the most fertile with 2 to 5% organic matter and
porous that can be easily lost thru erosion thus the soil
become barren. According to soil scientist, to make one (1)
inch of top soil it will take one thousand (1000) years of
weathering process of parent material but only few minutes
or days or months to lose thru soil erosion.
After
the top soil is eroded, what is left is the subsoil with no
organic matter and compact. Soil organic matter represents
only a small portion of the soil solid phase ranging from 2
to 5%. However, it is an extremely complex material which
probably contains most of the organic compounds found in
nature. Organic matter determines the fertility and water
holding capacity of the soil for better crop production.
Add
compost or organic fertilizer to increase organic matter of
subsoil or poor land to 5% organic matter. Allow time for
fresh manure to decompose to avoid methane gas to come in
contact with roots during decomposition. Methane gas emitted
will burn the roots making the plants stunted or die.
Mix
rice hull or sand to make the planting medium porous.
Provide drainage.
Plant
superior varieties from DA-PBI accredited nursery operator
with multiple rootstock
for faster growth, deep anchorage, and early fruits. |
