Browsing by Author "Ella, Victor B."

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  • Analysis of TDR-measured soil moisture retention and soil organic matter variability under conservation agriculture production systems in Claveria, Misamis Oriental
    Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Mercado, Agustin R. Jr. (Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSEA), 2012)
    By utilizing the principles of minimum soil disturbance, continuous mulch cover and Diverse species rotations; conservation aims to revitalize soil properties sustainably. Conservation agriculture production systems have significantly higher residual moisture content when compared to the conventional plow-based systems. In addition soil organic matter at the upper soil layer (0-15 cm) in all CAPS treatments exhibited consistently higher values than the deeper layer (15-30 cm) regardless of fertility level. However the soil organic matter at the uppermost soil layer (0-5 cm) did not exhibit a well-defined pattern of temporal variation over time although the soil organic matter appears to increase under conservation agriculture and decrease under conventional plow-based system after 2 years of cropping.
  • Annual theme report (October 2007 to September 2008) for the environmental impact (SWAT modeling) component of "Agroforestry and Sustainable Vegetable Production in Southeast Asian Watersheds" project
    Ella, Victor B. (Los Baños, Philippines: University of the Philippines, 2008)
    The implementation of the Environmental Impact (SWAT Modeling) component of this SANREM CRSP project in year 3 was highlighted by further work on SWAT model development in Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. In all three countries, additional input data have been collected over the past year for SWAT modeling purposes. Data Elevation Models (DEMs), land use maps and soil maps have also been prepared in all three countries. In the Philippines, SWAT model has been developed for assessing the hydrologic effects of land use changes. Other SWAT models for small upland watersheds have also been developed and are being refined. In Indonesia and Vietnam, SWAT model development work is underway.
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    Conservation agriculture and tillage effects on soil organic matter and residual moisture content in selected upland crop production systems in the Philippines
    Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Padre, R.; Mercado, Agustin R. Jr. (2014)
    This presentation describes a study to analyze the influence of conservation agriculture and tillage on soil organic matter and residual moisture content in selected upland crop production systems in the Philippines
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    Conservation Agriculture for Food Security in Cambodia and the Philippines
    Boulakia, Stephane; Hok, Lyda; Phally, K.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Ella, Victor B.; Edralin, Don Immanuel A. (Greensboro, NC: North Carolina A&T State University, 2012)
    Degraded landscapes are expanding annually in Southeast Asia. Rural poverty in upland communities increases pressure on natural resources like forest, soil and water . These are the last “capital” for the poor and they are rapidly diminishing due to non-sustainable management. Such practices reduce agricultural productivity, which in turn heightens food insecurity and exacerbates poverty.
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    Conservation agriculture for food security in Cambodia and the Philippines
    Reyes, Manuel R.; Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Boulakia, Stephane; Ella, Victor B.; Dayo, H. (2011)
    This poster introduces the Long Term Research Activity (LTRA) 12 within the SANREM CRSP program. The objectives of this LTRA are to ensure food security and reverse soil degradation in Southeast Asia (Cambodia and the Philippines) through Conservation Agriculture practices. This research activity will take place throughout Phase IV of the SANREM CRSP, ending in 2014.
  • Conservation agriculture for food security in Cambodia and the Philippines.
    Boulakia, Stephane; Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Chabierski, Stephane; Ella, Victor B.; Hok, Lyda; Edralin, Don Immanuel A.; Reyes, Manuel R. (2012)
  • Conservation Agriculture for Food Security in the Philippines
    Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Ella, Victor B.; Edralin, Don Immanuel A.; Boulakia, Stephane; Reyes, Manuel R. (2012)
  • Developing conservation agriculture in the Philippines
    Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Ella, Victor B. (2011)
    This presentation describes the implementation of Conservation Agriculture production practices in Claveria, Misamis, Philippines, as well as its impacts on soil conservation and marketable produce yields. This research was conducted by the SANREM CRSP Long Term Research Activity 12, Conservation agriculture for food security in Cambodia and the Philippines.
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    Developing conservation agriculture production systems for sloping acid upland in the Philippines
    Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Arcinal, Gil A.; Edralin, Don Immanuel A.; Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R. (2012)
    Degraded landscapes are expanding rapidly in the Philippines. Agricultural productivity is decreased which in turn heightens food insecurity and exacerbates poverty particularly on the sloping acid uplands which soils are inherently poor. Through conservation agriculture (CA) principles and practices of minimal soil disturbance, continuous mulching and diverse species rotations, constitute the best ‘tool box’ to create sustainable permanent cropping systems for annual crop production for sloping tropical uplands. These practices reverse soil degradation, increase crop yield and profits and reduce the labor burden on women. Researchers-managed and farmer-managed conservation agriculture production systems (CAPS) were evaluated across the landscape of Claveria, Philippines including crops and soil fertility management component researches. We found out that cassava (Manihot esculenta) + Stylosanthes guianensis yielded the highest biomass and total sales followed by maize-maize system which yielded better compared with other maize based CAPS. Interplanting maize either with cowpea or ricebean did not give better total grain and biomass yield, but provided higher sales due to relatively better price of beans. Interplanting of maize with cowpea and relayed with upland rice insured food and nutritional security to smallholders by shortening harvest periods to 60 days and increasing harvest cycles. Stylosanthes grown with cassava and maize yielded significantly better than Arachis pintoi than grown with maize. We found out the limiting nutrients were nitrogen (N) > phosphorus (P) > Potassium (K). Omitting N application reduced maize yield by 67%, P by 59% and 21% without K application. Optimum rate of NPK application for maize was 120-20-0, but maintenance K of 17 kg/ha was necessary. Promising varieties of maize, upland rice, cowpea, forage grasses, forage legumes, sweet potato, cassava, sorghum including “adlai” (Job’s tears) were identified out-yielding locally grown varieties in economic and biomass yield which are suitable for CAPS. Our research results can be extrapolated to other upland areas in the Philippines as well as other areas in Southeast Asia as Claveria represents the bio-physical and socio-economic environment of these areas
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    Developing Conservation Agriculture Production Systems in the Philippines
    Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Arcinal, Gil A.; Edralin, Don Immanuel A.; Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R. (2014)
    Conservation agriculture with trees (CAT) offers solution to this pressing problem through following 5 key principles: Minimum soil disturbance, continuous mulch, maintaining diverse crop species, integrated pests and nutrient management. CAT is very important in soil and water conservation, enhancing agri-diversity, improving farm carbon sequestration potential, maximization of land area usage in the Philippines as well as the reversal of soil degradation thus improving food and nutritional security of the upland dwellers.
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    Developing conservation agriculture with trees learning center in the Philippines
    Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Ella, Victor B.; Javier, E.; Reyes, Manuel R. (2013)
    This poster presented crop production in a conservation agriculture with tree (CAT) system in the upland area in Claveria, Misamis, Philippines. CAT is very important in soil and water conservation, enhancing agri-diversity, improving farm carbon sequestration potential, maximization of land area usage in the Philippines as well as the reversal of soil degradation thus improving food and nutritional security of the upland dwellers.
  • Effect of hydraulic head and slope on water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system
    Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Yoder, R. (2008)
    Assessment of the effect of topography and operating heads on the emission uniformity distribution in drip irrigation systems is important in irrigation water management and could serve as basis for optimizing water use efficiency and crop productivity. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydraulic head and slope on the water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system developed by the International Development Enterprises (IDE). The drip system was tested for water distribution uniformity under varying system heads and slope conditions. The laboratory experiments were conducted at the facilities of the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños. A drum reservoir served as water supply for the IDE drip system. A sub-main of 10 m and lateral-sub holder of 10 m with adjustable slope was fabricated to enable slope variations during laboratory experiments. The drip system was operated at pre-specified operating heads of 1.0 m, 2.0 m and 3.0 m for slopes of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% for the sub-main and 0% slope for the laterals. The discharge in each emitter was monitored for each chosen slope through direct volumetric measurements. The water distribution uniformity was then evaluated using the Christiansen's method and the Merriam and Keller's method. Mathematical relationships were then developed to characterize the effect of slope and heads on uniformity coefficient. On the basis of the results, appropriate recommendations were formulated to minimize non-uniformity of water distribution under field conditions in sloping drip-irrigated lands.
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    Effect of hydraulic head and slope on water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system
    Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Yoder, R. (Blacksburg, VA: SANREM CRSP, 2008)
    Assessment of the effect of topography and operating heads on the emission uniformity distribution in drip irrigation systems is important in irrigation water management and could serve as the basis for optimizing water use efficiency and crop productivity. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydraulic head and slope on the water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system developed by the International Development Enterprises (IDE). The drip system was tested for water distribution uniformity under varying system heads and slope conditions. The laboratory experiments were conducted at the facilities of the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños. A drum reservoir served as water supply for the IDE drip system. A sub-main of 10 m and lateral-sub holder of 10 m with adjustable slope was fabricated to enable slope variations during laboratory experiments. The drip system was operated at pre-specified operating heads of 1.0 m, 2.0 m and 3.0 m for slopes of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% for the sub-main and 0% slope for the laterals. The discharge in each emitter was monitored for each chosen slope through direct volumetric measurements. The water distribution uniformity was then evaluated using the Christiansen's method and the Merriam and Keller's method. Mathematical relationships were then developed to characterize the effect of slope and heads on uniformity coefficient. On the basis of the results, appropriate recommendations were formulated to minimize non-uniformity of water distribution under field conditions in sloping drip-irrigated lands.
  • Effect of hydraulic head and slope on water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system
    Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Yoder, R. (St. Joseph, MI: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2008)
    Assessment of the effect of topography and operating heads on the emission uniformity distribution in drip irrigation systems is important in irrigation water management and could serve as basis for optimizing water use efficiency and crop productivity. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of hydraulic head and slope on the water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system developed by the International Development Enterprises (IDE), a non-profit organization dedicated to ending poverty in the developing world. The drip system was tested for water distribution uniformity under varying system heads and slope conditions. The laboratory experiments were conducted at the facilities of the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños. A drum reservoir served as water supply for the IDE drip system. A sub-main of 10 m and lateral-sub holder of 10 m with adjustable slope was fabricated to enable slope variations during laboratory experiments. The drip system was operated at pre-specified operating heads of 1.0 m, 2.0 m and 3.0 m for slopes of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% for the sub-main and 0% slope for the laterals. The discharge in each emitter was monitored for each chosen slope through direct volumetric measurements. The water distribution uniformity was then evaluated using the Christiansen's method and the Merriam and Keller's method. Mathematical relationships were then developed to characterize the effect of slope and heads on uniformity coefficient. We found that the coefficient of uniformity (UC) and the emission uniformity (EU) generally increase with increasing heads and decrease with increasing slope. The coefficient of uniformity generally followed a linear relationship with either head or slope. The UC and EU decrease substantially at submain slopes steeper than 30%. For level surface, a head differential of 0.5 m does not cause significant change in either UC or EU. For all slopes tested, we found that a head of 3.0 m with respect to the junction of the most upstream lateral may be considered to be optimum from both hydraulic and practical standpoints. On the basis of the results, appropriate recommendations were formulated to minimize non-uniformity of water distribution under field conditions in sloping drip-irrigated lands.
  • Effect of hydraulic head and slope on water distribution uniformity of the IDE drip irrigation system
    Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Yoder, R. (2008)
    Assessment of the effect of topography and operating heads on the emission uniformity distribution in drip irrigation systems is important in water management and could serve as the basis for optimizing water-use efficiency and crop productivity. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of slope and hydraulic head on the water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system developed by International Development Enterprises (IDE). The drip system was tested for water distribution uniformity under varying system heads and slope conditions. The experiments were conducted at the hydraulic laboratory facilities of the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology, University of the Philippines-Los Baños. A drum reservoir served as water supply for the IDE drip system. A sub-main of 10 m and lateral-sub holder of 20 m with adjustable slope was fabricated to enable slope variations during laboratory experiments. The drip system was operated at pre-specified operating heads of 1 m, 2 m, and 3 m from the reservoir outlet for slopes of 0 percent, 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent, and 50 percent for the sub-main; and 0 percent slope for the laterals. The discharges in selected emitters were monitored under each chosen slope through direct volumetric measurements. The uniformity coefficient was then estimated using Christiansen's method. Mathematical relationships were then developed to characterize the effect of slope and heads on uniformity coefficient. On the basis of the results, appropriate recommendations were formulated to minimize non-uniformity of water distribution under field conditions in sloping drip-irrigated lands.
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    Gendered Soils Knowledge, Access to Resources, and Agricultural Practices in the Philippines
    Christie, Maria Elisa; Harman, Mary; Dayo, H.; Mercado, Agustin R. Jr.; Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R. (2012)
    This presentation discusses the methods and findings of gender research for development in the context of conservation agriculture. The purpose was to determine the gender-based constraints and opportunties for the adoption of conservation agriculture for smallholder farmers in two villages in Northern Mindanao. It reviews a mixed methods approach of combining participatory and geospatial methods to explore the gendered nature of soils knowledge, access to resources, and agricultural practices that are relevant to conservation agriculture. This research found soil knowledge, access to resources, and agricultural practices in this region are gendered. These findings reveal the implications for gender differences in the context of adoption.
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    Gendered Soils Knowledge, Practices, and Access to Assets in CAPS: Student Research in the Gender CCRA
    Christie, Maria Elisa; Harman, Mary; Agriesti, Keri; Sumner, Daniel M.; Botello, Rubén C.; Bagares, Isidra; Mercado, Jun; Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Alwang, Jeffrey R. (2012)
    This poster discusses the student research of the Gender Cross Cutting Research Activity (Gender CCRA) of SANREM CRSP. The purpose of the Gender CCRA is to identify gender-based constraints and opportunities for conservation agricultural production systems (CAPS) adoption across sites and make recommendations regarding gender-based practices and policies to improve the success of CAPS. It uses a mixed methods approach that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative methods. Graduate students have been an essential component in conducting research for the Gender CCRA in several sites, including Bolvia, the Philippines, and Cambodia. This poster summarizes the approach and presents preliminary findings from their individual projects.
  • Improving the water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system using adjustable pressure-loss lateral takeoff valves
    Ella, Victor B.; Keller, J.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Yoder, R. (2010)
    This presentation explains a study conducted at the University of the Philippines Los Baños which measured the effect of using Adjustable Pressure-Loss Lateral Takeoff Valves (APLTVs) on the water distribution uniformity of a low-cost drip irrigation system under sloping conditions. These researchers used many calculations and graphs to show that in general, the inclusion of APLTVs as a built-in component of the low-cost drip irrigation system can potentially increase crop productivity and yield.
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    Influence of conservation agriculture and tillage on soil quality in selected crop production systems in the Philippines
    Ella, Victor B.; Reyes, Manuel R.; Padre, R.; Mercado, Agustin R. Jr. (2014)
    The presentation describes a study to evaluate the influence of conservation agriculture and tillage on selected physical and chemical soil quality parameters in selected upland crop production systems in the Philippines
  • Initial results on soil quality; SANREM-CRSP conservation agriculture for food security in the Philippines
    Ella, Victor B. (2011)
    This electronic presentation described initial results uncovered by farmer-managed and researcher-managed Conservation Agriculture trials in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines, completed by SANREM CRSP Long Term Research Activity 12.