Centennial Forest Update March 2010
02 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
in Updates Tags: beta sigma forest project, cenfor update, tree planting, upv beta sigma
Here is the latest report of Brod Ulysses Alama, President of the UPV Beta Sigma Fraternity Alumni Association, on the status of the Centennial Forest project in UPV Miagao:
Out of more than two thousand different tress planted (40 species) at the UPV Centennial Forest (CenFor) twenty months ago, around 50-60% remain standing and under threat to inadequacy of water supply. Forty percent (40%) of mortality can be attributed to very poor soil condition, presence of weeds, unreliable peripheral fences and stray animals.
Measures to check these problems has been taken in coordination with the UPV Administration, Barangay Officials and animal owners. Solutions were short-lived and proved ineffective.
With the eminent danger of losing the CenFor without a good fight, residents and local alumni Brods with some invited student organization took all the efforts to combat these problems.
These were weeding and mulching, dung fertilizing and even utilizing empty mineral water as ‘catheter’ for watering. This collective action momentarily lessened the spread of dying tress not until the onslaught of dry season from September 2009 to present, making every tree cope for survival.
Last February 14, 2010, the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity International granted the second tranche of US$500 through Brod Rene de Rueda as committed to support UPV Brods nurture the CenFor. Some of this amount was primarily used to procure and install watering system right at the very core of the CenFor site. This happened after the three weeks of ardous negotiations with the UPV Administration to build such facility.
At present, the resident Brods, some with their friends and ‘loved ones’ are watering the trees whereby every resident Brods was assigned to a specific area in the Cenfor. The watering consumed at least two (2) hours which is much easier and efficient. Some of the Iloilo-based alumni Brods are also helping in watering the trees in some weekends.
For almost a month, most trees showed remarkable development. New leaves shoot out while yellowish ones turning green. Although some of the trees were unable to recuperate due to intense heat of blazing sun, plans of replacing it are to be laid this coming rainy season.
Individual tree guards are being prepared instead of peripheral fence which is easily infested by termites. Planting bamboos or ‘madre de cacao’ around the area is also an option to replace destroyed fences. Furthermore, a ‘bahay kubo’ is targeted for construction including branching pipelines with faucets.
Another serious problem is expected this summer break for only Brod Taui and Brod Yuls will be left behind to tender the watering of the entire CenFor aside from the fact that there will be a longer summer coming. In addition, water supply itself is now rationed by the UPV Administration from 7:30am until 7:00pm until the summer ends
Weeding and Mulching
Dung Fertilizing
Tree Guards
Experimental Catheter Watering System
A Recuperating Tree
Installed Water Line at CenFor
Before the Catheter Watering System
After One Week Of Catheter Watering The Tree Showed Remarkable Development
Tips on Tree Nursery Practices V: Plant Nutrition
07 Dec 2009 Leave a Comment
in Articles Tags: plant nutrition, reforestation, tree planting
Tips on Tree Nursery Practices V: Plant Nutrition
The nutrient demands for crop vary by development stage. Plugs and rooted cuttings require low fertility levels; nutritional needs increase as they become established. Actively growing plants have the highest nutrient demands.
Knowing the optimal pH range for each crop will help determine if an acidic or basic fertilizer should be used. If not sure, a pH range of 5.6-6.2 would be safe with 5.8 as the generally accepted optimum pH. Low uptake of micronutrients (boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc) can occur if medium’s pH is above 6.5. Certain macronutrients (calcium and magnesium) can become less available below 5.4.
1. Phosphorus – Most crop require only 5-10 ppm P for adequate growth especially during early root development.
2. Potassium-Calcium-Magnesium ratio – Potassium (K) fertilization rate above 200 ppm can have an antagonistic effect on Calcium (Ca) or Magnesium (Mg) uptake by the plant. Supplying the plant with a K-Ca-Mg ratio (ppm) of 4:2:1 will limit any antagonisms.
Another example of mineral antagonism is the nitrogen-potassium (N-P) interaction; a 1:1 ratio is recommended.
3. Water Stress (too much water) – Constant saturation of the medium can lead to macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies. When overwatering reduces oxygen levels, root growth can be limited and water uptake slowed. Elements such as calcium are transported via water flow and deficiency symptoms can develop rapidly. Also the inactivity of the root systems due to saturated conditions can lead to insufficient uptake of all nutrients, particularly iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P).
4. Soluble salts level – Soluble salts refer to the total dissolved salts (fertilizers are salt-based) in the medium at any given time and is measured by electric conductivity or EC (salt is a conductor of electricity). When the EC of the medium is too low, growth is stunted and mineral deficiencies are observed. Deficiency symptoms such as lower leaf yellowing (nitrogen), lower leaf purpling (phosphorus), and lower leaf interveinal chlorosis (magnesium) are common when the EC values are below 0.25 mS/cm.
When the EC of the medium is too high, planr growth is stunted. Problems can occur when EC values are above 1.25 mS.cm
Tips on Tree Nursery Practices IV: Media Biology
30 Nov 2009 Leave a Comment
in Articles Tags: reforestation, tree planting
Tips on Tree Nursery Practices IV: Media Biology
Mold like mushroom is almost always non-pathogenic. This mold often goes away after planting. However, one mold can harm the crop by preventing water from penetrating into the mix.
This is a slime mold (Ostracoderma sp) that has a gray threadlike structure (mycelium) that repels water. It grows quickly and causes the media to remain dry even with repeated irrigations. This is very common in outside nursery containers.
A bark or sawdust or coconut coir that has been adequately composted will suppress some root or crown rots. During composting, beneficial microorganisms colonize on the media mix.
The beneficial microorganisms compete with the disease organisms and once the beneficials are in place, the pathogens have no place to live.
This is because the composting process causes rapid heating which destroys most fungal and bacterial organisms. As the compost cools, new organisms (vast majority being beneficial to plants) rush to repopulate the media.
Tips on Tree Nursery Practices III: Chemical Properties
24 Nov 2009 Leave a Comment
in Articles Tags: forest project, reforestation, tree planting
Tips on Tree Nursery Practices: Chemical Properties
Media alkalinity and pH are both critical. (If you are using coconut coir, make sure to water the medium thoroughly after transplanting to flush the excess salt content especially if the source of coconut coir is taken from coconut trees along the seashore.)
Start a fertilizer program after the plant begins to root in after planting.
Buffering capacity is the medium’s ability to minimize chemical changes from applied fertilizers or the plant’s effect on the medium. If a high clay mineral soil is used, the plant can have difficulty exchanging nutrients from the medium solution.
Growing media with high buffering capacity require less fertilizer and seldom have micronutrient problems. Media with low buffering capacity, such as sand, cannot hold these nutrients and require frequent fertilization.
