mortiz085

Lowland rice cultivation can enhance the proliferation of snails resulting in the accumulation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the topsoil. Frank Moormann and Nico Van Breemen, well-known Dutch pedologists, first observed this phenomenon in Central Luzon, Philippines, while visiting the experimental sites of the International Rice Research Institute in the 1970s. H.U. Neue, head of the Soils Department of IRRI at the time, encouraged this writer to investigate the phenomenon. Our research revealed that such biological accumulation of CaCO3 which we named biocalcification , occurs in several rainfed and irrigated rice-growing areas in the Philippines (Asio, 1987; Asio and Badayos, 1998). The figure below shows the proposed generalized model of biocalcification in rice fields. It consists of two stages. Stage 1 is on the proliferation of snails which is generally dependent upon the calcium content of the soil or irrigation water. Moormann et al. (1976) suggested that calcium, of which s

by Dr. Cezar P. Mamaril Senior Consulting Expert of Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Los Ba ñ os, Laguna I would like to share my thoughts about current challenges and opportunities in agriculture that institutions like Visayas State University (VSU) should be concerned. I could not over emphasize the fact that we are facing the problem of producing sufficient food to feed the ever increasing population of our country. Last census reported that our population is increasing by 2.3 percent, while our food production (particularly rice) is increasing by about 2.5 percent. The minimal growth difference between population and food production is not sufficient to provide the other requirements of small farmers to live a decent life. I hope the current census will show a decline in population growth so that we will have a better breathing space. (If you have not yet been interviewed by the census takers, you better do so otherwise you may not get your ration of rice!). Further

Global warming is the increase in the average global temperature. It is a real problem now and we are starting to experience its bad effects like the more frequent occurrence of strong typhoons, the warming of sea water resulting in decreased fish catch by fishermen, and the increased amount of rainfall resulting in catastrophic floods and landslides. It is predicted that the tropics where the Philippines is located will be most affected by global warming. But apart from this global environmental pr oblem, there are also serious local environmental problems that need urgent action. These include deforestation, land degradation, and soil and water pollution. Except for deforestation, these local problems have seldom grabbed the headlines and the endorsement of politicians and popular personalities hence most people are not well aware about the severity of these problems. But they are already threatening our lives and studies have indicated that these environmental problems may have alre