Terminal Report

Special Project
Project Title: DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF EFFICIENT SUGARCANE
FARM MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
March 14, 2018

INTRODUCTION

Prior to the implementation of on-farm trials of Lime and Fertilizer Services (LFS)
Project under the Special Projects of PHILSURIN, the Soil Management Group has one of its
key deliverables, the Sugarcane Farm Management Information System (SFMIS) to improve
diagnosis and recommendations for individual sugarcane farm on good management practice.
SFMIS will be a unique national soil information infrastructure that will be underpinned by a
centralized collation of the available, consistent soil and other land data around the country.
Collation and improvement to this data have been occurring since 2104.
General Objective
To develop data base on local soils and research outcomes to improve diagnosis and
recommendations for individual sugarcane farm on good management practices.
Specific Objectives
1. To collate field and laboratory records of morphological, physical and chemical
characteristics major soils grown to sugarcane;
2. To gather research outputs, recommended practices, production records on selected sites,
sugarcane variety trial records, research record on pests and diseases management,
fertilizer trials and recommendations, etc.;
3. To prepare guide on field identification of soil series;
4. To prepare technical materials on yield performance and soil types; and
5. To formulate appropriate intervention based on variety and soil types.

METHODOLOGY

The project was funded by PHILSURIN since 2014, which involves one technical assistant
stationed at Makati Office. The project develops data base on local soils and research outcomes
by collating available records to improve diagnosis and recommendations for individual
sugarcane farm on good management practice. The implementation framework is presented in
Figure 1.
 Figure1. Framework in PHILSURIN LFS implementation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Information System

The recent focus has been the provision of available mapped information and detailed site
data supporting samples held within the Land Resource Database (LRD). LRD is composed of
soil and planter profile data and land dataset has been added recently.

Land Dataset

The spatial and non-spatial data from different sources were integrated into a database
and its attributes were organized for more effective bases in decision making. Geographic
information system (QuantumGIS 2.8.7 Wien) was used to easily manage spatial information.
This dataset provides in-house access to the best land resource information in a consistent format
across the country. When viewed in Google Earth Pro, it facilitates easy view of information for
strategic, tactical and operational planning. Wide array of users with different interests on
matters of agriculture can be benefitted. For example, the attribute elevation can be used for farm
management and on-ground works. The complete attributes of the dataset is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Attributes of land dataset and data sources.

Attribute Definition Reference
SMU Code Soil mapping unit BSWM
AES Agro-edaphic or crop suitability BSWM
Soilscape Soilscape FAO World Resource Database
Soil Order Soil Order FAO World Resource Database
Subgroup Soil Sub-group FAO World Resource Database
Texture Soil Texture FAO World Resource Database
Slope Slope Class FAO World Resource Database
LMU Land mapping unit BSWM
Flooding Flooding risk FAO World Resource Database
FAO Subgro Soil Sub-group FAO World Resource Database
Soil Taxon Soil Taxonomy equivalent FAO World Resource Database
Regime Soil moisture regime Hamazaki 1992
SlopeMod Modified slope class BAR
Elevation Elevation class SRTM
Type Agro-climatic type IRRI/PAGASA
PeakRain Agro-climatic peak rainfall IRRI/PAGASA
TypeFreq Typhoon frequency PAGASA
Area Ha Covered area in hectares BSWM

LFS Six Easy Steps

Analytical results for a single soil or leaf sample are of limited value. It is more important
to consider the concept of integrated nutrient management which includes the use of a range of
different activities for determining nutrient inputs to a particular cane block. The integrated
nutrient package consists of six steps: (1) Knowing which soils occur in each block of your farm.
(2) Understanding the properties of each soil and the nutrient processes and loss pathways likely
to occur in each soil. (3) Regular soil testing (blocks should be sampled before every crop cycle).
(4) Developing a plan of fertilizer applications for each block covering the whole crop cycle
(covering a plant crop and the number of successive ratoons). This can be achieved using
knowledge of the nutrient requirement of each soil and implementing soil/site specific fertilizer
recommendations. (5) Using leaf analysis as a check on the adequacy of fertilizer
recommendations (which will allow modifications to the fertilizer plants). (6) Maintaining a
good record keeping system which enables informed decisions to be made based on block
histories and longer-term nutrient management strategies.

Implementation of this system on-farm will lead to best practice nutrient management
and sustainable sugarcane production.
 1. Know your soils in your farm

Soils maps were produced to ensure that planters are familiar with the soils that occur on
their farm.Using user-friendly guidebook, one can easily identify the specific soil type. Detailed
information is provided by Land Resource Database or LRD after identification. LRD will
undergo updating as new data and information becomes available (e.g. soil fertility data).

(a) (b) (c)

(a) Soils map, Source: BSWM

(b) Key to soil series guidebook, Source: PHILSURIN, BSWM, PhilRice Inst.
(c) Land resource database, Source: UPLB, PHILSURIN, BSWM, PhilRice Inst.

2. Understand: (a) soil properties and (b) Nutrient processes and loss pathways
 Plants require 16 elements for optimum growth. Carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen
(O) are supplied from air and water. The other mineral elements can be divided into three
groups:
i. Macronutrients are required in relatively large amounts (20 – 200 kg/ha)
ii. Micronutrients are required in small amounts (less than 10 kg/ha/crop).
iii. Beneficial nutrients include silicon (Si), which may be applied in fairly large quantities.

All of these nutrients are naturally available in soils. Median analysis data of Guimbalaon series
presented below shows the comparison of the nutrients naturally available in the soil from data
of reference soil profile from database and the nutrients availability affected by management
from growers soils test value in 4 haciendas in La Carlota. Some soils are able to supply more of
a particular nutrient than other soils. Fertilizers and soil ameliorants are used to supplement these
supplies of nutrients and prevent the mining of nutrients stored in our soils.

Reference site* VS grower soil sample**

median analysis data of Guimbalaon series

3. Regular soil testing every crop cycle

For a proper soil testing results one must follow the soil sampling procedure using the
PHILSURIN Analytical Service Laboratory brochure. Farm information is required to be
submitted together with the samples when submitting to the PHILSURIN Analytical Services
Laboratory.

Soil sampling brochure by PHISLURIN

 4. Develop a plan of fertilizer applications for each block
(whole crop cycle)

Compared to conventional yield calibration trials, LFS introduces an alternative and

discounted approach in fertilizer formulation and lime application based on: (a) yield target/yield
potential (b) soil type (c) soil and plant tissue analysis, and (d) nutrients returned/discounting.

In adopting a soil specific fertilizer recommendation some principles must be considered

as presented in figure 1. Firstly, the amount of fertilizer to be added during crop season is based
on nutrient uptake of sugarcane variety and yield target of the farm. This amount is adjusted
based on fertility status of farm determined through soil analysis. Moreover, fertilizers to be
applied are also modified when soil amendments like mud press or filter cake are added and/or
by growing of legumes during fallow period. This approach is intended to avoid excessive
application and save input costs.

Figure 1. Framework used for LFS recommendation decision-making.

5. Use leaf analysis for adequacy of fertilizer recommendations

The brochure Three Easy Steps to Successful Leaf Sampling will guide planter or field
technician in collecting plant tissue sample to be submitted to the laboratory. Leaf nutrient levels
are checked against the optimum range of values by the laboratory to arrive a recommendation if
a farm is in need of application of supplemental fertilizer.
 Leaf tissue sampling procedure of PHILSURIN

6. Maintain good record keeping system

Collect appropriate farm details and past record through survey forms. All information
regarding the samples such as planters profile, farm record, management and others is stored in
the database.

Data record management capability of LFS Nutrient Calculator.

Development of Decision Support Tools

To ease the manual formulation of soil-specific recommendation fertilizer and lime
application and other management to farms, PHILSURIN developed several decision support
tools. By this stage the DSS tools were finalized and currently utilized to establish baseline
information on current soil fertility of sugarcane farms countrywide. The Key to Soil Series
guidebook is a guide to easily identify soils in the field. The Cane Nutrient Pro is a computer
application for calculating fertilizer recommendation based on plant uptake and adjusted
according to soil fertility status, amendments like mill by-products, etc. Soil Constraints and
Management Package (SCAMP) application is a program that assesses the constraints of your
soils and develops guidelines on sustainable management. With the knowledge of soil quality
and an updated soil chemical analysis, PHILSURIN derived maps of Agro-Ecological
Management Zones in selecting suitable varieties, packaging specific cultural management, and
optimizing yield potential of different sugarcane varieties.

(a) (b) (c)

(a) Key to Soil Series guidebook

(b) Cane Nutrient Pro computer application
(c) Soil Constraints and Management Package (SCAMP) application

Capsule Proposal for SIDA

The project mainly assisted in the coordination of the proposal development process of
PHILSURIN project titled, “Utilization of Different Mill Wastes for Sustainable Sugarcane
Production under Long Term Monocropping System” together with two prior project proposals
for SRA-SIDA by communicating timelines for inputs into and review of proposal with project
team. In the project facilitation of writing, editing and tailoring of content, we produced
compliant and compelling easy-to-read proposals. We also monitored the compilation of the
proposal in line with PHILSURIN and funding agency deadline. Inputs from technical team,
finance team, technical advisors and other related agencies were gathered for her drafting
narrative and logframe. The communication with the funding agency to ensure adequate proposal
approval was also acknowledged. During the development and revision of proposal workplan
and budget, there were meetings of the project team making sure the budget in line with log
frame was verified.

FUTURE PLANS

LFS current research is focused on the development of soil-specific fertilizer and lime
recommendation for use at farm level with the aim of being appropriate considering differences
in soil type and constantly changing practices in farming systems.

The goal afterward is to implement the LFS Six Easy Steps, a soil-specific nutrient
management diagnostic tool in the Philippines, where general practice in fertilization remains
based on blanket fertilizer recommendation from the average results of a large number of
calibration trials (Quilloy et al., ) despite available soils analysis results. Particularly worrisome,
Espada (1997) notes, is that blanket fertilizer rate applications by planters in our country are
wasteful and expensive. After an initial test in two regions, PHILSURIN is expected to
implement the tool nationwide if funding is available.

Information generated from it will be channeled to appropriate stakeholders in

coordination with SRA to call for intensive campaign for the planters at mill district level and
identify cooperators who need to undergo further testing and immediate management.

This initiative improves sugarcane farms especially in the aspect of soil health,
particularly in the proper fertilizer usage and soil management tailored to the varying edapho-
climatic growing conditions of sugarcane. LFS plans to provide activities free to members: (a)
regular soil testing, (b) prompt detection of nutrient deficiency through leaf analysis, (c) timely
initiation of treatment.