The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently conducted a field visit in Pangasinan to monitor the bio-efficacy and yield efficiency of Carrageenan Plant Growth Promoter (PGP) on rice.
Project staff from the National Crop Protection Center of the College of Agriculture and Food Science of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (NCPC-CAFS, UPLB), Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1), DOST Region 1, and the Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO) of Balungao, Pangasinan also attended the said activity.
The monitoring and field visit in Pangasinan is one of the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities being coordinated in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 6, 9, and 11 for the joint DA and DOST-PCAARRD-funded project titled, “Field Verification Testing of Carrageenan Plant Growth Promotion for Enhanced Growth and Induced Pest and Disease Resistance in Rice and Corn.” The project, led by Dr. Gil L. Magsino of NCPC, aims to evaluate the efficacy and demonstrate through multi-location field trials, the usefulness of Carrageenan as plant growth promoter in increasing the yield of rice.
Farmers in the region who cooperated in the project for 2018 Wet Season presented their fields treated with and without Carrageenan PGP. Rice plants in one of the fields recovered from bacterial leaf blight infestation after applying the recommended rate and time of application of Carrageenan PGP.
The farmers applied a total of 9L/ha of Carrageenan PGP for the whole cropping season, following the given recommendations.
Another rice field planted with hybrid rice and applied with Carrageenan PGP showed good crop stand. Data on yield gathered from the monitored field will be further evaluated to establish the effect of Carrageenan PGP in increasing rice production.
The DOST-PCAARRD M&E team was led by the Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Rice, Mr. Angelito T. Carpio of the Crops Research Division (CRD) together with Ms. Ma. Rosalie E. Lanceras, Ms. Roscelia M. Lambio, Ms. Felicidad E. Bautista, and Ms. Nelia B. Laroza.