No abstract

No abstract

Fresh organic materials have to be shredded into smaller sizes to increase their decomposition rate. Hence, a plant shredder is necessary. This study illustrates the importance of traditional or local knowledge to agriculture and natural resource management by providing households with adaptive strategies. A plant shredding machine known as “Plant Power Shredder (PPS)” suitable for village-scale use was developed following the design criteria such as: portability, affordability, efficiency and versatility. The machine is 1.5mL×1.05m W×1.10m H, weighs 150kg and costs PHP75,000 (including 7hp Diesel engine). It is mounted in an angular bar framing fitted with 2 free-wheeling wheels to be pulled by a hand tractor. The prototype used combination of shear and impact forces through the combination of radially mounted blades and hammer-members. Comparative evaluation of PPS was done with the RUMVD35000-16 and RUMVD35000-14 in terms of capacity, efficiency, fuel consumption, power-output ratio, sizes of shredded materials, percent decomposition of shredded output and break-even cost of each machine. Shredding was done on rice straw (RC 216), kakawate leaves and branches and dried coconut husk at three replications. Results showed that PPS has the highest efficiency of 95.71%, lowest fuel cost of PHP57.17 per hour and PHP0.15 per kg, highest power to output ratio of 0.014hp per kg and lowest break even cost of PHP0.68 per kg. RU 14 has the highest capacity of 471.90kg per hour and has the greatest percentage of short-size shredded material of 70.94 %.

This study, evaluates the process flow of nutrient from raw materials to compost to vermi fertilizer, and to assess the possibility of on-site organic fertilizer production technique. Four different types of weeds such as Cogon (Imperata cylindrica), Hantutuknaw (Melastoma malabaticum), Hagunoy (Chromolaena odorata) and Bugang (Saccharum spontaneum) were collected in the project site of Guinsangaan, Inopacan, Leyte. These were shredded (using the mobile Plant Power Shredder) and placed inside a 1 m × 1 m × 1 m black plastic screen (9 mesh per cm2). The materials were allowed to decompose simulating the field condition. A 3/7 parts of chicken manure, 3/7 parts of soil taken from the project area and 1/7 parts of the compost were mixed together inside the screen container (approx ½ m3 mixture). Three hundred grams of night crawler vermi were placed inside the container with the mixture. Each plastic screen was also placed inside the bin with silk screen (approx 200 mesh) bottom which were laid flat in the shaded and moist area. The temperatures inside the bin ranged from 23֯C to 30֯C which were conducive for the growth of the worms. The Night Crawler thrived and grew in the open field condition — the weight of the stocked worms increased by 3.33% to 16.67%. NPK contents of the vermicast from the different bedding materials were more or less similar, although initially, these were obviously different. Hagonoy composts which was abundant in the marginal uplands was 2.5% higher in N compared to Cogon, Bugang and Hantutuknaw.

This study looked into the social impacts of the cocotwine-coconet-making enterprise of the Panaon Island Farmers Federation, Inc. The study followed the constructivist research approach. Results showed that the enterprise had positive and negative impacts on PIFFI members, their families, PIFFI as an organization, their communities and their environment. Most impacts were positive, including acquisition of new knowledge and skills, improved economic productivity and income, changed values, built courage and confidence to take investment risk, molded financial discipline, strengthened family bond, reinforced community cohesion and improved the environment, among others. As a farmers’ organization, PIFFI demonstrated interest, capability and willingness to sacrifice to make its livelihood enterprise succeed. Smallholder coconut farmers organizations, like PIFFI, that demonstrate such characteristics deserve government assistance to enable them to optimize positive impacts of the livelihood enterprises that they are engaged in.