No abstract

High-value crops were commodities that were planted in upland production areas and they were known as short-duration crops. On the other hand, if there is no basis for irrigation scheduling other than soil characteristics and plant reaction to low water consumption, results in losses. The main objectives of the study were to evaluate the depth of water for irrigation based on Atmometer reading, assess the growth and yield of organically grown eggplant, wax pepper, and tomato at a different level using drip irrigation water, and to evaluate the cost and economic returns of organically grown high-value crops. The study was conducted at BPSU Bangkal, Abucay, Bataan (N 14°46’ East 120°30’) with a total area of 240 m2 where the three crops were planted equally at three replications. The total rainfall depth at BPSU-AWS Station for October 2021 to November 2022 was 2614.6 mm during the two-season study period. There were three crops raised (eggplant, wax pepper, and tomato). The dripper irrigation system was used to supplement the irrigation water and foliar organic fertilizers. Supplemented water was d on the evapotranspiration loss. Three treatments were subjected for verification (T1 – Irrigate up to 80% of Atmometer reading, T2 - Irrigate up to 100% of Atmometer Reading, and T3 – Irrigate up to 120% of Atmometer. The eggplant of Treatment 1 had the best in terms of weight per fruit (106.0 grams), Treatment 2 was the tallest (74.5 cm), and Treatment 3 had the best harvest (458 pcs). Eggplant does not require enough water for production as long as supplemented even 30% of its evapotranspiration loss. Treatment 2 of Wax Pepper had 7.5 grams per fruit and also exhibited the most number of fruit harvested. Wax Pepper should be supplemented with 50% of its evapotranspiration loss. Treatment 2 of tomatoes had the most in terms of weight per fruit (50.1 grams), tallest among treatments (45.5 cm), and the most number of fruits harvested. Tomatoes should be supplemented with 50% of their evapotranspiration loss. Maximum crop production would attain when evapotranspiration loss should be supplemented at 50% to 100%. More than that was a loss.

There are factors affecting erosion such as climate, soil type, vegetation and topography. Upland areas are denuding exponentially due to the fact that those people looking for livelihood had little concern and awareness on environmental sustainability and management. Upland farming practices that are easy like weeding, pest control and fertilization were often carried out without soil erosion control and water management. The result of the study revealed that an area with intercropped permanent crops has less amount of soil eroded or tolerable annual soil loss. But the areas with short duration crops (cash crops) and which adopted the same cropping pattern from the previous season resulted to severe soil erosion. Calculated annual soil erosion are 3.33, 4.57, 23.18, 0.31 tons and zero erosion for Site 1, Site 2, Site 3, Site 4, and Site 5, respectively.