Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 3 • Living Soil, Integrated Soil Nutrient and Crop Managements
methodology
• Field walks, hands-on, and brainstorming
steps
1. Divide participants in small groups and ask them to conduct field walks and observe organicallygrown
vegetables from seeds inoculated or seedling dipped or drenched with microbial-based
fertilizers in learning and adjoining fields. Take note of other cultural practices employed.
Interview other farmers, if necessary. List down all observations related to:
5 Kind of crops planted and crop stand;
5 Kinds of microbial-based (e.g., Mykovam, Mycogroe, MRI, and Bio-N) and other (e.g.,
organic foliar sprays, organic solid fertilizers, and others) organic fertilizers used;
5 Time (e.g., days after planting) and rate (e.g., L/kg/bags per ha) of organic fertilizers used;
5 Methods (e.g., dipping, drenching, broadcasting, side-dressing, foliar spraying) of application
and placement (e.g., seed-inoculated, root-dipped or drenched, soil-incorporated, topdressed,
sprayed) of organic fertilizers; and
5 Other cultural management practices.
2. Go back to processing area; brainstorm in small groups and present output to big group. Conduct
participatory discussion to allow sharing of experiences among participants and facilitators.
Motivate farmers to share their best experiences in using microbial-based fertilizers as plant
nutrient supplement for organic solid fertilizers in organic vegetable production.
3. Develop an improved procedure of using microbial-based fertilizers as plant nutrient supplement
for organic solid fertilizers in organic vegetable production.
4. Facilitate each farmer in using microbial-based fertilizers as plant nutrient supplement for
organic solid fertilizers by improving the procedure below:
5 Divide big group into 5 small groups and assign each group to conduct field test on efficacy
of microbial-based fertilizers;
5 Each group will have sample plots at border of learning field to test microbial-based
fertilizers as their side studies;
5 Sample plot will be divided equally into two sub-plots; first sub-plot will be treated only
with compost material, while the other sub-plot will be treated with compost material plus
the assigned microbial-based fertilizers;
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