by Bea Elisha Apa-ap and Toni Krizia Vivares

The Bureau of Plant Industry Los Baños National Crop Research and Development Center (BPI-LBNCRDC) introduced the earthworm Eudrilus euginae or the African Night Crawler to students visiting their SyenSaya booth on September 10, 2014.

The visitors were mostly elementary and high school students who crowded at the booth of BPI-LBNCRDC to see and touch the earthworms encased in a small glass case as the exhibitors explained and gave out leaflets about vermiculture and vermicomposting. Vermiculture is the production of earthworms while the vermicomposting is the production of quality organic fertilizer through vermiculture.

Eugenia Buctuanon explained that vermicompost is a first-class fertitizer because it gives the soil higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Vermicompost also enhances the growth of plants and prolongs plantlife.

Buctuanon further explained that the technology of vermicomposting is environmental friendly and can be adopted by families in their homes to eliminate a huge bulk of household biogdegradable wastes.

Using the term “kaibigang bulate,” research assistant Melinda Mondenogo encouraged the children to hold the African night crawler while telling them that farm wastes are still helpful when converted to farm by-products like animal feed and organic fertilizer.

Bianca Looise Marie, 10, screamed when she was asked to hold the worm, but with Mondenogo’s encouragement, she enjoyed the feel of the animal on her hands.

Mondenego said, “Malamig [yung bulate], lalo na kapag gumagapang sa kamay kasi sa malamig din syang environment nag go grow. Minsan kasi natatakot ang mga bata kapag nakikita pa lang nila. So pinapaliwanag natin na ito ay kaibigang bulate, na hindi naman sila masama, at ginamit ito para sa organic farming.”

The earthworms are used in vermicomposting as organic fertilizer. “Iyan yung ginagamit sa vermocompo. Kasi, yung mga farm waste imbis na itapon na lang natin, maganda na gamitin na lang natin. Base sa results ng experiments natin mas marami yung nutrients ng soil kumpara sa inorganically fertilized,” she added.

Eggpplant, cabbage, cauliflower , tomato, onion, cucumber, pole, sitao, and okra exhibit outstanding growth because of this earthworm. Grasses and kakawete leaves fertilized by vermicompost contained nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, pH(7.20), magnesium, manganese, copper, and zink.

Mondenego said that this earthworm could be housed on a rectangular box with plastic sheet for a floor and placed in a shaded area. They can be fed sawdust which are said to be best in earthworm production. She also stressed that many farmers are already producing vermicompost. “Simula nung na generate ang technology, marami ng farmers ang gumagamit. Mabilis lang din silang i-produce.”

The starting capital is Php 500 for 1,000 pieces and Php 360 per wombin. 220 kilos of vermicompost and 30000 earthworms are produced in six months.

with reports from Therese Marie L. Quilnat

The Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB) of the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) showcases its scientific technologies on the second day of the annual science fair Syensaya with the theme “Los Baños Science Community: Supporting the Nation in Meeting Global Challenges.”

The IPB exhibit focused on corn grits, organic seeds, and hydroponics.

Corn grits or milled white corn is being promoted for mixing with or as an alternative to rice, according to Meg Grulla from IPB. Compared to white rice, corn grits are healthier and a better source of protein. It is also heavier in the stomach, making the consumers reach satiety faster, and also very cheap because a kilo of corn grits can be purchased for only 30 pesos at the IPB booth.

Organic seeds. exhibited by the IPB undergone open pollination, which is pollination by natural mechanisms, and were not cross-pollinated to ensure the preservation of desirable characteristics and traits, such as crop yield and quality of produce, across generations. Carefully packed seeds of okra, cucumber, white squash (upo), squash, and other vegetable seeds were sold for 40 pesos per pack.

Simple nutrient addition program (SNAP) of the IPB refers to hydroponics or soil-less farming which entails transferring a week-old plant to the nutrient-enriched hydroponics setup. Plants should be at least a week old to ensure germination and the nutrient-absorption capability of the roots.

The nutrient solution is made by mixing one cup each of SNAP A and SNAP B solution with ten liters of water. The solution has been formulated to provide all the nutrients the plant needs for proper growth, even in the absence of soil. This way of farming is proving to be beneficial and ideal for urban locations, where ample land area for planting is scarce.

For more information on IPB’s products, inquire at the IPB booth which is open until tomorrow September 12, 2014 from 8 am to 5 pm.

by Angelica P. Cenizal

The Computational Interdisciplinary Research Laboratories (Cinterlabs) of the Institute of Computer Science, University of the Philippines (UPLB) Los Baños participates in SyenSaya 2014  through an exhibit that showcases a 3D avatar-based virtual environment.

The project creates a virtual UPLB campus which can be used for a virtual campus tour. The application makes possible navigating through the buildings, feeling the environment, and having a glimpse of the university.

It can also be used as a virtual classroom. Students can create their own avatar and, as long as they are connected to the website or to the same network of the application, they can see other avatars as if in a classroom setup. They can also interact with one another through chat and voice, and do simple gestures such as raising their hands. The users are also allowed to upload files.

This project, however, is still in its beta phase. Not all buildings in the campus are ready for navigation yet, as the developers have only finished the buildings for the Main Library, Student Union, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), CAS Annexes 1 & 2, Institute of Physical Sciences, and Institute of Biological Sciences.

There’s no definite date on when this program will go live.