In a time where almost everyone is concerned about climate change and the survivval of our species, innovative farming offers a viable option. Lately, sustainable farming made some headlines after scientific researchers discovered a unique connection between organic farming and carbon storage in soil, according to an article posted on Phys.org.

The report said that as more polluting carbon ends up in the atmosphere and global temperatures continue to rise, scientists will be more hard-pressed to find ways to increase carbon absorption. This will help eventually decrease the carbon in the atmosphere, creating a healthier planet for everyone.

Researchers at Kansas State University have been studying how different farming practices impact the amount of carbon stored in the soil. After comparing their results, the researchers concluded that soil treated with manure or compost fertilizer stores more carbon than soil treated with chemical fertilizers or no fertilizer.

While previous studies on soil carbon capture have also found organic farming techniques increase carbon capture in soil, the researchers at KSU discovered something else: how the carbon gets avctually stored in the soil.

According to their findings, the carbon is preserved in pores, and some of that carbon attaches to minerals in the soil. Ultrabright synchrotron light — a type of light that is more intense and brighter than an X-ray — enabled the researchers to see how the carbon connects to the soil particles.

KSU researchers used the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan and the Advanced Light Source in Berkeley, California, to analyze soil from a Kansas cornfield that had been farmed with no tilling and only manure/compost fertilizer for the past 22 years.

Published in the Soil Science Society of America Journal, the study emphasizes the various benefits of sustainable farming. It highlights how organic compost and manure not only support the health of the soil but also directly fight rising global temperatures through carbon sequestration.

"Collectively, studies like this are going to help us to move forward to more sustainable, more regenerative agriculture practices that will protect our soils and environment as well as help feed growing populations," KSU professor of soil and environmental chemistry Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi said, according to Rowan Hollinger of Canadian Light Source.

"As well, understanding the role of the different minerals, chemicals, and microbes involved will help improve models for predicting how different farming practices affect soil carbon storage," Hettiarachchi added.

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The contents of this article tries to explain in detail what was mentioned in the previous post entitled, "Cassava Farming". It was based on a set of field guides prepared by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to increase the technical knowledge of extension agents and enhance the integration of plant protection and plant production practices in farmers' efforts to grow a healthy crop of cassava.

Cassava grows best in areas with deep and well-drained loamy soils, adequate rainfall, and warm and moist climatic conditions. The factors which guide you to determine if an area will be suitable for growing cassava include vegetation cover, soil texture and fertility, topography of land, and the field history of the area.

Look for an area with thick vegetation cover: Sites with dense vegetation cover are likely to have fertile soils. The dense vegetation shades the soil from direct sunlight, reduces the amount of moisture that is lost from the soil through evaporation, and minimizes run-off water which may otherwise cause soil erosion.

The dense vegetation also drops a lot of leaves which rot and add nutrients to the soil. In addition, decaying leaves encourage an increase in the number of earthworms and other small invertebrates in the soil, which in turn help to increase the air in the soil and make it better for growing cassava.

Look for an area with good soil texture: The best soil for growing cassava is deep, loamy soil. Such soils are rich in nutrients, low in gravel, hold water well, and are easy to work or till. The way to tell if the soil is loamy is to moisten a small amount of it and try to shape it into a ball (Figure 4). If you press the ball and it falls apart, then your soil is loamy. If it feels gritty and you are not able to shape the moistened soil into a ball, then the soil is sandy. If you shape the soil into a ball, and the soil does not fall apart when pressed, then the soil contains a lot of clay and is a clayey soil. Sandy and clayey soils are not the most suitable soils for growing cassava.

Look for an area with fertile soil: Fertile soils usually have a dark color, for example, dark red or dark brown. The dark color shows that the soil has a lot of organic matter. If the soil looks gray and sometimes contains green or blue spots, it means that there is poor drainage and waterlogging. Do not grow cassava on soils that get waterlogged.

Look for an area with flat or gently sloping land: The best farmland for cassava is flat or gently sloping. Steep slopes are easily eroded and are therefore not very good areas for growing cassava. Valleys and depression areas are also not very suitable because they usually get waterlogged and do not allow cassava roots to develop well. You may, however, plant early maturing cassava varieties on mounds or ridges in inland valleys during the dry season.

Know the history of the site: Information such as how the land was previously used, and the types of weeds, diseases, and pests in the area, can help you in selecting a site for your cassava farm. Such information can help you to avoid a site with problems or make good plans for plant protection.

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Many cassava farmers in the Philippines seem to be complaining about the low demand and price of their products, which is one of the reasons why many believed there is a declining stock of food and cash crops in the country. These farmers are also of the opinion that there are not enough buyers for cassava tubers, even if they produce the crop in large quantity.

However, unknown to these farmers, San Miguel Foods, Inc. (SMFI) FEEDS Agribusiness Development and Operations Group is developing a sustainable sourcing program of its agri-based raw materials requirements which for now calls for the mobilization of at least one (1) million hectares of farm lands in the Philippines.

SMC is showing its commitment to help develop the countryside by providing livelihood opportunities in rural communities with the introduction of alternative crops and the improvement of farm technologies and income. They are interested in developing partnerships for the domestic production of cassava, sorghum, sweet potato and other crops for our feed mill facilities nationwide.

For their flagship cassava program, SMFI Agribusiness provides:

• Guaranteed market with a marketing agreement according to mutually agreed product quality, volume and delivery schedule;
• Guaranteed floor price;
• Start-up technical assistance in production, post-harvest and logistic operations.

SMFI Agribusiness is looking for assemblers/consolidators with the following characteristics:

• Persons who are already into or willing to go into large-scale cassava production;
• Can provide technical and financial assistance to their farmer proponents;
• Has post-harvest facility and preferably with access to logistics services;
• Can consolidate volumes from farmers and ensure delivery to SMFI.

An assembler can be an individual entrepreneur, a corporation or farmers’ cooperative that has the capacity to consolidate at least 20 hectares for cassava production.

Guidelines for SMFI Cassava Contract Growing

Preliminary Requirements

• Letter of Intent to join the program;
• Photocopy of Certificate of Ownership/Lease of Authority from DAR/DENR or other concerned government agencies (TCT/CLOA/CFSA/Lease Agreement) ;
• Photocopy of Certificate of Security and Exchange Commission Registration/CDA or DTI Registration/Board Resolution (authority to negotiate) for corporations and cooperatives;
• Property vicinity map;
• Suitability of site (subject to inspection by an SMC representative)
  
  
  • Topography;
  • Soil Classification;
  • Farm to Market road accessibility;
  • Effective arable area

Requirements per Contract

• Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
  
  
  • Effective arable area of at least 20 hectares;
  • Area Development Plan for three (3) years

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This guide was based on the booklet developed by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to increase the technical knowledge of the public and enhance the integration of plant protection and plant production practices in farmers’ efforts to grow a healthy crop of cassava. The booklet was based on the extension and farmer training experience of the regional project "Ecologically Sustainable Cassava Plant Protection" (ESCaPP), 1993 – 1997.

According to the booklet, cassava is one of the most common food crops grown and consumed in many parts of Africa and even in Asia. The crop grows well in various soil types and ecologies. It can be planted alone or in association with many other crops, like maize, groundnuts, vegetables, and rice.

Growing cassava is not very labor intensive and usually requires 75–125 person-days per hectare from land preparation to harvesting. The storage roots can be harvested 9–18 months after planting. Under traditional farming practices, one can expect between 8 and 15 tons of storage roots per hectare of land planted only with cassava. Even under harsh environmental conditions cassava will provide some food when other crops fail. In most places there is a good market for cassava. The storage roots can be processed into various food products, and starch for domestic consumption, local, and/or export markets.

Cassava leaves are nutritious vegetables. The leaves and storage roots can also be used as animal feed. The stems can be sold as planting material. In order to grow a healthy crop of cassava the farmer will need to combine plant production and plant protection practices. These include site selection, soil improvement, variety and planting material selection, and planting and post-planting measures against weeds, pests, and diseases.

How to select a good site for planting cassava?

Cassava grows best in areas with deep and well-drained loamy soils, adequate rainfall, and warm and moist climatic conditions. The factors which can guide the farmer in determining if an area will be suitable for growing cassava include the following:

• An area with thick vegetation cover
• An area with good soil texture
• An area with fertile soil
• An area with flat or gently sloping land
• The history of the site

How to improve the soil for planting cassava?

If a farmer does not select a good site for growing cassava they may have to spend a lot of time and materials to improve the soil. Cassava plants on good soils grow vigorously and are able to withstand some damage by pests and diseases. The following are examples of cultural practices farmers can use to improve soil properties:

• Manure the farm
• Prepare suitable seedbeds
• Mulch cassava seedbeds
• Plant cassava in association with other crops

How to select the best cassava varieties to plant?

The best cassava varieties are those that are liked by consumers, grow fast, give good yields, store well in the soil and are tolerant to major pests, and diseases. The particular variety chosen by a farmer depends on her/his objectives for planting the crop, and the factors looked for in selecting cassava varieties usually include the following:

• Varieties with high dry matter and good food quality
• Varieties with good mealiness or cooking ability
• Varieties that bulk early
• Varieties with good ground storability
• Varieties that are tolerant to weeds, pests, and diseases

How to select healthy cassava stem cuttings?

The most common sources of cassava stem planting material are farmers’ own farms. Occasionally, cassava stem cuttings are sold at village and town markets. Researchers and extension agents sometimes provide their contact farmers with cassava stem cuttings. Many cassava pests and diseases are stem-borne and spread by distribution, sale, and planting of infested or diseased stem cuttings. By planting healthy stem cuttings, a farmer can greatly reduce the spread and damage caused by these cassava pests and diseases. The following guidelines will assist the farmer avoid unhealthy stem cuttings and to select healthy planting material for a healthy crop of cassava:

• Look for healthy cassava plants (i.e. robust stems, lush foliage)
• Avoid plants with pests and diseases
  
  
  1. cassava mealybug
  2. cassava green mite
  3. spiraling whitefly
  4. white scale insect
  5. cassava mosaic disease
  6. cassava bacterial blight
  7. cassava anthracnose disease
  8. cassava bud necrosis

How to best plant cassava?

The important factors to consider when planting cassava are time of year, land tillage methods, seedbed type and preparation, and preparation, handling, and planting mode of stem cuttings.

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