Tambayan ng Kaalaman Tungkol sa Pilipinas
Cementless Blocks
Due to the increasing cost of cement, the Forest Products and Industries Development Commission (FORPRIDECOM) conducted a research that will produce blocks from soil and water, or a combination of one or two different wastes or wood waste like rice hull, coconut coirdust or sawdust. The binder used is lime.
Lime can be found almost anywhere in the Philippines.
Biological pesticides
The use of commercial pesticides kills; not only the target insect pests, but also beneficial
insects like spider, grasshoppers and others. Besides this, it leaves residues in the plant
where it is sprayed, and is harmful to the person spraying. If inhaled, pesticide can cause
cancer in the long run.
Pesticides chemically prepared are expensive; we have plants that naturally repel harmful
insect at no cost, such as:
1. Wild pepper – dried and pulverized
– Spray on infected plants. When this becomes moist from dew, insect pests are repelled.
2. Combination of 3 pieces of garlic, 2 pieces pepper, and 2 piece onions grind and pulverize
these, soak overnight in water. By next morning, fill up the water to make 3 gallons. Strain and
spray on affected plants.
Application of Lime
Lime is mixed with the soil to enrich it with calcium and to lessen the soil’s acidity. The soil’s degree of acidity is determined through a soil chemical analysis.
Lime for farming is ground limestone, spread over the field before plowing.
The application of lime must be one month before the application of other fertilizers. This is because it is not good to mix lime with ammonia – it will cause nitrogen to disappear into air. If lime is mixed with phosphate, this will not dissolve and so will not be of any advantage to the
plant.