Seed Production of Multipurpose Shrubs/Legumes
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2015-09-24 07:11 Updated: 2017-03-29 05:45
Compilers: Philippine Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies
Reviewers: Eduardo Alberto, Alexandra Gavilano
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Philippines
- Region/ State/ Province: Brgy. Elecia, La Libertad
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Negros Oriental
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
Seed production of multipurpose shrubs and legumes, a soil conservation practice in sloping areas wherein flemingia (Flemingia macrophylla) and Indigofera (Indigofera tinctoria) are densely planted along contours.
Detailed description of the Technology
Seed production of multipurpose shrubs/legumes is introduced through the Conservation Farming Village (CFV) project in Barangay Elecia, La Libertad, Negros Oriental. Flemingia and Indigofera in particular are drilled along contour lines and maintained until seeds are matured enough for harvesting. Flemengia is a leguminous perennial, deep rooting and leafy shrub with plant height ranging from 0.5 -2.5 m. Indigofera is also a perennial shrub with height of 0.4-1.3 m. The leaves and other plant parts of these shrubs are used as mulch, green manure, feeds for livestock while hard portions and branches are used as firewood. It is regarded as high drought resistant, staying green even during dry periods of 3-4 months. Seeds produced are sold to the local government of La Libertad for the CFV project expansion.
Purpose of the Technology: Seed production of forage legumes like Flemingia and Indigofera is practiced by farmers primarily to enrich the soil and supplement the seed requirement of expansion areas of the CFV project in the municipality. The technology improves ground cover and traps dispersed or concentrated run-off in sloping areas.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: In a hectare, contour establishment using an A-frame requires eight person-days while land preparation (i.e plowing and furrowing) requires at least 30 person-animal-days. Flemingia and Indigofera seeds are drilled along contours at rate of 24kg/ha and 8kg/ha, respectively. Weeding and hilling-up are done in 30 person-animal-day.
Harvesting of pods starts during the months of February, May and October. Meanwhile, Indigofera produces seeds three months after flowering which starts a year from planting. Matured pods are harvested twice a year by hand-picking then sun-dried for at least two days. Seeds are removed from pods manually.
Natural / human environment: The area is under a humid climate condition with an average annual rainfall of 1000-1500 mm per year and elevation ranging from 500-1000 m above sea level. Flemengia and Indigofera are grown by small scale farmers with a cropland size of 0.5-1 ha. Water supply for crop development mainly relies on the occurrence of rain. The area has a low access to services and infrastructure such as education, market, road and transport.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Brgy. Elecia, La Libertad, Negros Oriental
- 📷 Engr. Djolly Ma. P. Dinamling (Bureau of Soils and Water Management)
- 📍 Brgy. Elecia, La Libertad, Negros Oriental
- 📷 Engr. Djolly Ma. P. Dinamling (Bureau of Soils and Water Management)
- 📍 Brgy. Elecia, La lIbertad, Negros Oriental