Written by the Web Team

 

The researchers of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) demonstrated anew during the 63rd Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers` (PSAE) Annual National Convention that they are among the best in the country.

During the PSAE convention, which was held simultaneously with the 24th Agricultural Engineering Week at Cagayan State University, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, nine PhilRice studies won in the technical paper and poster competitions.

The studies that garnered awards were the Agronomic and yield response of rice-based hybrid corn with emphasis on different soil moisture regimes and Optimized use of water from a windpump for high-value crops through a drip irrigation system, which took the highest spots in the best technical paper competition under the irrigation, soil, and water conservation category.

Conducted by Noel D. Ganotisi and Moises G. Galera, the study titled, Agronomic and yield response of rice-based hybrid corn with emphasis on different soil moisture regimes, showed that water availability needed by plants significantly affects height, yield, cob length, cob diameter, and water productivity.

Irrigating plants when the available soil moisture is at 95 percent and above registered the highest gross income of P25,476 per hectare. Plants irrigated when the available soil moisture dropped to 20-30 percent produced negative income while farmers practice yielded P5,010.

Meanwhile, the study Optimized use of water from a windpump for high-value crops through a drip irrigation system found that the investment for the windpump-drip irrigation system would be feasible only for high-value crops. Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Helen F. Gavino, and Manuel Jose C. Regalado were the authors.

In the poster paper competition, Optimized use of water from a windpump for high-value crops through a drip irrigation system, Sub-surface water run-off harvesting, and Agronomic and yield response of rice-based hybrid corn with emphasis on different soil moisture regimes won the three top places in the irrigation, soil, and water conservation category.

Moreover, Adaptation of the Vietnamese reversible airflow flatbed dyer in the Philippines and Effects of various conditions during postharvest operations on the loss of aroma in rice placed first and second, respectively in the agricultural processing and structure category.

For the agricultural waste utilization category, Biochar production with heat recovery: Challenges and prospect for climate smart agriculture and Continuous flow rice hull gasifier: Heat source alternative for mechanical drying of palay landed the first and second spots, respectively.

The winning entries and authors in the poster competition were the following:
•    Sub-surface water run-off harvesting by Reynaldo C. Castro, Hazel James P. Agngarayngay, Rose Anne A. Rarangol, and Fernando D. Jose. The study found that the sub-surface run-off of the Quiaoit Ricer has high potential in sustaining water requirements even during the dry months.
•    Effects of various conditions during postharvest operations on the loss of aroma in rice; Mary Ann U. Baradi and Arnold R. Elepaño. It studied the effects of conditions during drying, storage, and milling on the aroma level and concentrations of the principal aroma compound of the Philippine Aromatic rice. The study showed that the aroma levels of milled rice were higher than the brown rice samples.
•    Adaptation of the Vietnamese reversible airflow flatbed dyer in the Philippines; Caesar Joventino M. Tado, Dexter P. Ona, Eden C. Gagelonia, Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Le Quang Vinh and John Eric Abon. The study was conducted to compare the reversible airflow flatbed with the conventional flatbed dryer. Results show that both dryers could be promoted on a large scale as the drying cost using the reversible airflow and conventional flatbed dryers have payback periods of 2.5 years and 1.7 years, respectively.
•    Biochar production with heat recovery: Challenges and prospect for climate smart agriculture; Richardo F. Orge and John Eric O. Abon. The study aimed to further enhance the system of producing biochar from the PhilRice-developed continuous-type rice hull  carbonizer that operates by natural draft. Results show that the carbonizer can potentially be used as furnace for mechanical dryers. The equipment can also be used to dry food and herbal products, in heating poultry houses, and for high volume cooking.
•    Continuous flow rice hull gasifier: Heat source alternative for mechanical drying of palay; Joel A. Ramos, Manuel Jose C. Regalado, and Alexis T. Belonio. Recent trials of the gasifier showed the machine’s adequacy to provide the heating requirements for a six-ton capacity drier. With minor refinements, the gasifier can be a potential heat source alternative for mechanical paddy drying operation.

With their winning, PhilRice engineers said the studies will benefit rice farmers when applied on the field.

Thanks for rating this! Now tell the world how you feel - .
How does this post make you feel?
  • Excited
  • Fascinated
  • Amused
  • Bored
  • Sad
  • Angry

Leave a Reply


Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is a government corporate entity attached to the Department of Agriculture created through Executive Order 1061 on 5 November 1985 (as amended) to help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.

Learn More

Philippine Rice Research Institute