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CHAPTER III

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This chapter includes the materials and tools used in the study and the method

utilized from the land preparation up to the gathering of data.

Materials, Tools and Supplies

The materials and tools used in this study was the following; a carabao drawn

plow used in the plowing area and a harrow to pulverized the soil. A meter stick, string,

bolo, marking pen, blunt bolo and nails was also used in the field layout. Three kilos of

glutinous corn seeds, bodega farm, V4 and vermicompost organic fertilizers, fungicide

and insecticide was used in the study.

Land Preparation

The experimental area was cleared of weed prior to planting. The field was

plowed twice in one week interval to allow the weed seeds to germinate and the residues

to rot. Harrowing was done twice every after plowing to pulverize and level the soil.

Farrows was set at 75 cm apart.

Experimental Design and Field Layout

The experimental area of 315m² was laid out using the Factorial Randomized

Complete Block Design (FRCBD). The area was divided into four (4) blocks and each

block have nine (9) treatment combinations replicated three (3) times making a total of 36

experimental units. The distance between block is 1 meter and 0.5 meter alley was
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provided between treatments. Each treatment was having a dimension of 6 m² and each

plant was set 25 cm between hills and 75 cm between farrows.

Table3. Treatment Combination

_______________________________________________________________________
Factor A Factor B
Different Organic Fertilizers Levels Of Application
X Y Z
(2.5) tons (5 tons) (7.5tons)

A-Bodega Farm AX AY AZ
B-V4 organic fertilizer BX BY BZ
C-Vermicompost CX CY CZ
________________________________________________________________________

BLOCK II BLOCK III

AX BZ BX CY BZ BX

CY
BLOCK I CZ AY AZ
BLOCK AX
IV BY 10M

AZ CX BY CZ CX AY
0.5M
7M 21 M
1M

AX BZ CX 3M
AX CY BZ
1M 2M
BY CZ AY AZ BY BX
15M

AZ BX CY CX 315 mCZ
2 AY
TOTAL AREA:

Figure1. Field layout of plot

Legend:
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Factor A – Different Organic fertilizer Factor B- Levels of applications

A- Bodega Farm X-2.5 tons

B- V-4 organic fertilizer Y-5 tons
C- Vermicompost Z-7.5 tons

X X X X

X 0 0 X

X 0 0 X

X 0 0 X
1.5 M

X 0 0 X

X 0 0 X

X 0 0 X

X X X X

1.5 M

Figure 2. harvest area 2.25m2

Legend:
x-border plant 0-sample plant

Distance of planting -75x25cm No. of hill/harvest- 12 hills No. of hill/treatment -32

Fertilizer Application
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The researcher was applied the organic fertilizers basally. The different levels of

organic fertilizer was applied basally one week before planting. This was done by placing

the organic fertilizer at the hole in every hill. Before planting, apply the fertilizer evenly

at each furrow and cover it with soil that has a depth of 2-3cm to prevent the seeds from

touching the fertilizer. The quantity of fertilizer was used depends on the recommended

rate of fertilizer use.

TABLE 4. Computed amount of organic fertilizers applied at various levels.

TREATMENT KG/TREATMENT KG/ BLOCK G/PLANT

X-2.5 tons 1.500kg 4.500 kg 46.875 g
Y-5 tons 3.000 kg 9.000 kg 93.750 g
Z-7.5 tons 4.500 kg 13.500 kg 140.625 g

Seed treatment

The seed of the glutinous corn varieties was soaked in two and half hour

separately in effective microorganism (EM-1) microbial inoculant diluted solution at the

rate of 1:100 (1 litre to 100 litre of non-chlorinated water) until enlarged. This was hasten

the germination and prevent the development of soil borne disease like damping-off.

Furthermore, soaking seeds before planting speeds up germination by stirring up

the process of the dormant baby plant inside the seed’s hull coming to life. If you think

about it, seeds are designed to withstand all that nature can throw at it wind, cold, heat,

animals, etc. Because of this, they have some natural defences designed to keep them

intact until they meet the right soil, water and heat conditions to begin growing. In nature,

seeds get roughed up before they grow. In your garden, they’re relatively coddled

compared to their wild relatives.  Plus once they get covered by dirt, the soil wicks away
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some of the moisture needed to start the growing process. Pre-soaking your seeds gives

them all the water they need to get a jump start on life.

Planting

Planting was done with the distance 75 cm between rows and 25 cm between

hills, sowing one seed per hill with the depth of 2 cm. Seed was covered thinly with soil.

The area of 315 sq. m. contents 1,152 corn plants in the area. Planting no deeper than one

inch is most prescribed later plantings 1 to 2 inches plant more deeply on lighter soils.

Watering

Water was necessary for the growth and development of the plant. If the soil is

not enough, watering was done to obtain soil moisture up to 5 cm depth. This was done

7-10 days interval and at 2-5 days before fertilization. Watering of the crop when there is

no rain early in the morning was done using a sprinkler. Irrigate the land on the

designated dates of irrigation if needed especially during the dry season. The

recommended schedule of irrigation is: 0-3 days, 13-15 days, 30-35 days, 45-55 days and

65-80 days after planting.

Care and Maintenance of Plant

The area was kept from weeds. Surviving weeds was hand pulled. Spraying of

bio-pesticides such as halt and bio-fungicide such as afla-guard was done as preventive

measure. On the other hand if there is a sign of rat infestation, baits with rodenticide was

immediately distributed. A soil applied insecticide and fungicide was used at planting to
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control insects such as corn rootworm larvae, white grubs, cutworms, wireworms and

seed corn maggots. Sanitation of whole was maintained.

Crop Protection

Spraying of bio- pesticides such as Halt was used to prevent the attack of

lepidopterous pests. Meanwhile spraying of bio- fungicide was done to maintain diseases

infestation. The amount of bio-pesticides and fungicide is based on the manufactures

recommendations. Furthermore, regular monitoring was done for occurrence of insects

and diseases and proper pest control was employed to avoid reduction of yield and

quality of the harvest. Watch out for the Asiatic corn borer, the major insect pest

attacking corn which can tremendously reduce yield if left uncontrolled. Use pesticides

that are recommended for corn and follow the instructions on the label. Irrigation was

done when rainfall is minimal to attain high yield, particularly during the flowering stage.

Harvesting

Glutinous corn ears was harvested at 65 days after planting the sweet pearl

variety. Harvesting was done by snapping off the green cobs from the stalk of the corn

plant of every treatment. The harvested corn ear per harvest area was placed in a sack

with corresponding label. When the crop is intended for green corn market, frequent

monitoring was done to know when to harvest the green corn. Some waxy hybrids are

ready for green corn at 68-72 days after flowering or 2-3 weeks after flowering

depending on the weather condition and to the hybrid maturity itself.

On the other hand, when the crop is intended for grains cornick or chicharon

corn ears was harvested at the right time. Harvest the ears when the leaves and husks turn
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brown. Black layer formation to the grains is also a sign that that the crop is fully mature.

Harvest the ears, dehusk then dry them to about 8 to 20 percent moisture content before

shelling. Drying the corn ears before shelling is recommended to avoid

broken grains during mechanical shelling which was lead to poor grain quality and low

grain price. Dry the grains again until it has reached 14 percent moisture content. At that

time the grains are ready for storage or selling. Whole and clean grains are preferred by

waxy corn grain processors since this is intended for food and buyers was give higher

price.

Data Gathered

A. Growth Parameters

The plant height (cm). This was determined by measuring from the base of

sample plant to the leaf apex of the tallest leaf of the plant at the harvest area per

treatment and it was done at tasseling stage.

Average plant height (cm) = Total plant height of sample plant per treatment
No. of sample plant

B. The Yield Components

The weight of green corn ear. This was determined after harvesting. The

harvested corn ear was weighed using a triple beam balance.

Average weight of green corn ear = Total weight of sample ear/treatment

Number of sample ear
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The average yield (tons/ha). This was taken from the total harvest area.

This was determined by weighing all the harvested green corn ear from the harvest area

and converted to tons/ha.

Statistical Analysis

The data gathered was analyzed statistically using the Analysis of Variance

(ANOVA). The Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to determine the

significant difference between the means set at 5% and 1% levels of significance.