LABO PROGRESSIVE MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE

PROJECT PROPOSAL

I. BASIC INFORMATION

Project Title : Collaborative Project on Enhancing Fruit Quality of Queen

Pineapple in Camarines Norte

Study Title : Efficacy Test of Foliar Fertilizer on agronomic and Fruit yield Quality of
Queen Pineapple

Researchers : Inocencio Q. Obrero

Ray Joseph Valencia

Proponents : Labo Progressive Multipurpose Cooperative & Green Options

Funding Agency : TRIAS

Implementing Agency : Labo Progressive Multipurpose Cooperative

Collaborating Entity : Green Options (c/o Malou Mendoza)

Project Site : Province of Camarines Norte

Project Duration :

Start : July 2022

Completion : February 2024

Project Fund : PhP138,669.00

 II. RATIONALE

Queen Pineapple (Ananas comusus) is a high value crop of Bicol Region, especially for the

Province of Camarines Norte which has the biggest plantation of this variety in the Philippines. The crop

is usually grown by small scale farmers as intercrop to coconut and is a main source of income of most

farmers.

The Labo Progressive Multipurpose Cooperative (LPMPC) is a stakeholder of queen pineapple

industry as a processor of pineapple juice and consolidator of the machine decorticated pineapple

leaves fiber. This activity is giving farmers an opportunity to gain additional income from the small fruits

called “batterball or buraot” which is being used by LPMPC for juice processing. This size of fruits are

usually left by traders in the field after the good-sized fruits are harvested. Likewise, the leaves which

are usually has no value became an important source of livelihood for planters and farmworkers.

Meanwhile, the Integrated Pineapple Processing Project (IPP) of LPMPC demands for a

consistent supply of sweet fruits with a brix of no less than 14%. This is especially true for the pure juice

product. On the other hand, the ready-to-drink juice which uses sugar to improve its taste after adding

water will need less sugar, which is costly, when the fruits came in with high sugar content.

Sweetness of the pineapple fruits mainly depend on the technology being applied by the

farmers especially on the method of fertilization. Current field practice involve the use of commercial

inorganic fertilizers at low rate of application. Likewise, the double or triple increase in the cost of

fertilizers may result to further reduction in the rate of application which may compromise the quality or

sweetness of harvested fruits.

The use of soil applied organic fertilizer as a main source of plant nutrients was tested and

proved costly and was not able to produce the sweetness desired in pineapple fruits.

The use of plant-based foliar fertilizer has not been tried in research or production trial in

Camarines Norte. However, initial test in Batangas with Sea Crop foliar fertilizer produced by green
Options at Malou Mendoza’s Farm showed promising results in the sweetness of harvested fruits of

queen pineapple using said foliar fertilizer. The use of such foliar fertilizer needs further evaluation in

the queen pineapple of Camarines Norte, hence this proposal.

III. OBJECTIVES

A. General Objective : To develop a technology guide on the use of foliar fertilizer for the production

of queen pineapple.

B. Specific Objectives :

Specifically, the trial will determine the response of queen pineapple to the application of Sea

Crops foliar fertilizer in terms of the following:

1. Plant growth and quality of harvested fruits

2. Size of harvestable leaves for fiber decortication.

3. Production of suckers for planting materials

4. Economic performance

IV. METHODOLOGY

A. Experimental Site

The trial will be established in any of the pineapple growing municipality of Camarines Norte.

A level or nearly level coconut area (100 trees per hectare, square planting) or open-upland area

will be selected. For data stability and accuracy of result, the trial will be established in two (2)

sites. If possible, one trial will be conducted in the area where an agricultural cooperative with a

pineapple value chain with LPMPC is located. The experiment will need an 8.5 meters width and

15 meters length (127 square meters) area. A total of 12 plots measuring 1.8 m x 3.3 m size will
 be allocated for the experiment. A 1.5 meters alleyways will be allotted between plots and

replications plus 1.5 meters perimeter in all sides for guard rows.

B. Experimental Design

The trial will be established in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCB) with three replications.

C. Experimental Treatments

Treatment 1. Farmers Practice

Treatment 2. GAP Recommended Practice

Treatment 3. Full Foliar Fertilizer Recommendation

Treatment 4. ½ GAP Recommendation, ½ Foliar Fertilizer Recommendation

D. Description of Treatments

Treatment 1. Farmers practice of applying fertilizer will be used. This is done in two-split

application of inorganic fertilizer. First application will be 10 grams of complete fertilizer (14-14-

14) at 2 months after planting and second application will be on the 6 months after planting

using 10 grams urea (46-0-0). Will serve as control.

Treatment 2. Rate and frequency of fertilizer application will follow the Good Agricultural

Practice (GAP) being promoted by LPMPC. Soil analysis results will serve as basis

for the rate of fertilizer to be applied to the crop using inorganic commercial

fertilizers. Foliar application of boron at 6 months after planting and at red bud

stage will be incorporated as source of trace elements.

Treatment 3. Foliar fertilizer will be the only source of plant nutrient for the crop following the

Manufacturer’s rate and frequency of application. Foliar application will

commence on the first month after planting up to 3 and a half months after flower

induction the interval of 15 days per application using high volume spraying (25

sprayer load per hectare or 400 liters/ha).

 Treatment 4. One half of the recommended rate of fertilizer for GAP practice will be applied at

the recommended time of application. In addition, one half of the foliar fertilizer

recommendation will be applied at 30 days interval.

E. Land Preparation

Clearing and removal of weeds and debris will be done on the experimental site. No burning

of debris will be implemented. Soil samples for analysis will be gathered prior to tillage. Tractor

plowing and harrowing with two passing will serve as tillage.

F. Planting Materials

Aerial suckers of queen pineapple, medium sized, sorted to average size or length will be

used as planting materials. Seedling dip of plant base on pesticide will be done for control and

GAP treatments to prevent spread of pests. Seedling dip will also be done for T3 and T4 using the

foliar fertilizer which is also claimed to control pest on plants and soil. Curing by exposing the

base of the seedlings to direct sunlight for two days will be done to prevent the early attack of

fungal disease on newly planted crop. If possible, the planting materials will be dip in fungicide

and insecticide solution to prevent spread of pest and diseases in the newly established crop.

G. Planting

Double row method of planting will be used at 80 cm between double rows, 50 cm within

double rows and 30 cm between hills. The experiment will use two double rows per plot with 12

plants per row or 48 plants per plot, a total of 576 plants per experiment. Guard rows will be

planted at the head, back and sides of the experiment using 126 planting materials for a total of

702 planting materials for one trial. Two sites will require 1,404 planting materials.

Field planting will be done with the help of a round-end bolo at the depth of 5-8 cm.
H. Weed Control

Diuron will be used as a pre-emergence weed control applied within 10 days after planting.

Herbicide-resistant weeds will be removed by handweeding. A second application of another

herbice recommended by Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) maybe used when needed.

Succeeding weed growth will be controlled by mechanical or handweeding methods.

I. Fertilization

Fertilizer application will follow the rate and time specified for each treatments.

J. Pest and Disease Control

Prevention of the infestation of mealy bugs as the most prevalent and destructive pest of

pineapple will be implemented by spraying FPA recommended insecticide at two months after

planting and will be repeated when needed.

For fungal diseases, prevention will be done by spraying fungicide at 6 month after planting.

Succeeding application may be done when needed.

K. Flower Induction

The crop will be initiated to flower at 10 months after planting using ethephon at the

recommended rate and time of application.

L. Fruit Enhancer and Fruit Ripener

No fruit enhancer (GA3) and forced ripening chemical will be applied on the crop.

M. Harvesting

The crop will be harvested at maturity index of 1 or one line of eye at the base of the fruits

showing a tinge of yellow.

N. Data gathering
 Agronomic observation will be conducted 6 months after planting and at 10 months prior to

flower forcing activities. Ten sample plants inside the plot will be designated as source of data.

The following data will be recorded:

1. Plant height

2. Number of leaves

3. Length and width of leaves

4. Root development test will be done before flower induction.

Fruit characteristic, recording the following:

1. Weight

2. Length

3. Circumference (top, middle, bottom)

4. Size of crown (weight and length)

5. Fruit size distribution

6. Fruit sugar

Harvestable leaves for decortication, immediately after fruit harvest (average of 10 Plants

per plot)

1. Number per plant

2. Weight per plant

3. Length and width

Sucker Production at 3 months after fruit harvest (10 plants/plot)

1. Total number of suckers per plant

2. Number of plantable suckers

3. Size of plantable suckers (weight and length)

 O. Materials and equipment for measurement

1. Refractometer for sugar test (c/o LPMPC)

2. Logbook for data recording, 50 pages

3. Meter stick for measurement of plant height and length of leaves

4. Caliper for measurement of fruit diameter

P. Reporting

1. Monthly Progress Report – Submitted within 5 working days of the following month.

2. Terminal report – Submitted within two months at the end of the project to include

Manuscript of research results and recommendation.

3. Quarterly monitoring meeting

4. End of Project meeting on initial results discussion

5. Final meeting on project results and closing

V. BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS

A. Material Cost

 Pineapple planting materials , 1,404 pcs x 1.50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PhP 2,106.00

aerial suckers, selected, bundled, delivered to planting sites
 Herbicide, Diuron, 1 box x 720 ............................... 720.00
 Herbicide, Onecide, 1 pint x 550 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 550.00
 Fungicide, Dithane, ½ kg x 250 .............................. . 250.00
 Insecticide, Lorsban, 1 pint x 575 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575.00
 Micronutrient, Borax, 1 kg x 120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120.00
 Fertilizers:
16-20-0, 10 kgs x 52.80 ............................... 528.00
0-0-60, 10 kgs x 48.60 ............................... 486.00
46-0-0 20 kgs x 72.40 ............................... 1,448.00
 Rodenticides, Racumin, 6 sachets x 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210.00
 Rice baits, 2kg x 38 ............................... 76.00
 Flower Inducer, Ethrel 480, 1 bottle x 700 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 700.00
 Foliar Fertilizer, Sea Crops (Counterpart of Green Options)
Sub-total for material cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . ..PhP7,769.00
B. Labor Cost
Field Management Cost
 Clearing of weeds of experimental site, 2md/site x 400 = 800 x 2 = . . . . . 1,600.00
 Tractor Hire for tillage (Counterpart of LPMPC)
 Lay-outing, 1 mdx 400 .............................. 400.00
 Seedling treatment/dipping, 1 md x 400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 400.00
 Planting 1,404 x 30cent/pc ............................... 421.00
 Herbicide application, 2 x per site x 400 = 800 x 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,600.00
 Fungicide application, 2 x per site x 400 = 800 x 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,600.00
 Handweeding, 6 x/site x 500 = 3,000 x 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000.00
 Fertilizer Application
T3- 30 x .5 md x 400 = 6,000 x 2 ............................... 12,000.00
T2 4 x .5 md x 400 = 800 x 2 ............................... 1,600.00
T4 4 x .5 md x 400 = 800 x 2=1,600 + (15x.5= 7.5 x400 =3,000) . . . . . . . . . . 4,600.00
 Spraying of Borax – 1 md x 400 .............................. 400.00
 Flower Induction – 1 md x 400 .............................. 400.00
Sub-total for field labor cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PhP31,021.00

C. Research Management/monitoring/Data gathering cost

Research aide (on call)

 Plant stand data gathering at 6MAP – 1 md x 400 x 2 .......... 800.00
 Plant stand data gathering at 10 MAP – 1 md x 400 x 2 ...... 800.00
 Fruit sampling and measurement – 2 md x 400 = 800 x 2 ...... 1,600.00
 Leaf sampling and measurement - 2 md x 400 = 800 x 2 ...... 1,600.00
 Sucker development test 2 md x 400 = 800 ...... 800.00
Research Technical Monitoring fee PhP4,000/month x 18 months PhP72,000.00
(Activities to include supervision of field activities, monitoring for pest and
Diseases, data gathering and recording, data tabulation, analysis and
Interpretation, report writing)
Transportation cost (2 visits/week per site, PhP500/month x 16 months 8,000.00

Sub-total for research management cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PhP85,600.00

D. Research materials and equipment

1. Refractometer (PhP 35,000 c/o LPMPC)
2. Soil test kit (use DA facility)
3. Logbook – 50 pages 100.00
4. Caliper 500.00
5. Meter stick
6. Bamboo sticks for lay outing, 200 pcs x 3 600.00

7. Plot sign markers, flat sheet (12 x 24 cm) painted with plot numbers mounted on
 Bamboo pole – 24 pcs x Php 50 1,200.00

Subtotal for research materials and equipment PhP 2,400.00

Total material and labor cost PhP118,790.00

E. Contingency/Miscellaneous cost (10% of total labor & material cost) PhP11,879.00

TOTAL STUDY COST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . PhP138,669.00