P2.2-Million Laboratory Equipment Turned Over to Isabela Farmers to Boost Soil Testing and BIO-N Production
Key Takeaways
- •The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 handed over P2.2 million worth of laboratory equipment to the Isabela provincial government on Wednesday to enhance soil analysis and BIO-N production at the provincial capitol's biolaboratory.
- •The upgraded facility is expected to generate up to 3,000 soil-based fertilizer recommendations each year, potentially benefiting around 3,000 farmers in the province.
- •Soil testing will measure nutrient levels and acidity before fertilizer is purchased, enabling farmers to apply only what their crops require and reduce unnecessary input expenses.
- •The laboratory will support the production and quality assurance of BIO-N, a microbial biofertilizer developed by University of the Philippines Los Baños researchers that uses nitrogen-fixing microorganisms to supplement synthetic nitrogen sources such as urea.
- •DA Region 2 Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino stressed that sustained laboratory operations are essential so farmers can continue accessing soil testing and fertilizer guidance amid rising agricultural production costs.
ILAGAN CITY, Isabela — Farmers in Isabela province are set to receive improved guidance on fertilizer use and soil management following the turnover of P2.2 million worth of laboratory equipment, an initiative aimed at improving soil health and helping them cope with rising farm input costs.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 2 handed over the equipment to the Isabela provincial government on Wednesday to strengthen soil analysis and BIO-N production at the biolaboratory of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, located at the Isabela provincial capitol.
The facility is expected to deliver up to 3,000 soil-based recommendations annually, potentially benefiting around 3,000 farmers. Through the expanded laboratory services, farmers will be able to identify their soil's nutrient requirements and receive guidance on fertilizer application, which could reduce the use of unnecessary inputs. Soil testing of this kind measures nutrient levels and acidity in a field before any fertilizer is bought, giving growers a basis for applying only what their crops actually need.
DA Region 2 Executive Director Rose Mary G. Aquino said the program also addresses concerns over the long-term use of chemical fertilizers, including granular products such as urea, amid rising agricultural production costs. She emphasized biofertilization, which she described as "feeding the soil," as a means of promoting healthier soils through beneficial microorganisms.
The laboratory will support the production and quality assurance of BIO-N, a microbial-based biofertilizer intended to improve soil health and complement conventional fertilizer use. Developed by researchers at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, BIO-N works through nitrogen-fixing microorganisms that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can absorb, giving farmers a domestically produced, biologically based supplement to synthetic nitrogen sources such as urea.
Ms. Aquino credited the Isabela provincial government for facilitating the equipment turnover and stressed the need to sustain laboratory operations so that farmers can continue to access soil testing and appropriate fertilizer recommendations. Whether the projected 3,000 annual recommendations materialize will hinge on that continuity, making sustained operations at the capitol-based biolaboratory a development worth monitoring.
The program aims to help Isabela farmers make informed decisions on soil management, use fertilizer more efficiently, and sustain crop production while keeping farm expenses under control.
— Artemio A. Dumlao
