Simplified Keys to Soil Series – Nueva Ecija

Nueva Ecija iii

®

NUEVA ECIJA

SIMPLIFIED SOIL SERIES Keys to

iv Simplif ied Keys TO Soil Series

This project was funded by the Knowledge Management and Promotion Program (KMP) and Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture (OpAPA) of PhilRice®.

Philippine Rice Research InstituteCopyright © 2008

Nueva Ecija v

Table of Contents Foreword................................................. vii

The Simplified Keys to Soil Series.......... 1

Guide to Soil Series Identification........... 2

Soil Color Groups.................................... 5

Gray/Yellowish Gray......................... 6

Dark Grayish Brown......................... 9

Dark Yellowish Brown...................... 12

Soil Profile Pictures................................. 17

Soil Properties that affect crop growth.... 22

Soil Productivity....................................... 25

Crop Suitability Analysis.......................... 27

Soil Management Recommendations..... 31

Soil Taxonomic Classification.................. 41

Appendices..............................................49

Steps in Identifying Soil Series......... 50

Soil Sampling............................. 50

Color Determination................... 51

Texture Determination................ 52

pH Determination....................... 53

The PalayCheck System.................. 54

References.............................................. 56

vi Simplif ied Keys TO Soil Series

Nueva Ecija vii

Foreword

This guidebook on “Simplified Keys to Soil Series Identification” was developed to make the field identification of soils easier.

Soil identification is an important component in rice farming. When the soil is properly analyzed and identified, the risks of incompatible management recommendations will be lessened and selection of knowledge and technologies to apply will be efficient. And that is why we have this Simplified Keys to Soil Series for Nueva Ecija.

This is a good guide for effective nutrient management, which is one of the components of the PalayCheck System, a dynamic rice crop management system that presents easy-to-follow practices to achieve respective Key Checks and improve crop yield and input use efficiency.

The guidebook features the different color, texture, pH, coarse fragments, and mottles of the most common soils in Nueva Ecija and contains four simple steps in identifying the soil series right in the field. We also included the soil productivity index, soil properties that affect crop growth, soil taxonomic classification, crop suitability analysis, and soil management recommendations.

viii Simplif ied Keys TO Soil Series

The concept of simplified keys to soil series was first used in Thailand. In the Philippines, the project “Simplification of the Philippine Soil Series for Rice and Corn” started in 2005 under the Nutrient Management Support System (NuMaSS) to provide management recommendations for soils identified in the field.

We thank the farmers, agricultural technologists, and municipal and provincial agricultural officers for helping us validate the soil series, and for their comments and suggestions during the pre-evaluation of this guidebook. We also acknowledge the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) for providing the secondary data of the soils.

We hope that this publication can help you identify suitable crops in your area, learn the limitations of your soils for crop production, and subsequently know the corresponding management recommendations.

LEOCADIO S. SEBASTIAN PhilRice Executive Director

Nueva Ecija 1

The Simplified Keys to Soil Series

“Simplified Keys to Soil Series” is a tool/guide in identifying soil series in the field following simple steps, for the use of researchers, agricultural technologists, extension workers, farmers, and other stakeholders of the rice industry. Using this guidebook, identification of soils will be more accurate, thus, reducing the risks of incompatible management and technology recommendations. Transfer of technology will also be made more easy and efficient.

This guidebook is easy-to-use. It involves only five basic soil properties (color, texture, pH, coarse fragments, and mottles) at 30-50cm soil depth and four simple steps in identifying the soil series right in the field. Once the soil is identified, suitable crops can be selected, and crop productivity ratings, soil properties that limit production, and soil management recommendations can be determined. Since same soil series behave similarly, the soil management technology in one area can be applied in other areas with the same soil identity.

Ten soil series found in Nueva Ecija (Annam, Bantog, Maligaya, Prensa, Quingua, San Fabian, San Manuel, Sibul, Umingan, and Zaragosa) are included in this guidebook.

2 Simplif ied Keys TO Soil Series

Guide to Soil Series Identification

1. Choose a vacant area in your field and dig up to 50 cm depth from the surface (see page 50).

2. Get bulk soil sample (500 g) from between 30 cm and 50 cm depth.

3. Compare the soil sample with the color chart in the guidebook (see page 51).

Nueva Ecija 3

4. Take a half handful of the same soil and check its texture by wetting the soil sample (neither too wet, nor too dry) (see page 52).

5. Take one spoonful of the same soil sample and put it in a test tube. Add 7 drops of reagent; shake gently, and compare with pH chart (see page 53).

Lateritic nodules

Manganese concretions Quartz

6. Take note of the presence or absence of coarse fragments such as limestone, rock fragments, lateritic nodules, manganese/Mn (black) and iron/Fe (red) concretions, sand materials, and other observable properties of the soil taken from soil surface up to 50 cm depth.


7. Take note also of other observable soil properties such as polished surface (cutans/slickensides), softness, hardness, stickiness, etc.

8. Use the Simplified Keys to Soil Series Book and compare all soil properties starting from the color until the soil name is identified.

slickensides / polished soil surfaces

Nueva Ecija 5

Gray/Yellowish Gray (go to page 6)

Dark Grayish Brown (go to page 9)

Dark Yellowish Brown (go to page 12)

SoilColor Groups


Texture

Clay page 7

Clay Loam page 8

Gray/Yellowish Gray

Nueva Ecija 7

Maligaya (Mlg)

Coarse Fragments none

pH 6.8-7.2

OthersFe (brown) and Mn (black) concretions; slickensides

Zaragosa (Zg)


pH 6.8-7.4

OthersFe (dark greenish gray) and Mn (black) concretions

Texture: Clay

go to page 18

go to page 18

Gray/Yellowish Gray


Prensa (Pr)

Coarse Fragments gravels

pH 6.5-7.2

OthersFe (yellowish brown) and Mn (black) mottles; slickensides

Texture: Clay Loam

go to page 18

Gray/Yellowish Gray

Nueva Ecija 9

Dark Grayish Brown

Texture

Clay Loam page 10

Clay page 11


Dark Grayish Brown

San Manuel (Snm)


pH 6.7-7.4

Othersmottles (red spots); cutans (clay skins)

go to page 19

Texture: Clay Loam

Nueva Ecija 11

Texture: Clay

Dark Grayish Brown

San Fabian (Sfn)

Coarse Fragments gravels

pH 6.5-7.0

Others compacted

go to page 19

go to page 19

Bantog (Btg)


pH 7.2-7.6

Others Fe (brownish gray) and Mn (black) mottles


Dark Yellowish Brown

Texture

Loamy sand/Silt Loam page 13

Clay page 14

Clay Loam page 15

Silt Loam page 16

Nueva Ecija 13

Texture: Loamy Sand/Silt Loam


go to page 20

Quingua (Qga)


pH 6.8-7.6

OthersFe (yellowish brown) and Mn (black) mottles


Texture: Clay


go to page 20

Sibul (Sbl)


pH 5.5-6.0

Others Fe (yellowish brown) mottles

Nueva Ecija 15

Texture: Clay Loam

Umingan (Umn)

Coarse Fragments gravels and stones

pH 5.8-6.7

Others none


go to page 21


Texture: Silt Loam


go to page 21

Annam (Anm)

Coarse Fragments rock fragments

pH 5.5-6.0

Others mottles (brown spots)

Nueva Ecija 17

SoilProfile Pictures


Zaragosa (Zg)page 24

Prensa (Pr)page 23

Maligaya (Mgl)page 23

Apg

ABg

Bg1

Bg2

Apg

ABg

Bg1

Bg2

Apg

AB

Bg1

Bg2

Apg

AB

Bg1

Bg2

Ap

Bcg

Btcg

BCcg

Cg

Ap

Bcg

Btcg

BCcg

Cg

00 cm

15

30

50

90

00 cm

25

52

110

00 cm

10

25

50

94

Nueva Ecija 19

San Manuel (Snm)page 23

Bantog (Btg)page 23

San Fabian (Sfn)page 24

Ap1

Ap2

Bw1

Bw2

Bw3

Ap1

Ap2

Bw1

Bw2

Bw3

Ap

Bwg1

Bwg2

Bwg3

Bwg4

Ap

Bwg1

Bwg2

Bwg3

Bwg4

05 cm

35

70

100

140

15 cm

40

70

110

00 cm

30

60

90


Quingua (Qga) page 23

Sibul (Sbl)page 24

Ap

AB

Bw1

Bw2

Bw3

Bw4

Ap

AB

Bw1

Bw2

Bw3

Bw4

Ap

Bw1

Bw2

BC

Ap

Bw1

Bw2

BC

00 cm

30

60

100

125

00 cm

40

80

120

175

Nueva Ecija 21

Umingan (Umn)page 24

Annam (Anm)page 24

Ap

AB

BW1

BW2

BC

Ap

AB

BW1

BW2

BC

Ap

Bo1

Bo2

BC1

BC2

Ap

Bo1

Bo2

BC1

BC2

00 cm

25

50

75

100

00 cm

50

75

115


Properties of Different Soil Typesthat affectthe growthof crops

Nueva Ecija 23

Table 1. Properties of Different Soil Series that Affect the Growth of Crops.

Soil Qualities in Relation to Crop Production

Lowland Soils

Bantog Maligaya Prensa Quingua San Manuel

Soil pH 6.5-7.6 6.8-7.2 6.5-7.2 6.8-7.6 6.7-7.4

N Level medium low low low low

P Level high high medium medium low

K Level low low low medium medium

Soil Texture clay, clay loam

clay clay loam

clay to clay loam, silt loam

silt loam

Drainage well imper-fectly

mode-rately well

well well

Permeabi-lity

slow to very slow

slow to very slow

slow to very slow

mode-rately slow

modera-te to slow

Rock Frag-ments

none none none none none

Effective Soil Depth

deep (150cm)

deep (150cm)

deep (150cm)

deep (150cm)

deep (150cm)

Flooding Hazard

sea-sonal

none to seaso-nal

none seasonal sea-sonal

Topogra-phy

flat almost flat

undu-lating, rolling

almost flat

almost flat

Inherent Fertility

high high mode-rate

mode-rate

modera-te to high


Soil Qualities in Relation to Crop Production

Upland Soils

Zara-gosa

Annam San Fabian

Sibul Umi-ngan

Soil pH 6.8-7.4 5.5-6.0 6.5-7.0 5.5-6.0 5.8-6.7

N Level low medium medium low low

P Level medium low high low low

K Level low low high low medium

Soil Texture clay silty clay loam to clay

clay loam clay silty clay loam

Drainage some-what poor

good well well well

Perme-ability

slow to very slow

mode-rate

moderate mode-rate

moder-ate

Rock Fragments

none rock frag-ments

gravels none gravels

Effective Soil Depth

deep (150cm)

mode-rately deep (<90 cm)

deep (100)

shallow deep

Flooding Hazard

sea-sonal

none none none sea-sonal

Topo-graphy

almost flat

undu-lating, rolling to steep

rolling to hilly with some level areas

roll-ing to steep

gently sloping

Inherent Fertility

high low to moder-ate

moderate moder-ate

mode-rate

Table 1. (continuation)

Nueva Ecija 25

SoilProductivitySoil productivity is that quality of a soil that summarizes its potential in producing plants or sequences of plants under defined sets of management practices; it is also a synthesis of condition of soil fertility, water control, plant species, soil tilth, pest control and physical environment (Bainroth, 1978: Badayos, 1990). In economic terms, it is a measure of amount of inputs of production factors required to correct soil limitation(s) in order to attain a certain level of production. It is expressed as the average crop yield under defined sets of management classes (Badayos, 1990).

Soil productivity index is used for making comparisons among soils; categorized into inherent and potential. The inherent productivity index is the natural capacity of the soil to produce a given yield; potential refers to the capability of the soil to produce yield after correctible soil constraints had been remedied. In economics, the predicted inherent yield is calculated by multiplying the inherent index by the maximum potential yield of rice; predicted maximum possible


Table 2. The soil productivity index for rice.

Soil Series Inherent Productivity

Potential Productivity

Annam 0.58 0.73

Bantog 0.81 0.91

Maligaya 0.83 0.93

Prensa 0.60 0.78

Quingua 0.68 0.78

San Fabian 0.60 0.70

San Manuel 0.75 0.85

Sibul 0.36 0.46

Umingan 0.61 0.71

Zaragosa 0.75 0.95

yield is computed by multiplying the potential index by the maximum potential yield. For instance, the maximum potential yield in the dry season is 8 tons/hectare, and the inherent and potential productivity ratings for Maligaya soil is 0.83 and 0.93, respectively. Then, the predicted inherent and potential yields of rice in Maligaya soils are 6.6 and 7.4 tons/ha, respectively.

Nueva Ecija 27

CropSuitability Analysis


Soil suitability classification refers to the use of a piece of land on a sustainable basis, based on physical and chemical properties and environmental factors. It is the ultimate aim of soil survey and this may come up through a good judgment and a thorough evaluation of soil properties and qualities like depth, texture, slope, drainage, erosion, flooding and fertility. Based from these properties, the suitability of a certain tract of land for crop production is determined.

Suitability ratings denote qualitative analysis of the potential of a certain soil to different crops. It implies what crop(s) would give the highest benefit in terms of productivity and profitability from a given soil type, indicated by S1 as the most suitable, S2 as moderately suitable and S3 as marginally suitable. The symbol N implies that the crop is either currently not suitable (N1) where the effect of limitation is so severe as greatly to reduce the yield and require costly inputs; or permanently not suitable (N2) where the limitations cannot be corrected permanently. Crop suitability analysis also provides information on soil properties that limit the production of specified crop(s). The crop suitability analysis for the soils of Nueva Ecija is shown on Table 3 (29-30).

When using a parametric system, the soil index can be equated into percentage shown below. It means that you can attain 75% of the potential yield of the crop when the soil index is highly suitable (S1) while less than 25% of the potential yield when the soil index is not suitable (N).

S1: soil index >75 S3: soil index 25-50S2: soil index 50-75 N: soil index <25

Crop Suitability Analysis

Nueva Ecija 29

Tabl

e 3.

Th

e cr

op s

uita

bilit

y an

alys

is o

f the

soi

ls o

f Nue

va E

cija

for

diff

eren

t cro

ps.

Soil

Serie

sSl

ope

Ric

e Irr

igat

ed

Low

land

Ric

e R

ainf

ed

Upl

and

Ric

e R

ainf

ed

Low

land

Mai

zeSo

rghu

mO

nion

Anna

mun

dula

ting

to ro

lling

S2sf

S2cf

S2ct

sS1

S1S3

tfBa

ntog

leve

l to

near

ly le

vel

S1S2

cwS2

cS1

S1S1

Mal

igay

ale

vel t

o un

dula

ting

S2f

S2cf

S2cf

S2f

S2f

Nf

Pren

sage

ntly

slo

ping

S2sf

S2cf

S2cs

fS2

fS1

S3f

Qui

ngua

leve

l to

near

ly le

vel

S2f

S2cf

S2cf

S2f

S1S2

fSa

n Fa

bian

rollin

g to

hilly

S3f

S3f

S3w

S3f

S3f

S3f

San

Man

uel

leve

l to

near

ly le

vel

S3sf

S2cf

S3sf

S1S1

S1Si

bul

undu

latin

g, ro

lling

to s

teep

S2sf

N2t

N2t

S2f

N1t

Ntf

Um

inga

nle

vel t

o un

dula

ting

S2sf

S3f

S2sf

S2sf

S2sf

S2sf

Zara

gosa

leve

l to

near

ly le

vel

S3f

S3f

S3f

S3f

S2sf

S3f

Lim

itatio

ns d

ue to

:

t

- to

pogr

aphy

; slo

pe

w

-

drai

nage

; floo

ding

s -

text

ure;

coa

rse

fragm

ents

; soi

l dep

th

f -

soil

ferti

lity

c -

clim

ate

Suita

bilit

y ra

tings

:

S1 -

H

ighl

y su

itabl

e

S2 -

M

oder

atel

y su

itabl

e

S3 -

M

argi

nally

sui

tabl

e

N1

- C

urre

ntly

not

sui

tabl

e

N2

- Pe

rman

ently

not

sui

tabl

e


Limitations due to:

t -

topography; slope

w -

drainage; flooding

s -

texture; coarse fragments; soil depth

f -

soil fertility

c

- clim

ate

Suitability ratings:

S1 - H

ighly suitable

S2 - M

oderately suitable

S3 - M

arginally suitable

N1 -

Currently not suitable

N

2 - Perm

anently not suitable

Table 3. (continuation)

Soil SeriesSlope

TobaccoSw

eet Potato

Sugar-cane

PeanutW

ater M

elonM

ango

Annamundulating to rolling

S3tsS2f

S3tS3t

S3tS3t

Bantoglevel to nearly level

S3ws

S1S1

S1S2w

sS1

Maligaya

level to undulatingS3w

sfS2f

S2fS3f

S3wf

S2fPrensa

gently slopingS2f

S3fS3f

S2fS2f

S2fQ

uingualevel to nearly level

S2fS2f

S2fS2f

S2fS2f

San Fabianrolling to hilly

S3fS3f

S3fS2tsf

S3sfS3s

San Manuel

level to nearly levelS1

S1S1

S1S1

S1Sibul

undulating, rolling, to steepN

tS3f

Nt

Nt

Nt

Nt

Um

inganlevel to undulating

S2sfS2f

S2sfS2sf

S2sfS2sf

Zaragosalevel to nearly level

S3fS3f

S3fS3f

S3fS3f

Nueva Ecija 31

Soil ManagementRecommendations


The goal of soil management is to protect soil and enhance its performance to increase farm profitably and preserve environmental quality. It is the combination of soil factors to maximize crop production at the lowest possible cost while leaving the soil in a productive state. It involves: maintaining the soil in good physical condition, maintaining the soil fertility status, and influencing the biological aspect of the soil so that maximum benefits result (Harpstead, et al., 1997). Soil management recommendations suitable for each soil identified were enumerated in the succeeding pages (table 4). In making soil management recommendations, soil properties such as texture, mineralogy, moisture and temperature regimes, and climate were considered since these factors affect the crop growth. However, these properties cannot be changed but control tillage, crop rotations, soil amendments and other management choices can be done. Through these choices, the structure, biological activity, chemical content of soil can be altered and later on influence erosion rates, pest population, and nutrient availability and crop production.

Soil Management Recommendations

Nueva Ecija 33

Tabl

e 4.

Th

e so

il se

ries

of N

ueva

Eci

ja w

ith

thei

r lim

itat

ions

for

crop

pro

duct

ion

and

corr

e-sp

ondi

ng m

anag

emen

t rec

omm

enda

tion

s fo

r di

ffer

ent c

rops

.

Soil

Serie

s Li

mita

tions

for c

rop

prod

uctio

n

Soil

Man

agem

ent R

ecom

men

datio

ns

Ric

eD

iver

sifie

d cr

ops

Roo

t cro

pTr

ee/F

ores

t/Pl

anta

tion

crop

Anna

mAl

umin

um

(Al)

and

Iron

(Fe)

Tox

icity

; ru

n-of

f; sl

opin

g to

pogr

aphy

poor

ly d

rain

ed s

oils

on

the

allu

vial

bas

in

are

mod

erat

ely

suita

ble

for p

addy

; fe

rtiliz

atio

n; m

aint

ain

prop

erly

the

padd

y di

kes

gree

n m

anur

ing:

lim

ing;

larg

e in

itial

app

licat

ion

of p

hosp

hate

fe

rtiliz

ers;

su

itabl

e fo

r di

vers

ified

cro

ps

limin

g; c

onto

ur

terra

cing

; buf

fer

strip

cro

ppin

g;

addi

tion

of

orga

nic

mat

ter

and

anim

al

man

ure

to

impr

ove

soil

ferti

lity

and

wat

er h

oldi

ng

capa

city

upla

nd a

nd h

illy

land

is w

ell-s

uite

d fo

r agr

ofor

est,

indu

stria

l cro

ps,

orch

ard

and

fore

st b

ut u

se

loca

lly a

dapt

ed

high

-yie

ldin

g va

rietie

s of

tree

cr

ops;

pra

ctic

e pr

oper

ferti

lizat

ion

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: ric

e-m

aize

/sor

ghum

/veg

etab

les/

root

cro

ps


Soil

Serie

s Li

mita

tions

for c

rop

prod

uctio

n

Soil

Man

agem

ent R

ecom

men

datio

ns

Ric

eD

iver

sifie

d cr

ops

Roo

t cro

pTr

ee/F

ores

t/Pl

anta

tion

crop

Bant

ogpo

or d

rain

age;

hig

h sh

rink

and

swel

l ca

paci

ty u

pon

wet

ting

and

dryi

ng p

rodu

cing

w

ide

crac

ks in

the

soil,

har

d w

hen

dry;

se

ason

al fl

oodi

ng

in lo

w a

reas

; slo

w

perm

eabi

lity

prac

tice

shal

low

cu

ltiva

tion

whe

n so

il m

oist

ure

is a

t opt

imum

; su

ited

for

irrig

ated

and

ra

infe

d pa

ddy

rice;

mai

ntai

n pr

oper

ly th

e pa

ddy

dike

s

cons

truct

ion

of

adeq

uate

dra

inag

e irr

igat

ion

and

flood

co

ntro

l sys

tem

due

to

sea

sona

l floo

ding

ha

zard

in lo

w a

reas

; us

e of

bro

adbe

ds,

ridge

s or

furro

ws

and

mul

chin

g;

appl

icat

ion

of

orga

nic

mat

ter a

nd

farm

man

ure

esta

blis

hmen

t of

adeq

uate

dra

inag

e an

d irr

igat

ion

syst

em; a

pplic

atio

n of

org

anic

mat

ter

and

farm

man

ure

unsu

itabl

e un

der p

rese

nt

cond

ition

s bu

t w

ill be

com

e su

itabl

e if

prop

er m

anag

e-m

ent p

ract

ices

ar

e do

ne, l

ike

esta

blis

hmen

t of

adeq

uate

dra

in-

age

and

flood

co

ntro

l sys

tem

s;

use

of s

uita

ble

tree

spec

ies

and

prop

er

ferti

lizat

ion

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: ric

e-ric

e; ri

ce-d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops/

vege

tabl

es/ro

ot c

rops

Nueva Ecija 35

Mal

i-ga

yahe

avy

clay

: poo

r dr

aina

ge: h

igh

shrin

k an

d sw

ell c

apac

ity

upon

wet

ting

and

dryi

ng p

rodu

cing

wid

e cr

acks

in th

e so

il, h

ard

whe

n dr

y; v

ery

slow

pe

rmea

bilit

y

prac

tice

shal

low

cu

ltiva

tion

whe

n so

il m

oist

ure

is a

t opt

imum

; su

ited

for

irrig

ated

and

ra

infe

d pa

ddy

rice;

mai

ntai

n pr

oper

ly th

e pa

ddy

dike

s

appl

icat

ion

of

ferti

lizer

s an

d or

gani

c m

atte

r; al

low

pro

per

drai

nage

sys

tem

in

the

field

to a

ddre

ss

the

heav

y cl

ay

text

ure

of th

is s

oil;

use

broa

dbed

s,

ridge

s an

d m

ulch

ing

esta

blis

hmen

t of

adeq

uate

dra

inag

e an

d irr

igat

ion

sys-

tem

; use

of t

he ri

ght

kind

and

am

ount

of

ferti

lizer

s in

clud

ing

thei

r met

hods

of

appl

icat

ion;

pro

per

timin

g of

cul

tivat

ion

and

plan

ting

prac

tice

prop

er ti

min

g of

cul

tivat

ion

and

plan

ting

due

to c

laye

y te

xtur

e

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: ric

e-ric

e; ri

ce-d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops/

vege

tabl

es/ro

ot c

rops

Pren

sadi

ssec

ted

phys

iogr

aphy

lim

its p

addy

fiel

d si

zean

d ex

cess

ele

vatio

ns

incr

ease

cos

t of e

xten

-si

ve g

ravi

ty ir

rigat

ion

inpu

ts; e

xces

s 2:

1 cl

ayca

uses

phy

sica

l lim

ita-

tions

for d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops;

slo

ping

to

pogr

aphy

requ

ires

cont

our l

tivat

ion

esta

blis

hmen

t of

ade

quat

e dr

aina

ge

and

irrig

atio

n sy

stem

; pro

per

leve

ling,

co

nstru

ctio

n an

d m

ain-

tena

nce

of

padd

y di

kes

appl

icat

ion

of

ferti

lizer

s an

d or

gani

c m

atte

r; re

quire

s co

ntou

r cu

ltiva

tion;

use

gr

een

man

ures

and

m

ulch

es; p

rope

r tim

ing

of c

ultiv

atio

n an

d pl

antin

g

esta

blis

hmen

t of

adeq

uate

dra

inag

e an

d irr

igat

ion

syst

em; r

egul

ar

addi

tion

of o

rgan

ic

mat

ter a

nd a

nim

al

man

ure;

pro

per

timin

g of

cul

tivat

ion

and

plan

ting

prac

tice

prop

er ti

min

g of

cul

tivat

ion

and

plan

ting

due

to c

laye

y te

xtur

e

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: ric

e-ric

e; ri

ce-d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops/

vege

tabl

es/ro

ot c

rops


Soil

Serie

s Li

mita

tions

for c

rop

prod

uctio

n

Soil

Man

agem

ent R

ecom

men

datio

ns

Ric

eD

iver

sifie

d cr

ops

Roo

t cro

pTr

ee/F

ores

t/Pl

anta

tion

crop

Qui

n-gu

acl

imat

e,

seas

onal

flo

odin

g

suite

d fo

r pa

ddy

rice;

ap

plic

atio

n of

inor

gani

c fe

rtiliz

ers

to

mai

ntai

n th

e fe

rtilit

y of

the

soil

suite

d fo

r div

ersi

fied

crop

s;

cons

truct

ion

of a

dequ

ate

drai

nage

irrig

atio

n an

d flo

od

cont

rol s

yste

m; p

rope

r tim

ing

of

culti

vatio

n an

d pl

antin

g

suite

d fo

r roo

t cr

ops;

con

stru

ctio

n of

ade

quat

e dr

aina

ge ir

rigat

ion

and

flood

con

trol

syst

em; p

rope

r tim

ing

of c

ultiv

atio

n an

d pl

antin

g

suite

d fo

r tre

e cr

ops;

co

nstru

ctio

n of

ade

quat

e dr

aina

ge

irrig

atio

n an

d flo

od c

ontro

l sy

stem

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: ric

e-ric

e; ri

ce-d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops/

vege

tabl

es/ro

ot c

rops

San

Fa

bian

durin

g th

e dr

y se

ason

, th

e un

plow

ed

soil

is

com

pact

and

ha

rd, a

nd

crac

ks in

to

big

clod

s;

not s

uita

ble

for i

rriga

ted

low

land

rice

pr

oduc

tion

due

to

irrig

atio

n pr

oble

m;

prac

tice

cont

our f

arm

ing;

co

nser

vatio

n til

lage

suc

h as

m

ulch

ing

and

grou

ndco

ver h

elp

cons

erve

moi

stur

e; m

inim

ize

runo

ff an

d co

ntro

l ero

sion

; pr

actic

e gr

een

man

urin

g to

impr

ove

soil

ferti

lity

and

stru

ctur

e; s

uite

d fo

r veg

etab

les

subs

oilin

g; a

dditi

on

of o

rgan

ic m

atte

r an

d an

imal

man

ure

to im

prov

e so

il fe

rtilit

y an

d w

ater

ho

ldin

g ca

paci

ty

subs

oilin

g;

cove

r cro

ppin

g w

ith le

gum

es;

use

of lo

cally

ad

apte

d

high

-yie

ldin

g va

rietie

s of

tree

cr

ops

Nueva Ecija 37

San

Fabi

an

(con

ti-nu

ed)

slop

ing

topo

grap

hy;

irrig

atio

n pr

oble

ms

suite

d fo

r ra

infe

d ric

e a

nd o

ther

cas

h cr

ops

but a

pply

fe

rtiliz

ers

and

orga

nic

mat

ter

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: up

land

rice

-div

ersi

fied

crop

s/ve

geta

bles

/root

cro

ps; d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops/

vege

tabl

es/ro

ot c

rops

- div

ersi

fied;

cro

ps/v

eget

able

s/ro

ot c

rops

San

Man

uel

exce

ssiv

ely

wet

and

an

nual

flo

odin

g fo

r sho

rt pe

riods

and

ex

cess

ive

drou

ghtin

ess

from

Mar

ch

to M

ay; l

ow

phos

phor

us

cont

ent

appl

icat

ion

of p

hosp

hate

fe

rtiliz

ers;

su

ited

for

padd

y ric

e du

ring

wet

se

ason

and

w

ith a

dequ

ate

irrig

atio

n du

ring

dry

seas

on

cons

truct

ion

of a

dequ

ate

drai

nage

, irri

gatio

n an

d flo

od

cont

rol s

yste

m d

ue to

sea

sona

l flo

odin

g ha

zard

and

hig

h se

ason

al w

ater

tabl

e; u

se

broa

dbed

s, a

nd ri

dges

; sui

ted

for d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops

such

as

corn

, veg

etab

les,

and

wat

er

mel

on

esta

blis

hmen

t of

adeq

uate

dra

inag

e an

d irr

igat

ion

syst

em; r

egul

ar

addi

tion

of o

rgan

ic

mat

ter a

nd a

nim

al

man

ure

to im

prov

e so

il fe

rtilit

y

adeq

uate

dra

in-

age

and

irrig

a-tio

n sy

stem

; co

ver c

ropp

ing

with

legu

mes

; pr

oper

ferti

liza-

tion,

tim

ing

of

culti

vatio

n an

d pl

antin

g; u

se o

f lo

cally

ada

pted

hi

gh-y

ield

ing

varie

ties

is

reco

mm

ende

d to

impr

ove

the

grow

th a

nd y

ield

of

tree

cro

psC

ropp

ing

Patte

rn:

rice-

rice;

rice

-div

ersi

fied

crop

s/ve

geta

bles

/root

cro

ps


Soil

Serie

s Li

mita

tions

for c

rop

prod

uctio

n

Soil

Man

agem

ent R

ecom

men

datio

ns

Ric

eD

iver

sifie

d cr

ops

Roo

t cro

pTr

ee/F

ores

t/Pl

anta

tion

crop

Sibu

lsh

allo

w s

oil;

undu

latin

g to

st

eep

topo

grap

hy;

som

etim

es

pres

ence

of

limes

tone

frag

men

t at

the

top

soil

not s

uite

d fo

r irri

gate

d lo

wla

nd

prod

uctio

n be

caus

e of

irr

igat

ion

cons

train

ts;

leve

ling

and

terra

cing

appl

icat

ion

of fe

rtiliz

er

and

orga

nic

mat

ter;

prac

tice

cont

our f

arm

ing;

co

nser

vatio

n til

lage

suc

h as

m

ulch

ing

and

grou

ndco

ver

help

con

serv

e m

oist

ure,

sl

ow ru

noff,

min

imiz

e an

d co

ntro

l ero

sion

; mul

chin

g us

ing

orga

nic

mat

eria

ls

help

sus

tain

soi

l fer

tility

; su

ited

to a

ny c

ash

or

dive

rsifi

ed c

rops

cont

our t

erra

cing

; bu

ffer s

trip

crop

ping

; pro

per

ferti

lizat

ion;

pr

oper

tim

ing

of

culti

vatio

n an

d pl

antin

g; li

min

g;

addi

tion

of o

rgan

ic

mat

ter a

nd

anim

al m

anur

e to

impr

ove

soil

ferti

lity

and

wat

er

hold

ing

capa

city

fruit

trees

, ag

rofo

rest

and

in

dust

rial t

ree

spec

ies

are

reco

mm

ende

d in

ro

lling

to s

teep

to

pogr

aphy

; co

ntou

r ter

raci

ng,

tilla

ge a

nd

plan

ting;

cov

er

crop

ping

with

le

gum

es; u

se o

f lo

cally

ada

pted

hi

gh-y

ield

ing

varie

ties

of tr

ee

crop

s C

ropp

ing

Patte

rn:

upla

nd ri

ce-d

iver

sifie

d cr

ops/

vege

tabl

es/ro

ot c

rops

Nueva Ecija 39

Um

i-ng

anpr

esen

ce o

f gr

avel

ly o

r sto

ny

laye

r at t

he lo

wer

su

bsoi

l. D

ue

to th

is la

yer o

f st

ones

and

gra

vel,

the

soils

tend

to

be

drou

ghty

; oc

curre

nce

of

flood

s du

ring

and

afte

r hea

vy ra

ins

appl

icat

ion

of fe

rtiliz

er;

suite

d fo

r pa

ddy

rice

and

othe

r cr

ops;

cl

earin

g of

la

rge

grav

el

and

rock

ou

tcro

ps

cons

truct

ion

of a

dequ

ate

drai

nage

irrig

atio

n an

d flo

od c

ontro

l sys

tem

; ap

plic

atio

n of

ferti

lizer

and

or

gani

c m

atte

r; su

ited

for

dive

rsifi

ed c

rops

grav

el a

t the

lo

wer

sub

soil

may

ca

use

the

low

er

yiel

d of

root

cro

ps

clea

ring

of la

rge

grav

el a

nd ro

ck

outc

rops

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: ric

e-di

vers

ified

cro

ps/v

eget

able

s/ro

ot c

rops

Zara

-go

sase

ason

al fl

oodi

ng

haza

rds

and

high

se

ason

al w

ater

ta

ble;

ext

rem

e cl

imat

ic li

mita

tion;

so

me

depo

sitio

nal

prob

lem

suite

d fo

r lo

wla

nd ri

ce

prod

uctio

n du

ring

dry

seas

on

appl

icat

ion

of p

hosp

hate

fe

rtiliz

ers

and

orga

nic

mat

ter;

artifi

cial

irrig

atio

n an

d dr

aina

ge re

quire

d du

e to

sea

sona

l floo

ding

haz

ard

and

high

sea

sona

l wat

er

tabl

e; a

llow

pro

per d

rain

age

syst

em; g

row

floo

d-to

lera

nt

crop

s du

ring

wet

sea

son

esta

blis

hmen

t of

ade

quat

e dr

aina

ge a

nd

irrig

atio

n sy

stem

adeq

uate

dr

aina

ge a

nd

irrig

atio

n sy

stem

; pl

ant fl

ood-

tole

rant

cr

ops

Cro

ppin

g Pa

ttern

: ric

e-di

vers

ified

cro

ps/v

eget

able

s/ro

ot c

rops

Nueva Ecija 41

Soil TaxonomicClassification


Soil Taxonomic ClassificationSoil taxonomy is a system of naming, describing, and categorizing soils. It helps us to understand how soils had formed, changed, and their effects on crops and natural resource management. It uses a specific nomenclature that both classifies the soil and gives a distinctive name to the individual soil. Names are constructed from the formative elements (generally originating from Greek and Latin) which are used in specific combinations to provide a highly descriptive name to a specific soil type.

Scientists have developed different systems of soil classification to group soils of similar properties in one class, allowing them to exchange information on soils found in different areas. In the classification scheme, characteristics and information about the soil become more specific as one continues from order, sub-order, great group, sub-group, family, to series level. For this purpose, the USDA Soil Taxonomic Classification scheme was employed for technical use of researchers and students. Soil Taxonomic Classification that implies the general features of a given soil indicating its texture, mineralogy, moisture and temperature regimes, diagnostic horizons, and soil order is presented in Table 5 (pages 43-48). These features/properties influence crop growth and serve as basis for transferability of soil management technology.

Nueva Ecija 43

Table 5. Soil taxonomic classification of each soil series in Nueva Ecija with interpretation.

Soil Series

Taxonomic Classification

Interpretation

Annam Fine loamy, mixed (ca.), isohyperthermic TYPIC EUTRUSTOX

This soil has fine-loamy texture and isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is an Oxisol (-ox), which is an intensely weathered soil predominated by oxides from iron and aluminum due to repeated high precipitation and high temperature (-ust). It is a typical (typic) representative of the great group Eutrustox which means it has high base saturation (eutr-).

Bantog Very fine, mixed, isohyperthermic, AERIC CALCIAQUERT

This is a very fine-textured soil with high clay content of >60% and has isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is a Vertisol(-ert), dominated by shrink-swell clays that cause deep wide cracks, slickensides, very sticky when wet and compact when dry. It is saturated with water repeatedly (aqu-) but not as wet as the typical, i.e. it is better aerated, usually because either groundwater is deep or the period of saturation is shorter (aeric). This soil also has high calcium saturation (calci-) in its subsoil horizons.


Soil Series


Interpretation

Mali-gaya

Fine, smectitic, isohyperthermic, TYPIC CALCIAQUERT

This is a fine loamy-textured soil with high clay content of 35-60% and has isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is a Vertisol (-ert), dominated by shrink-swell clays that cause deep wide cracks, slickensides, very sticky when wet and compact when dry. It is a typical (typic) representative of the great group Calciaquerts which means it is saturated with water for repeated periods of time (aqu-) manifested by its grayish color with or without mottles. This soil has high calcium (calci-) saturation in its subsoil horizons.

Prensa Fine, mixed, isohyperthermic, VERTIC EPIAQUALF

This is a fine-textured soil containing a large amount of clay (35-60%) and has isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is an Alfisol (-alf), i.e. there is illuvial accumulation on clay in the subsoil horizons from the underlying horizons. It is saturated with water for repeated periods of time (aqu-) manifested by its grayish color with or without mottles. It is a representative of the great group Epiaqualfs that has vertic properties, i.e. it is dominated by clays that shrink and swell producing wide cracks and slickensides due to repeated wetting and drying.

Nueva Ecija 45

Soil Series


Interpretation

Quin-gua

Fine silty, isohyper-thermic, FLUVA-QUENTIC EPIAQUOLL

Fine loamy-textured soil with moderate amount of clay (18-35%) and isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is Mollisol (-oll) or dark-colored, fertile soils with high base saturation and natural to medium acid pH. It is saturated with water for repeated periods of time (aqu-) due to river flooding (fluvaquentic) manifested by its grayish color with or without mottles.

San Fabian

Fine loamy, mixed (ca.), isohyper-thermic, TYPIC CALCIQUERT

Fine loamy-textured soil with high clay content of 35-60% and isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is a Vertisol (-ert). dominated by shrink-swell clays that cause deep wide cracks, slickensides, very sticky when wet and compact when dry. It is a typical (typic) representative of the great group Calciaquerts. It is saturated with water for repeated periods of time (aqu-) manifested by its grayish color with or without mottles. This soil also has high calcium (calci-) saturation in its subsoil horizons.


Soil Series


Interpretation

San Manuel

Fine loamy, smectitic (ca.), isohyper-thermic, FLUVA-QUENTIC EPIAQUEPT

Fine loamy-textured soil with moderate amount of clay (18-35%) and isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is an Inceptisol (-ept), i.e. it is in the incipient development toward mature soil, but has not yet fully developed its diagnostic horizons. It is saturated with water for repeated periods of time (aqu-)due to river flooding (fluvaquentic) manifested by its grayish color with or without mottles.

Sibul Fine to very fine, isohy-perthermic, TYPIC EUTRUDEPT

Fine to very fine-textured soil containing >60% clay and has isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is an Inceptisol (-ept), i.e. it is in the incipient development toward mature soil, but has not yet fully developed its diagnostic horizons. It is a typical (typic) representative of the great group Eutrudepts which has high base saturation (eutr-)occurring in areas with well distributed rainfall (-ud).

Nueva Ecija 47

Soil Series


Interpretation

Umingan Loamy skeletal, mixed (ca.), isohyper-thermic, FLUVENTIC HAPLUSTEPT

Loamy skeletal-textured soil with many gravels and pebbles present and isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is an Inceptisol (-ept), i.e. it is in the incipient development toward mature soil, but has not yet fully developed its diagnostic horizons. This soil has minimum complexity in its soil horizonation (hapl-) found in areas with pronounced wet and dry seasons (-ust). It is a representative of the great group Haplustepts which is subject to seasonal river flooding (fluventic).

Zaragosa Fine,smectitic (ca.), isohyperther-mic, VERTIC EPIAQUEPT

Fine-textured soil with moderate amount of clay (18-35%) and isohyperthermic temperature regime (>22°C). It is an Inceptisol (-ept), i.e. it is in the incipient development toward mature soil, but has not yet fully developed its diagnostic horizons.


Zaragosa(continued)

Fine,smectitic (ca.), isohyperther-mic, VERTIC EPIAQUEPT

It is saturated with water for repeated periods of time (aqu-) manifested by its grayish color with or without mottles. This is a representative of the great group Epiaquepts vertic properties, i.e. it is dominated by clays that shrink and swell producing wide cracks and slickensides due to repeated wetting and drying.

Nueva Ecija 49

Appendices


Choose a vacant area in your field. Using a spade/auger, dig up to 50cm from the soil surface.

Depth of soil is important. The surface/top soil is not a good basis since it is always cultivated.

1 Soil sampling

Get bulk soil sample (½ kilo) from a 30-50cm depth; place it in a container (plastic/pail). This sample will be used for soil series identification.

APPENDIX 1. STEPS TO IDENTIFY SOIL SERIES

Nueva Ecija 51

2 Soil color determination

Soil color is an indi-rect measure of other characteristics such as drainage, aeration, and organic matter content. Black-colored soils may indicate high fertility and productivity. Gray indicates a fairly con-stant water-saturated condition. Bright brown and red colors are in-dicative of good aeration and drainage.

Get an ample amount of soil from the sample. The soil should be moist (neither too wet, nor too dry).

Compare the color of the soil sample with the color chart in the guidebook. Take note of the classifica-tion of the soil color.


3 Texture determination

Nueva Ecija 53

pH Determination (UPLB procedure)4Get soil sample from a 30-50cm depth. Fill the test tube with soil sample up to the scratch mark.

Add 7 drops of CPR (chlorphenol red). Mix by gently swirling the test tube.

If soil pH is 6 or greater, repeat the steps using BTB (brom thymol blue).

If the soil pH is 5 or less, repeat the steps using BCG (brom cresol green).

Match the color of the solution on top of the soil with the corresponding color chart of the pH indicator dye used.


APPENDIX 2. THE PALAYCHECK SYSTEM

The Palaycheck System is a rice integrated crop management that combines the technologies and learning processes to identify strengths and weaknesses of current crop management practices, make improvements in the next season to increase grain yield, input use efficiency, and profit with environmental concerns.

The PalayCheck System describes the crop management practices (input) to achieve the following Key Checks (output):

1) Used certified seeds of a recommended variety.

2) No high and low soil spots after final leveling.

3) Practiced synchronous planting after a fallow period.

4) Sufficient number of healthy seedlings.

Nueva Ecija 55

5) Sufficient nutrients at tillering to early panicle initiation, and flowering.

6) Avoided excessive water or drought stress that could affect the growth and the yield of the crop.

7) No significant yield loss due to pests.

8) Cut and threshed the crop at the right time.


Badayos, R. B. 1990. Lowland rice soils in the Philippines, their characteristics and classification in relation to productivity. Inaugural Professorial Lecture. SEARCA, UPLB.

Beinroth, F. H. 1978. Some fundamentals of soil classification. In: Soil-resource data for agricultural development. Ed. Leslie D. Swindale. Hawaii Ag. Expt. Sra., College of Trop. Agric., University of Hawaii. p.12-19.

MI Harpstead, TJ Sauer, and WF Bennet. 1997. Soil Science Simplified. 3rd Edition. Iowa State University Press, Ames Iowa 50014.

“Simplified Keys to Soil Series (29 Soil Series for Maize Production), Lop Buri Province” The International Training Workshop on “Applying Information Technology for Site-Specific Agriculture in Small Farms of Tropics.” August 4-10, 2003. Bangkok, Thailand.

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Soil Survey Manual. US Department of Agricultural Handbook No. 18. August 1951.Soil Survey Staff, Bureau of Plant and Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering. Agricultural Research Administration, US Department of Agriculture.

References

Nueva Ecija 57

Subject Matter Specialists

PhilRice Wilfredo B. Collado

Mary Rose O. Obico Rona T. Dollentas Jesiree Elena Ann P. Dela Torre Jovino L. De Dios Leo C. Javier Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, Jr., PhD

UP Los Baños Rodrigo B. Badayos, PhD Armando E. Soliman

Managing Editor/Layout Artist Hazel V. Antonio

Editor Constante T. Briones Editorial Advisers Leocadio S. Sebastian, PhD Madonna C. Casimero, PhD Ronan G. Zagado

Simplified Keys to Soil Series – Nueva Ecija

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