Agriculture professor wins 'Best Paper' in int'l confab for agro-waste study

Asst. Prof. Arsenio D. Bulfa Jr., Silliman University (SU) College of Agriculture faculty member, won the Best Paper Award in the International Conference on Nature Studies and Innovations for the Environment (ICoNSIE) 2023 held at the Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija on July 6-8, 2023.

Bulfa’s paper, titled “Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions and Ecological Effects of Composts from Agro-wastes on Corn Growth, Soil Chemical Properties, and Earthworm Behavior,” aimed to identify better management strategies for agro-wastes with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The paper sought to measure CO2 emissions from the decomposition of agricultural wastes (agro-wastes) with different carbon-nitrogen ratios and the effects of their application to soil health and soil animals.

“Determining the mixture of agro-wastes with lesser CO2 emission or net CO2 sequestration will provide a sustainable and environment-friendly solution for agro-waste management and offer a sustainable food production system with net carbon sequestration to mitigate the ill impacts of global warming,” said Bulfa.

Bulfa’s paper found that “application of co-composted poultry manure and rice straw (PMRS) and poultry manure with carbonized rice hull (PMCRH) with different carbon-nitrogen ratios (15:1–35:1) improved the soil physicochemical properties and enhanced the corn morphophysiological responses.”

“The co-composting of poultry manure and (carbonized rice hull) reduced the CO2 emissions, compared to the co-composting of poultry manure and rice straws,” Bulfa said.

Another significant finding, said Bulfa, is that “applying co-composted poultry manure and (carbonized rice hull) will improve soil health, enhance plant growth, and help capture CO2, a primary greenhouse gas.”

Dr. Jose Edwin C. Cubelo, SU College of Agriculture dean, and faculty members Rehel A. Diaz and Chester W.S. Señerez also presented their papers at the conference.

Cubelo presented his paper titled “Impact of Spatial and Temporal Variation of Climatic Elements on the Yield of Corn (Zea mays L.) in Central Visayas, Philippines.”

Diaz presented his paper, “Suitability Analysis for Optimum Network of Agrometeorological Stations in Luzon Region, Philippines”; while Señerez presented “Evaluation of Dietary Supplementation of Microbial Muramidase on Egg Production, Egg Quality and Digestibility in Layers.”

With the theme “Glocalizing Nature Conservation for a Future-Proofed Environment,” the conference aimed to gather researchers, academicians, and experts for exchanging information, experiences, practices, issues, and initiatives that address pressing global problems among the members of the Philippine Society for the Study of Nature (PSSN).

CLSU organized the conference in collaboration with the PSSN.