Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure
1.11.
Corn field harrow (sudlay).
recommended, he plows and harrows once. Rosita describes the harrowing of their
maize field as sinampayu, or cursory.
As with the rice farm, no soil analysis was done and Donio just applies one bag of
urea per area about a month after planting. Before planting application of four bags of
complete fertilizer is recommended. Two bags of urea 25 to 30 days after planting are
also recommended. Thus, for each of his maize fields Donio needs almost three bags of
complete fertilizer and about one and one-third bag of urea. Unlike in the rice field
where hay and stubble are mixed with the soil during plowing, stubble and other
plant parts in the maize fields are removed at harrowing using the calcag (maize field
harrow).
To control weeds in maize, Donio and his family use weeding machines and hand
weeding. They do not set a particular number of hours to weed each day. Weeding is
done when their time and other activities permit. Just like the rice farm, they do not
have problems with pests, except for rats, which they just “talk” to.
Harvested maize is husked, shelled, and dried in the field by spreading kernels on
mats as is done with rice shown in Figure 1.8. When it is rainy, ears are hung inside the
farmhouse, and husked ears are spread on the farm house elevated floor. The floor is
made of bamboo slats; see Figure 1.12, so air flows freely and allows maize to dry.
To shell the maize, they use a manual banguran, or Sheller. About 120 kg of clean
grain can be shelled in 8 hours.
Daily Routine.
Donio usually wakes up at 4 a.m. so that he can work during the
cooler part of the day. After checking in and around the house, he moves out to his
farms when there is a little streak of light. He weeds the fields, feeds the weeds to
the year-old carabao he is taking care of, and allows the carabao to graze where
there are grasses. He then brings the carabao to the suba (river) to lunang (wallow).
After that he does other farmwork and, when done, goes home and does other work
in and around the house and then relaxes. At about 4 or 5 in the afternoon, he
