AIRPROTEC
by editor ~ June 3rd, 2008
What is AIRPROTEC?
AIRPROTEC (Acronym for Alegado Intensive Rootcrop Production Techniques) is a planting technique with the use of rice hull ashes as planting beds. It is 100% soilless planting technique. Rice hull ashes have been used by the developer as planting bed for several plants such as ginger, cassava, sweet potato (Camote), onion (sibuyas dahon), eggplant among others. The technique, however, has been found to be more effective with root crops as the beds do not pose any constraints to the growth of the root crop but instead allow the root crop to grow remarkably big because of the softness of the beds. In addition, because of the softness of the bed, root crop can be intensively planted so that a small area can accommodate more plants than these are planted in soil. A small area of 200 square meter planted with ginger can turn out a harvest of not less than three tons to four tons
The experience of the developer of AIRPROTEC in growing ginger on beds of ashes allowed him to process ginger into ginger tea, ginger jelly, ginger seasoning, ginger candy and ginger flour among others.
Can ginger be planted in commercial quantity with the use of AIRPROTEC? Yes, of course!
AIRPROTEC compared to Traditional Method of Ginger Production
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AIRPROTEC |
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Traditional Method |
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1. Plant spacing = 17 cm apart |
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1. Plant spacing = 50 cm |
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2. Plant grows up to 100 cm |
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2. Plant grows 80 cm. max. |
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3. Plants grows very fast since it suffers no constrains during growing period |
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3. Plant grows slow since soil when wet and dried letter becomes compact that deters growth |
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4. No or the least weeding problem |
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4. requires more labor in weeding |
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5. Planting beds are so easy to prepare |
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5. Planting area needs to be plowed as much as 3 to 4 times to extremely pulverize the soil |
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6. plant requires no fetilizer to produce better production |
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6. For more production needs fertilzier |
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7. No insecticide during the growing period |
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7. Requires pest control measures. |
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8. Produces 21 kg of ginger per sq. m. |
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8. Produces only about 10 kg of ginger per sq. m. |
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9. |
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AIRPROTEC
As tested, the cultivation of ginger can be much improved with techniques developed recently by Fortunato Tagalog Alegado who adopted the soiless technique which is tagged as Alegado Intensive Rootcrop Production Technique (AIRPROTEC). This is a technique tested in a small scale plantation in 1999.
Advantages and Disadvantages. There have been a lot of advantages implied in the use of AIRPROTEC as experienced by the developer. These are:
1. Easier and faster preparation of the planting area and with lesser efforts required since their is no intensive land preparation; even old women can engage in it,
2. Ashes as planting bed allows the ginger to grow faster and bigger,
3. A small area can allow plenty of plants,
4. Ease in harvesting even children can join,
5. Maintenance is inexpensive as there is no need of weeding and fertilizing,
The technique is not without disadvantages. These are its disadvantages:
l. Planting bed requires plenty of water,
2. During the preparation of the bed, it is highly hazardous on the part of the farmer without protective mask.