AGRONOMIC EFFICIENCES OF YELLOW CORN IN RESPONSE TO

INDIGENOUS MICROORGANISM (IMO) 7 APPLICATION

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

ARCHIE L. NAMOCATCAT
ARCHIE O. MABATE
LUZELLE KATE A. BASLAN
REHJAM FE M. BATO
RUTCHELL A. BACOYONG
 AGRONOMIC EFFICIENCIES OF YELLOW CORN IN RESPONSE TO
INORGANIC AND INDIGENOUS MICROORGANISMS (IMO) APPLICATION

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented to the Faculty of College of Agriculture
ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNTMENT COLLEGE
Aurora Zamboanga Del Sur

In Partial Fulfilment
Of the Requirements for Degree
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE

ARCHIE L. NAMOCATCAT
ARCHIE O. MABATE
LUZELLE KATE A. BASLAN
REHJAM FE M. BATO
RUTCHELL A. BACOYONG
 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is known to be an agricultural country, most of the product

among them is the maize otherwise known as yellow corn. Although, does being

in the top ten agricultural product it still account for of 10 percent of the country’s

agricultural export. Corn (Zea mays L.) is the second most important crop in the

Philippines. It is widely cultivated all over the Philippines due to its many uses,

apart from being a good substitute to rice. More than 11 million Filipinos prefer

corn as staple food. (DA 2012).

On the other hand, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and other

agricultural inputs derived from fossil fuels have increased agricultural

production, yet the growing awareness and concern over their adverse effects on

soil productivity and environmental quality cannot be ignored. The high cost of

these products, the difficulties of meeting demand for them, and their harmful

environmental legacy have encouraged scientists to develop alternative

strategies to raise productivity, with microbes playing a central role in these

efforts (Vaxevanidou et al. 2015).

Resulting, IMOs. This create the optimum and favorable environment to

improve and maintain soil flora and soil fauna as well as the other
microorganisms which in turn support the quality life of higher plants and animals

including the human. Soil particles are lumped in aggregates and fostered to

provide air and water retention, which in turn creates a good habitat for other

symbiotic microbes. The IMOs are eco-friendly, environmentally safe and healthy

with potential to create hunger-free environment. Better quality crops and

livestock are assured due to the absence of synthetic chemical fertilizers and

pesticides as input.

Moreover, Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) revive soil nutrients, speed

up composting and balance the beneficial and non-beneficial microbes. The

propagations of beneficial microorganisms is the best way to respect and sanctify

life in order to have a sustainable farm in the future.

Further, this study shall be conducted in order to determine the

“Agronomic Efficiencies of Yellow Corn in Response to Inorganic and Indigenous

Microorganism (IMO) Application”.

Statement of the problem

This study aims to determine the effect of Inorganic fertilizer and

Indigenous Microorganisms (IMO) to the yellow corn. Specifically, it seek to

answer the following:

1. What is the effect of Inorganic Fertilizer and Indigenous Microorganism

(IMO7) into the yield of yellow corn?

2. Which level of IMO 7 enhance the growth and yield of Yellow corn?
 3. Is there any significant difference on the growth and yield of yellow corn

applied with varied levels of IMO 7?

Significance of the study

The result of this study is beneficial to the students, readers, researchers,

and farmers, who advocates and adopt natural farming technologies. It helps

them as a guide to propagate and produce beneficial microorganisms in order to

restore our environment. For them to learn the importance and value of

Indigenous Microorganisms which, it is environmentally, naturally, safe and

available.

Scope and Limitations

The study shall be conducted at the Crop Science experimental area of

the Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Government College, Roxas St. Poblacion,

Aurora Zamboanga del Sur. This will be focus on the effectiveness of the

Inorganic and Indigenous Microorganism to the yellow corn with different levels.

Other than that, the crops or the yellow corn that is to be planted will reach only

25 seeds in each 6 rows. Also, this study will only have four (4) treatments,

treatment 1 (conventional farming), treatment 2 (9 tons/ha (IMO7)), treatment 3

(18 tons/ha (IMO7)), and treatment 4 (27 tons/ha (IMO7)). Further, the

researchers seek to pinpoint the efficacy of the said treatment in regards to the

crops.
Objectives of the Study

The objective of study is to determine the “Agronomic Efficiencies of

Yellow Corn in Response to Inorganic and Indigenous Microorganism (IMO7)

applications”

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined contextually and operationally for the sake

and consideration of the readers to have a better insight.

Agronomic efficiency (AE). Is calculated in units of yield increase per unit

of nutrient applied. In this study, agronomic efficiency will be the measurement of

the efficacy of organic fertilizer applied on yellow corn.

Chemical fertilizers. A fertilizer is any materials of natural or synthetic

origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers

may be distinct from liming materials or other non-nutrient soil amendments.

Many sources of fertilizer exist, both natural and industrially produced.

Corn (Zea mays L.). Maize (Zea mays) is the third most important cereal

grain in the world, after wheat and rice, providing nutrients for humans and

animals and serving as a baic raw materials for production of starch, oil, protein,

alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, and fuel.

fertilizers from the different raw materials which is done and obtain through the

process of microbial fermentation and composting.

Herbicides. Are a broad class of pesticides that are used to remove

nuisance plants, such as grasses and weed, that may compromise the growth

and yield of desired crops that are in close proximity.

Pesticides. A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control

certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter shows the review of related literature that must be helpful

upon conducting this experiment.

Corn (Zea mays L.), an annual crop that belongs to the grass family. It is

the mother grain of American people and is deemed to be the first cultivar in the

new world. It is a crop that has a short life cycle and requires warm weather,

suitable apprehension and management. It is valuable animal feed, human food,

and raw material for a number of industries (Hiruy, and Getu, 2020). According to

Kpoti et al.,(2018), corn has been a cornerstone of American agriculture for

decades and expects to offer a great deal of attention from the scientific

community for its flexibility to address the food, feed and fuel needs of a growing

human population in a changing climate.

In the Philippines, sweet corn is conventionally grown through direct

seeding method but new studies in University of Vermont, United States of

America and Eastern Cape, South Africa have shown that transplanting method

of crop have resulted in improved agronomic and economic yields.

In addition, corn is used directly for human consumption in other countries.

As far as organic maize production is concerned, there is some evidence of their

duce adverse health impact of corn intensity associated with local organic

production (Scialabba, 2020). As mention in the study by Panikkai and Al (2019),

the growth of the production depends heavily on the rise of corn planting area.

The amount of national corn production is becoming an integral part of the

national corn development model towards the regional economy contributed by

the increase of national corn; the donations of GDP and income earned by corn

farmers. The improvement in the national economy was contributed by the

increased of corn production.

Globally, corn is one of the major vegetables especially because of its high

demand and cash value (as cited in Borres, 2018). According to Rouf Shah,

Prasad and Kumar (2020), corn (Zea maysL) is the primary source of nutrition

and phytochemical compounds. Major phyto chemicals in corn play a vital role in

preventing chronic diseases like carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and phyto

sterols. Kumar and Jhariya (2018) stated that the B-complex vitamins in maize

are good for skin, hair, heart, brain, and adequate metabolisms. According to

Tampus (2019), production of corn was found to bevery impressive source of

living for farmers. Mainly because corn is easier to grow, saves labor, and has

high market demand for food than growing for grain.

Furthermore, corn performs an important role in the global economy, with

USA being the leading producer of 370 million tons from 36 million hectares

(harvested 33.08 million hectares in 2017), accounting for over one-third of the

global corn production12; out of this is more than 92% is GM corn (Sandhu
2020). At present, with the global production of 1.06 billion tons out of 187 million

hectares corn is second largest agricultural commodity after sugarcane and

wheat12. In industrialized countries, it is mainly used as animal feed, followed by

ethanol and other industrial uses.

INDIGENOUS MICROORGANISM (IMO) 7

Indigenous microorganism are a group of innate microbial consortium that

inhabits the soil and the surface of all living things inside out which have the

potentially in biodegradation, nitrogen fixation, improving soil fertility, phosphate

solubilizes and plant growth promoters (Umi, Kalsom and Sariah, 2006).

Indigenous microorganisms do not contain a single culture of beneficial

microorganisms but a mixture of different beneficial microorganisms; it is a village

of a good bacteria that are living together in harmony with the rest of nature. The

term “indigenous microorganisms” refers to a group of beneficial microbes that

are native to the area, thus the name indigenous (locally existing or not imported)

(kumar & gopal, 2015).

Further, indigenous microorganisms play an important role by protecting

the normal host from invasion by microorganisms with a greater potential for

causing disease. They complete with the pathogens for essential nutrients and
for receptors on host cells by producing bacteriocins and other inhibitory

substances, making the environment inimical to colonization by pathogens. They

are important component of world biodiversity. These microorganisms increase

the availability of nutrients to host plants (Vessey, 2003) and increase the water-

holding capacity, making the plants to have sufficient water all the time. It

improves the aeration to the plant roots such that exchange of gases takes place

effectively and prevents soil erosion. Based on the collection sites, the process of

collection and isolation methods are different as they may vary from place to

place. Many environmental factors affect the rate of biodegradation potential and

this involves both physical and chemical factors such as temperature, Ph,

organic matter, oxygen availability, and availability of nutrients and so on.

Also, Kumar and Gopal (2015) added that IMO- based Technology was

actually developed and introduced by Dr. Chou Hankyu in 1960s. He employed

this technology in natural farms and observed amazing improvements in soil

structure and plant health. Upon IMO application, the soil regains its loaminess,

titlh, structure and even the natural farmer friends, the earthworms, come into

droves. Natural farming with IMO Technology is a distinctive approach in organic

farming and it has been practiced in more than 30 countries in their home

gardens and also on a commercial scale. This technology was ritually followed by
farmers of Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Congo, Tanzania, Vietnam,

Philippines, and Mongolia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This chapter discussed about the research materials and methods used in

this study. This includes the research environment, experimental design and

treatments, procurement of yellow corn seeds, land preparation, field layout, and

soil sampling, fertilizer application, planting, water management, care and

management, harvesting, and data to be gathered.

Research Environment

This study will be conducted at the Crop Science Experimental area of the

Zamboanga Del Sur Provincial Government College, Aurora, Zamboanga Del

Sur from October 10, 2022 to January 22, 2023.

Experimental Design and Treatments

This study shall use Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with

four treatments and 3 replicates. The Treatment are as follows:

T1- control (conventional farming)

T2: 9 tons/ha (IMO7)

T3: 18 tons/ha (IMO7)

T4: 27 tons/ha (IMO7)

total land area of 1000 m 2 will be occupied but only 306 square meter will be

subject for observation and investigation including canals and alley ways. The

remaining will be allotted for buffer and control. Each plot will have 6 rows with a

dimension of 4.2m x 5m. The plants will be spaced at a distance of 70 cm

between rows and 20 cm between hills within a row.

Materials

The different materials to be used in this study are the following, Yellow

corn (Zea mays L.) seeds, IMO 7, Inorganic fertilizer, knapsack sprayer, sacks,

spade, water sprinkler, measuring tap, string weighing scale, pen and book for

record keeping.

Soil sampling

The soil will be collected in the field using the guide of soil sampling on

how to collect soil samples. Meanwhile, the soil collected will be experimented by

the Department of Agriculture in order to determine the usefulness of the soil.

Land preparation

The area to be planted will be prepared by weeding and plowing to

minimize weed emergence during planting. Also, the land will be prepared 3
weeks before planting for the sake of eliminating the weeds, and plots consist of

12 rows will be laid out with of 4.2m x 5m.

Preparation of seeds

The Roundup Ready D1186 variety of yellow corn (Zea mays) seeds are

obtained from the College of Agriculture of ZSPGC. The said crops are provided

freely by the College of Agriculture with 85% of germination rate.

Furrowing and Planting

Furrows will be prepared at 70 cm apart using tractor machine. The seeds

of yellow corn (Z. mays L.) will be planted at the rate of 2 seeds per hill at a

distance of 20 cm between hills.

Placing of Plot Numbers

The bamboo stick with plot numbers were placed in every plot of yellow

corn. Plot numbers shall be arranged from left to right direction for easy

identification and collection of data.

Preparation of Indigenous Microorganisms

The following methods was adopted from Nature Farming Technology

System (CRS & USDA, 2008) and was modified by (Villaver & Borres, 2019) to

utilize the available resources.

1. Preparation of IMO 1 – The materials used were as follows: ½ kg rice, kettle,

knife, spade, manila paper, twine, basin, and tablespoon. The ½ kg rice was

cooked in 30 minutes and then placed in the basin for 1 hour to cool it down.
After cooling, the rice was placed in a bamboo pole. The cooked rice was not

tampered to facilitate the growth of indigenous microorganism. After placing the

rice in the bamboo pole, it was covered with cellophane and then tied with twine.

The bamboo with rice was buried under the mahogany trees for five days.

Harvesting of IMO 1 was done five days after burying. A whitish color of

molds/spores in the rice was observed during harvest which represent the

beneficial microorganisms.

2. Preparation of IMO 2 – A kg of IMO 1, 1 kg molasses, basin, Manila paper and

plastic twine was used as the materials for IMO 2. The IMO 1 was placed in the

basin added with 1 kg of molasses. The two ingredients were mixed with bare

hands and placed in the bamboo pole and allowed to ferment for 7 days, IMO 2

was strained and the concoction collected was placed in a clean container.

3. Preparation of IMO 3 – The materials used were as follows: IMO 2, 2 sacks of

rice bran, 10 liters water, basin, canvass, dipper and spade. In this method, the 1

IMO 2, the solution was poured into the rice bran. The 11 liters solution was

poured gradually in the rice bran then mixed it using spade. The mixed materials

were covered with canvass for 3 days to undergo anaerobic fermentation. After

three days, the whitish molds were visible in the rice bran indicating that the

process for IMO 3 was successful.

4. Preparation of IMO 4 – The materials used in the preparation of IMO 4 were as

follows: IMO 3, 2 sacks chicken dung, canvass, spade, 40 ml FPJ, 40 ml FAA

and 2 liters of water. The 40 ml FPJ and 40 ml FAA were mixed into the 2 liters of
water. The canvass was removed in the IMO 3, and the 2 liter solutions were

sprinkled evenly in the IMO 3 to cool it down. The 2 sacks of chicken dung was

placed in the IMO 3 and then mixed thoroughly. After mixing the materials were

covered with canvass for 1 day.

5. Preparation of IMO 5 – In the preparation of IMO 5, the following materials

were considered: spade, 40 ml FPJ, 40 ml FAA, and 2 liters water. The 40 ml

FPJ and 40 ml FAA was mixed into the 2 liters of water. The IMO 4 was opened

then sprinkled with 2 liters FPJ and FAA solutions to cool it down. The 2 sacks of

topsoil and IMO 4 were mixed thoroughly then covered with canvass for 1 day.

6. Preparation of IMO 6 – The materials used in the preparation of IMO 6 were as

follows: IMO 5, 2 sacks of CRH, canvass, spade, and 40 ml FPJ, 40 ml FAA and

2 liters of water. The IMO 5 was sprinkled with FPJ and FAA solutions to cool it

down. The 2 sacks of CRH were mixed to the IMO 5 using spade then covered

with canvass for 1 day.

7. Preparation of IMO 7 – IMO 6, 2 sacks of vermicompost, canvass, spade, 40

ml FPJ, 4O ml FAA and 2 liters of water were the materials used in the

formulating IMO 7. In this method, the 40 ml FPJ and 40 ml FAA were mixed into

the 2 liters of water. The canvass in the IMO 6 was removed and then the 2 liters

FPJ and FAA solutions were sprinkled evenly into the surface. The 2 sacks vermi

compost were mixed into the IMO 6 then covered with canvass for 1 day. A day

after, IMO 7 was applied in the field as organic fertilizer.

The IMO 7 shall be placed in the hole in each plot 7 days before planting

according to the different rate in each treatments as basal application. The

different recommended rates are the following: T1- Commercial Fertilizer, T2-

126.67g/hill, T3- 252g/hill, and T4- 378g/hill.

Weed Control

Hand weeding will be done twice at 18 th days and 36th days after

planting. The surrounding area of the experimental plots will be cleared using

blunt bolo to avoid invasion of pest.

Harvesting

Harvesting will be done at 120 days after planting, usually it comes about

20 days after the silk appear. It will be harvested when yellow silks turn dark

brown, and kernels are soft and plump. By squeezing a kernel with the fingernail

― if the juice is milky, not clear, the ear is ready for picking. Husks will be

removed, and ears will be classified into small, medium, and large.

Data Gathering Procedure

The following were the data gathering procedure during the establishment

of this study:
Agronomic data:

This will be done by measuring crops, in which 10 representative of the

yellow corn in each plot will be taken as a sample.

1. Initial Stand count. Initial stand count shall be done in each plot at two weeks

after planting.

2. Final stand count.

3. Plant height (cm). Plant height shall be taken from the 10 representative plants

per plot. Measurement shall be done from the ground level to the base of the

tassel 1 week before harvest.

4. Agronomic height. (cm). Ear height was taken from 10 representative plants

per plot. Measurement shall be done from the ground level the base of the

primary ear at 1 week before harvesting.

5. Days to tasselling. This was determined by counting the days from the date of

emergence up to the time when 75% of the plants in the pot had tassels.

6. Days of Silking. This shall be determined from the date of emergence to 40- 45

days after planting.

Yield and Yield components

1. Percentage of marketable ears. This was done by using the formula below
 % of marketable ear no of marketable ears x 100
Total number of ears/plot
2. Number of ears per plot. This shall be done by counting the total number of

ears harvested per plot

3. Weight of ears per plot. This shall be done by weighing the total number of

ears harvested per plot.

4. Weight per ear. (g).This will done by weighing the 10 sample earn taken at

random per plot and then divided by 10 sample to get the average weight.

5. Ear diameter. (cm). This was done by measuring the 10 sample ears per plot

taken at random using the

6. Ear length. This was done by measuring the length of the 10 sample ears per

plot taken at random using measuring tape.

7. Number of kernel rows. This was done by counting the number of kernel rows

per ear in the 10 sample ears taken at random per plot.

8. Number of kernel per rows. This was done by counting the number of kernel

per row ear in the 10 sample ears taken at random per plot.

9. Number of kernel per ear. This was done by using the formula below: No. of

kernel per ear = number of kernel per row x number of rows

10. Ear yield (kg/ha). This was done by using the formula below:

Ear Yield (kg/ha) = yield per plot (kg) x 10,000

Field Layout

T4R1 T2R2 T2R3

1 2 3
 1m

T2R1 T3R2 T4R3

4 5 6

0.5m 22.5m

T3R1 T1R2 T1R3

9 8 7
1m

5m T1R1 T4R2 T3R3

10 11 12

4.2m 0.5m

13.6m

Total 306m2

●
20cm
Plot Lay-out ●

●
 ●

References
De Los Santos, W.L, lansigan F.P, Hansen J. (2003) Corn Production climate
information and Farm level Decision making https://.link Springers.com
PHILIPPINES STATISTICS AUTHORITY Region III - Central Luzon (2020)
volume of corn production in Central Luzon First Quarter 2020
http://vsso03.psa.gov.ph
Kazem Jassim A, (2018) Effect of the method and level of adding NPK
NANOPARTICLES and MINERAL FERTILIZERS on the growth and yield of
yellow corn and content of mineral nutrient of some plant part,
http://www.researchgate.net
Sri Hidayati, mattons, Ali, Sri Puwati, Nurul Huda and Nurlina (2004) granting of
organic fertilizer and NPK fertilizer to growth and result of Sweet Corn ( Zea
may).
Baduru lakshman kumar and D.V.R.Sai gural ( 2018) Effect role of indigenious
microorganism for sustainable environment http://www Ncbi.nim.gov
Villaver J. (2019) Physiological Efficiency of sweet corn ( Zea mays L. var
Saccharata) as influenced by indigenous microorganism (IMO)7 and
Biofertilizer. https://www academia.edu.