DILI, 29 august 2023 (TATOLI)- Timor-Leste National University (UNTL) uses an Agriculture conservation with the Legumunosa plant method, to increase corn production in three municipalities in Timor-Leste.
Acting Dean of Faculty Agriculture of UNTL, Marcal Gusmão said UNTL students conduct an assessment on the Agriculture conservation program to increase corn production, and identified that the Legumunosa plant is one of the proper methods to ensure the nutrient omission to fertilized soil for growing corn.
“We identified Legumunosa plant as one of the plants that can support the soil fertilizer and ensure the soil can have enough nutrients for growing corn,’’ Acting Dean Faculty Agriculture of UNTL, Marçal Gusmão told TATOLI in his office, Caicoli, Monday.
The leguminous plant will be buried in the soil and will related to the fertilizer solid. The corn plants are grown for a short period (usually 4-6 weeks) and the dry weight of tops is compared with that of all treatments.
“We believe the Agriculture conservation program using the Legumunosa plant method can provide enough nutrients for the soil and can increase corn production in the coming year,’’ He said
This Agriculture conservation program with the Legumunosa plant method is a method that is applied in different places in three municipalities.
“We starting in four different places in municipalities of Hera, Kelique, Venilale, and Betanu,’’ He said
He explained that UNTL also applies the Australia Center for International Research (ACIAR) method to identify the proper and fertilizer soil.
ACIAR research is helping UNTL students to identify nutrient omission pot trials to understand that the nutrients in each pot receive an adequate supply of all the mineral nutrients.
“It is the first time, UNTL has used the method of ACIAR research to grow corn in Timor-Leste. We hope if in this year, we able to harvest good crops. It required expanding to other municipalities across the Territory of Timor-Leste.”
It is known that the percentage of farmers growing corn is 18% compared with rice at just 7.6% and Cassava at 7.4% This resource is carried out in three municipalities composed of Dili in Hera, Baucau in Quelicai, Venilale, and Manufahi Betanu.
So far, based on FAO 2021 data, Timor–Leste corn production reached over 80,000 tons. It is a positive result of corn production in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
