A FACULTY member of the Silliman University won the Best Paper Award in the International Conference on Nature Studies and Innovations for the Environment 2023.

Asst. Prof. Arsenio Bulfa Jr. of SU’s College of Agriculture was recognized for his paper “Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Ecological Effects of Composts from Agro-wastes on Corn Growth, Soil Chemical Properties, and Earthworm Behavior.”

The study aims to identify better management strategies for agro-wastes with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

It also seeks 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,” Bulfa said.

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 applying co-composted poultry manure and carbonized rice hull will improve soil health, enhance plant growth, and help capture CO2, a primary greenhouse gas,” he said.

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

Cubelo’s study was the “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.”