Enriquez, Frank Henny B. creator text City of Batac MMSU 2024 monographic eng

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xii, 65 leaves : 29 cm. A study was conducted to document the production and utilization practices and yield of teosinte (Zea spp) as forage crop of ruminant raisers in Vintar, Ilocos Norte. It generally aimed to establish initial data on the farmers’ practices in cultivating teosinte/maramais. Specifically, the study aimed to: assess the socio economic profile of farmers cultivating teosinte/maramais as fodder; document the cultural management practices employed by the farmers in the production of teosinte/maramais; document the practices of farmers in the utilization of teosinte /maramais; and determine the herbage and dry matter yields of teosinte/maramais grown by farmers. A total of 70 respondents were randomly taken using a snowball sampling method from the 15 different barangays of Vintar, Ilocos Norte. The number of respondents per barangay ranges from 1-22. They were interviewed using a structured interview schedule. Moreover, fresh herbage yield of their standing crop was determined and samples were collected and dry matter yield was determined through standard oven drying. A descriptive research design was used in the study. As to socio-demographic profile of the respondents, more than half (57%) were male ages 45-46 years old and were high school graduates (53%). Seventy seven (77%) percent of them were married with 1-4 members of the family. They were engaged in farming for many years, ranging from 1-51 years and above. While more than a quarter of the respondents are engaged in ruminant production from 47 to 31 years. Cattle (61%) and cattle + goat (25%) were mostly the ruminants raised by the farmers. A combination of cut and carry, and grazing were their feeding system implemented using soilage and some were also using commercial feeds. Their recorded planting time of teosinte/maramais was May to October and 96% of them are cultivating in upland areas. Farmers employ broadcast method of sowing in an area of below 500 sq m to 1000 sq m (66.05%) and some were planting in area up to 5000 sq m (7.55%) with a seeding rate of 0.5- 20 kg seeds. Likewise, those who were planting with distinct spaces had an area below 150 sq m to as wide as 600 sq m and were using a hill spacing of 15 cm-46 cm and a row spacing of 20 cm-45 cm with 3-11 seeds per hill. Majority of the farmers do not irrigate their crops and solely depend on the rain. When it rains, farmers would apply inorganic fertilizer any time. The initial harvesting took place at vegetative stage, while the second cutting took place 31 days-50 days after the first cutting. The average fresh herbage yield per quadrant is 5.01 kg or 55.27 tons/ha. Tesosinte/maramais planted in September recorded the highest yield at 5.42 kg/quadrant or 52.74 tons/ha. While sowing method following a distinct spacing recorded higher yield at 5.86 kg/quadrant or 64.60 tons/ha compared to broadcast method. On the other hand, the calculated dry matter content ranges from 15.25- 30.50 percent with an average of 25.67%. Lastly according to the respondents, teosinte is cultivated for its persistency, moderate and high yield, simplicity of cultivation and ability to adapt better to enhanced management. Frank Henny B. Enriquez Thesis (BS in Agriculture major in Animal Science) -- Mariano Marcos State University-College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development, Batac City Bibliography : leaves 46-48 MMSU 241209 20250805093755.0