THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said areas affected by the eruption of Kanlaon volcano may require soil rejuvenation so as not to disrupt sugar production.
The SRA said the volcanic ash fall caused by the eruption of Kanlaon volcano last Monday has increased the level of acidity in the sugar cane leaves and ground soil in affected areas.
SRA said about 23,000 hectares in four sugar mill districts may have been affected by the volcanic eruption.
SRA said the pH level which is used to indicate the level of acidity showed a 4.14 pH on sugar cane leaves and 5.06 pH in the soil the morning after the ash fall, both results indicating acidity as compared to the 6.48 pH of the ground testing last week.
“The pH level of 7 is neutral but years of tilling sugar fields has affected our soil and the 6.48 pH result last week should have been ideal. With the current results after the ash fall, if this will not be washed out by rains, we will need soil rejuvenation in affected sugar lands to bring it back to the ideal state and that is long term,” said Pablo Azcona, SRA administrator, in a statement.
Azcona said it is too early to tell whether or not the volcanic ash will cause so much damage on crops.
In a report presented by the Research and Development arm of the agency that conducted testing in the La Granja Research Station in La Carlota last Tuesday, the immediate effects of volcanic ash can cause physical damage on the leaves, reducing its photosynthesis capability and biological and chemical disruption on the soil which can all lead to reduction of yield.
Its long term effects on sugar crops on the other hand can cause nutrient imbalance on soil, compaction and erosion and chemical leaching that may reduce the soil pH level.
