Correlation Coefficient

The correlation coefficient measures the linear relationship between two variables.  It is often represented by p (rho) symbol for the population and r for the sample.  The value ranges from -1 to +1.  The sign of the value indicates the direction of the linear relationship.  A positive (+) sign indicates a positive relationship which can be viewed as an upward sloping line, where an increase in one variable meant an increase in the other variable.  A (-) sign indicates a negative relationship which can be viewed as a downward sloping line, where an increase in one variable meant a decrease in the other variable and vice versa.

The formula for the correlation coefficient is:

 

Generally, a correlation coefficient of 0.90 and above, regardless of the sign, is considered high correlation.  A correlation coefficient of 0.50 and below is considered low correlation.  A correlation coefficient between 0.5 and 0.9 is considered medium correlation.

Some things to note about correlation coefficient value:

a)  A correlation coefficient of 0.50 meant that the one variable explains only about 25% of the variation in the other variable;

b)  It takes a correlation coefficient of 0.70 for one variable to explain about 50% of the variation in the other variable;

c)  For a correlation coefficient to be convincing in determining the linear relationship between the two variables, a medium correlation needs to tested for statistical significance using t statistic;

d)  It is often safe to say, that low correlations means "no correlations".  By precision, no correlation will have a correlation value of 0.

 

t-Statistic of the Correlation Coefficient

The t-Statistic of the Correlation Coefficient is given by the formula:

        where:     r = value of the correlation coefficient

                        n = is the number of samples

 

The t-Statistic is used to test the following hypothesis:

a)  Ho (Null Hypothesis) that r is equal to 0 and there is no significant correlation between the two variables under study;

b)  Ha (Alternative Hypothesis) the r is not equal to zero and that there is a significant correlation between the two variables under study.

As a rule of the thumb for samples larger than 60, a t-Statistic value of 2 or more (regardless of the sign) means that it is statistically significant and therefore the Ha (alternative hypothesis) is accepted and the Ho (null hypothesis) is rejected.  Inversely, a t-Statistic value of less than 2 (regardless of the sign) means that it is NOT statistically significant and therefore the Ho (null hypothesis) is accepted and the Ha (alternative hypothesis) is rejected.  

For boundary values, the reference t-Statistic is found in most college level textbooks.  However, the reference t-Statistic can also be viewed using tinv() function found in most computer spreadsheets.  For the LibreCalc spreadsheet, the tinv() function is given by formula =tinv(risk level,degrees of freedom).  To illustrate, a sample of 200 with a confidence level of 95%, we place  =tinv(0.05,198).  This gives a t-Statistic reference value of (1.972017).  The degrees of freedom is 200-2=198.  The risk level is 1 minus the confidence level of 95% (0.95) equals (0.05).

As a note, the t-Statistic of the Correlation Coefficient is equal to the t-Statistic of the Simple Regression Equation.  As such, the t-Statistic can be derived from the Simple Regression Model using the F-Statistic as F=t^2 or t-Statistic is the square root of the F-Statistic.

Jadam Sulfur (JS)

This procedure makes approximately 4.1 liters of Jadam Sulfur (JS).

 

Ingredients / Materials

1. Sulfur - 1.25 kg
2. Sea Salt - 0.075 kg (75g)
3. Caustic Soda (Sodium Hydroxide) - 1kg
4. Non-chlorinated Water - 4.1 liters
5. Two (2) pails (30 liters capacity each)
6. Long wooden stick for mixing
7. Eye protection and face masks preferably N95
   

 

Procedure

1. Place the sulfur and sea salt in one pail and mix.  Break the lumps into smaller pieces as possible for easy mixing;
2. On another pail, place 2.5 liters of non-chlorinated water;
3. Pour the contents pail containing sulfur and sea salt into the pail containing 2.5 liters of water;
4. Pour the 1kg Sodium Hydroxide into the pail (Be careful as this process will create tremendous amount of heat that will melt the Sulfur);
5. Continuously stir the mixture until all the powdered sulfur and salt will have been dissolved in water;
6. Once all the particles are dissolved, add the remaining 1.6 liters of water and continue mixing until the solution color is uniform all throughout;
   
7. Leave it for 1 day to cool down;
8. Pour, bottle and seal the solution for safekeeping (There is no expiration date so long as the solution is tightly capped);

 

Usage

• Dilution ratio is within the range of 1:100 and 1:1000;
• Low Strength is 1ml of JS to 1000ml (1 liter) of water (1:1000);
• High Strength is 1ml of JS to 100ml of water (1:100);
• Jadam Natural Pesticide (JNP) is the combination of Jadam Wetting Agent (JWA) plus Jadam Sulfur (JS) and Jadam Herbal Solution (JHS).

 

 

 

 

Test Farm: Organic Rice Production

Test Farm No. 1:  Organic Rice Production

 

Area = 0.5 hectare

Location:  Oanzon Farm, Burabod, Sorsogon

Procedure

 

Before Planting

1. One (1) month before planting, applied 40 sacks of chicken manure on the rice paddy;
2. Two (2) weeks before planting, undertook harrowing, flooding, and spraying / sprinkling of 2 liters of Photosynthetic Bacteria (PSB) solution (Produced by RNFLSI contains Rhodospirillaceae and Rhodopseudomonas);  Prepared 160 liters (1 drum) Fortified Jadam Manure Tea (F-JMT), added Calcium and Humic Acid to the JMT, intended for use on the 1st week of planting (Drum 1);
   
3. One (1) week before planting, undertook harrowing and spraying / sprinkling of 2 liters of PSB solution; Prepared 160 liters (1 drum) of Fortified JMT intended for use on the 2nd week of planting (Drum 2);

Observation No. 1:  One (1) week before planting, the flooded rice paddy has turned green.  Microscopic sample revealed presence of multitude of blue green algae (BGA - Cyanobacteria), some green algae, rhodopseudomonas, and fungi, and other bacteria, ciliates, various nematodes and multitude of organic matter

Seedling Preparation

1. Seeds were soaked for 30 minutes in Mychorrhizal Fungi and Azospirilla Solution (MFA).  Used 1 pack of Myko Plus product (Mychorrhizal Fungi and Azospirilla Bacteria produced by UPLB dissolved in water);
2. During transplant, seedlings were again dipped in MFA solution for 30 minutes before transplanting.  Used additional 1 pack of Myko Plus product;

During Planting

 

Baseline Acidity/Alkalinity (PH), Total Dissolve Solids (TDS), and Temperature of the soil in 3 rice paddies (local term:  paras) undertaken 1 week after transplanting:

 

Paddy ID	PH Baseline	PH Actual>	TDS Baseline	TDS Actual	Temperature
P1 Lower	6.7 ph	6.8 ph neutral	4 ppm	45 ppm	29.4 C
P1 Upper	6.7 ph	6.6 ph neutral	12 ppm	33 ppm	28.4 C
P3 Upper	6.7 ph	6.8 ph neutral	4 ppm	28 ppm	29.0 C
Average	6.7 ph	6.7 ph neutral	6.67 ppm	35.3 ppm	28.9 C
Observation No.2: One (1) week after transplanting, paddy field has been drained with only slight flooding. Microscopy observation using 3 sample paddies showed lots of organic matter and minerals in soil. Few bacteria and no nematodes were observed.

 

1. One (1) week after tranplanting, applied (spraying / sprinkling) Fortified Jadam Manure Tea (F-JMT) using Drum No. 1;  Made F-JMT on Drum No. 1 intended for use by the 3rd week;
   
2. Two (2) weeks after transplanting, applied F-JMT using Drum No. 2.  Afterwards, made F-JMT on Drum No. 2 for use by the 4th week;
3. Repeated Steps 1 and 2.  
   

Procedure for Organic Rice Production

Procedure for Organic Rice Production

Pre-requisite

1. Establish physical gap (buffer zone) between your organic rice paddy from your neighboring rice paddies.  The physical gap must be able to ward off contamination from the neighboring non-organic rice paddy.  While the organic standards (USDA and Philippine Organic Standards) does not specify how wide is the distance, most practitioners uses the rough rule of 50 feet distance between the neighboring farms.
    

After Every Harvest 

1. Add and disperse Bokashi Composts (Note: 1 hectare requires 4 tons of composts); or 80 sacks (@50kgs per sack) of Chicken or Cow Manure
   
2. Apply 500 liters per hectare of diluted JMS or EMAS; or 2.5 liters (concentrate) or 250 liters (diluted at 10ml PSB to 1 liter of water) of PSB
   
3. Leave Rice Straws in the Field and use as Natural Mulch and cover the soil as much as possible

 

Seedling Application

1. Soak rice seedlings for 24 to 48 hrs in Trichoderma Fungi solution (1 pack to 40 liters); or Mycorrhizal Fungi solution (1pack to 40 liters)
   

 

Before Transplanting

1. Plant green manure 3 weeks before transplanting 
2. Slight plow in the green manure 2 days before transplanting
3. Apply 500 liters of diluted JMS and 200 liters of JLF (or diluted FPJ, FAA, FFJ) per hectare

 

After Transplanting

1. After transplanting, spray the field / plant with Trichoderma solution (1 pack to 40 liters); or Mycorrhizal Fungi solution (1pack to 40 liters)
2. On the 1st week, apply the field / plant with 500 liters per hectare of diluted JMS or EMAS; or 2.5 liters (concentrate) or 250 liters (diluted at 10ml PSB to 1 liter of water) of PSB; and 200 liters of diluted JLF (or diluted FPJ, FAA, FFJ)
   
3. Repeat the process you did during the 1st week on the 2nd week and onwards
   
4. Depending on the rice variety, rice takes about 95 (early variety) to 250 (late variety) days
   

PEST Management

• For INSECT Pests, spray Beauveria solution (1 pack to 40 liters) once and observe effectiveness after 1 week.  Repeat application, when no visible effectiveness is observed.  You should see dead pests covered with white fungus (i.e., Beauveria).  [Caution:  Beauveria affects the entire Phylum Arthropoda (Invertebrate with exoskeleton) that includes spiders, mites, insects, centipedes, and millipedes] 
• For Mollusks (Snails), place barriers (screen) in the entry and exit points of irrigation water.  Snails eat young and emerging plants.  It has been observed that as rice plants mature, it becomes unpalatable to the snails which then turn to consuming weeds around rice paddies.  So direct seeded rice is more vulnerable than transplanted rice.  Local domesticated ducks can also be deployed in rice paddies to eat the snails.
  

 

 

Effective Microorganism Activated Solution (EMAS)

 Effective Microorganism Activated Solution (EMAS)

EMAS, also known as Activated EM-1, is the fermentation of EM-1 (Effective Microorganism) with molasses for 7 days.  EMAS is made up of lactobacillus, yeast, and photosynthetic bacteria.  It is a microbial inoculant for soil to improve the condition of the soil microbiome.  It can be use for sowing seeds to improve germination, drenching soil to improve fertility, immune booster for livestock,  foliar spraying, and sanitizing agent for livestock beddings and floorings.

Ingredients

• EM-1 Solution
• Molasses
• PET bottle - 1 liter
• Measuring cup for 50ml
• Non-chlorinated water

 

Procedure

1. Add 50 ml of EM-1 solution to the empty 1 liter PET bottle;
2. Add 50 ml of molasses to the same PET bottle;
3. Add non-chlorinated water to fill the remaining space in the PET bottle;
4. Label "EMAS and Date of Production";
5. Store in a dark, cool, and dry place;
   
6. Ferment for 7 days; During the fermentation period, the microorganism will geometrically grow and as a result will produce lots of gasses.  Slowly release the cap every day during the fermentation in order to release the pressure.
7. After 7 days, the EMAS is ready for use.  The product is best use within 3 months;

 

Usage

1. Dilute the 20 ml of EMAS solution with 1 liter of non-chlorinated water;
2. For seeds sowing, soak the seeds with diluted EMAS for at least 30 minutes before sowing to improve germination;
3. For drenching and foliar application for plants, apply once a week;
4. As immunity booster for pets and livestock, use as tonic drink at least once a week;
5. As sanitizing agent, apply twice a week the first time and once a week thereafter in the livestock beddings, floorings, feces and droppings;
6. To hasten anaerobic composting, spray on the material whenever you can smell odor;
7. Likewise, to hasten pile or pit composting, spray on the material to be composted at least once.  The composting material must be moist for EMAS to work well.
   

 

 

 

Photosynthetic Bacteria (PSB) Solution

Photosynthetic Bacteria (PSB) Solution

 

PSB Solution is a microbial inoculant that you can use in your farm or garden similar to EMAS or JMS.  PSB are a group of beneficial bacteria that degrades contaminants in water and soil.  They are generally anaerobic and is believed to have built the world we live in today.  They are known to occur in water columns (Sergei Winogradsky water column) in rice fields, waste water environments, and aquatic sediments.  PSB plays an important role in the circulation of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur.

Ingredients

1.  Egg (or Fish Sauce, Soy Sauce, or any Sulfur-rich material)

2.  Egg shell (as source for Calcium Carbonate and Cellulose) or you can use Agri Lime as source for Calcium Carbonate and Paper as source for Cellulose

3.  Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - this is the Sodium salt of Glutamic acid arising from the fermentation of Glucose via the action of Corynebacterium Glutamicum.  It is one of the most naturally occuring amino acids.

4.  Pond water (or River Water as source or inoculant of the PSB bacteria); preferably, get the bottom water of the pond as the Purple Non-Sulftur Photosynthetic Bacteria (PNSPSB) thrives in anaerobic condition;

5.  Empty 1 liter Coke bottle (or similar) - 3 pcs

6.  Optional:  Seawater (Prefered - 1 cup) or Natural rock salt (1 tsp);  Do not use Iodized Salt as the Iodine in salt inhibits bacterial reproduction.

Procedure

1.  Crack the egg into a bowl and stir and mix the yoke and albumen; (alternatively, you can use 1 tablespoon of fish sauce or soy sauce and add to around 50ml of water)

2.  Place the egg shell in a plastic bag.  Crush it to smaller pieces and add the crushed pieces to the bowl with stirred egg; (alternatively, you can use 1 tablespoon of Agri Lime and 3x3inches Paper and dissolve it in 50ml of water;

3.  Divide the mixture into 3 parts and add 1 part to 1 liter of Pond water.  Repeat the process till you have filled all 3 liters of Pond water.

4.  Add 1 tsp of MSG to each liter of water.  Cap the bottle and shake the contents.

5.  Place the bottles in the field where it is exposed to sunlight.

6.  The fermentation process will take approximately 30 days.  Visit the bottles every week and shake the bottle.

7.  After thirty days, the mixture should change color to "Purple".  This is now your PSB and is ready for use.

8.  Optional step:  Check under a microscope the presence of any of the Photosynthetic Bacteria.  The most well studied and preferred for tropical climate is the Purple Non-Sulfur Photosynthetic Bacteria.  However, as we now currently from the works of Dr. Elaine Ingham, Dr. David Johnson and Dr. Teruo Higa), the more varied and diverse these beneficial bacteria, the better it is for the environment, soil and agriculture.

Application

• For watering, mix 10 ml of PSB to 1 liter of water
• For foliar application, mix 10ml of PSB to 10 liters of water
• For aquarium (to reduce ammonia and nitrite wastes), mix 25ml of PSB to 10 liters of water
  

 

Types of Photosynthetic Bacteria

1. Cyanobacteria - Color: Green;
   
2. Prochlorophytes
   
3. Green Sulfur Photosynthetic Bacteria (Chloro biacae) - Green; uses reduced sulfur species as electron donor;
   
4. Green Non-Sulfur Photosynthetic Bacteria (Chloroflexi) - Green, filamenous
   
5. Purple Sulfur Photosynthetic Bacteria (Chromatiales)- Purple, gram-negative, short rods, uses sulfide and sulfur as electron donor
   
6. Purple Non-Sulfur Photosynthetic Bacteria (Rhodospirillaceae; Rhodobacter Sphaeroides; Rhodobacter capsulatus; Rhodopseudomonas) - Purple; gram-negative; rod-shape whose length can vary; eye-catching and easily identifiable; uses hydrogen gas as electron donor; preferred for tropical environment;  

 Cyanobacteria

 

Prochlorophytes

 

 Green Sulfur Bacteria

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rhodospirillaceae

Rhodopseudomonas

Rhodopseudomonas under Microscope (Screen-capture from Matt Powers' Youtube)

-oOo-

 

Super Simple Procedure 

 

Ingredients:

1. PET Bottle 6 liter water container
2. Eggs - 2 pcs
3. MSG - Ajinomoto - 1 small pack
4. River / Pond water
   
   
   

 Procedure:

1. Gather river / pond water using the 6 liter PET bottle;
2. Beat the 2 eggs;
3. Crush the eggshells and mix it with the beaten eggs;
4. Add the MSG into the beaten eggs and mix it;
5. Add the beaten eggs solution to the river / pond water;
6. Cover the lid and label "PSB date_of_fermentation and date_of_harvest".  The date of harvest is 1 month after the date_of_fermentation;
7. Place the 6 liter PET bottle PSB Solution in the sunny field to ferment;
8. Every week, shake the bottle at least once;
9. After one month, the contents of the PSB will turn from light yellow to purple.  This is now ready for use.  

Note:  PSB smells bad because of sulfur.  The bacteria we have cultured eats sulfur.
 

 

What to expect...

1.  This is the look of PSB on the day of fermentation after the above-mentioned procedure.  (Date of fermentation here is 1 July 2022)  

 

2.  After 7 days, the PSB we prepared looks green.  (Date of photo is 8 July 2022)

The PSB solution has turned milky green after I have shaken the bottle.

3.  After 14 days, the PSB has turn deep red-brown (maroon) color.  (Date of photo is 15 July 2022)

 

 4.  At the time of harvest (after 1 month), the PSB color did not change much from the color observed after 14 days. 

Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum (LABS)

Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum (LABS)

(Source: e-TESDA material on Formulating Organic Concoctions and Extracts) 

Lactic Acid Bacteria Serum (LABS) is an organic concoction made by culturing lactic acid bacteria present in milk. The recommended ratio for LABS is 1-part rice wash 9-parts milk, 10-parts molasses. LABS can be used in soils, animal beddings, and as composting agent. LABS is also useful improving plants’ resistance to diseases. 

 

Ingredients

• 100mL rice wash or hugas bigas 
• 900mL fresh milk 
• 1L molasses or muscovado sugar 

 

Materials

• plastic container or earthen jar 
• Manila paper 
• plastic straw 
• cheesecloth 

 

Procedures

First culture 

1. Pour 100mL rice wash into a container.
   
2. Leave at least 25% of air space in the container. 
3. Cover the container with a Manila paper and then secure it with a plastic straw. 
4. Leave to ferment in a cool, dry place for 5-7 days. 
5. The rice bran should float like a thin film on the surface of the liquid. 
6. Remove the bran in preparation for the second culture. 

Second culture 

1. Add 900mL of milk. 
2. Use a cheesecloth to strain milk clots. 
3. Cover and ferment for 7-10 days. 
4. After 7-10 days, the fat and milk solids will float on the surface, leaving the serum at the bottom. 
5. Remove the fat and milk solids and add them to your compost. 
6. Add equivalent amount of molasses to the mixture. The more you put, the more will be available for the lactic acid bacteria to consume. 
7. Ferment for another 5-7 days. 
8. Transfer to a clean container and store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. 
9. Transfer the mixture into a plastic bottle. Do not seal the cap too tightly because pressure will continue to build up for 2 weeks after harvest. 

 

Application 

Properly stored LABS will last for 6 months if unused. Apply as: 

• as immunity booster for animals Dilute 2 tbsps./20mL for every liter of water.
• as composting agent Dilute 2 tbsps./20mL for every liter of water. 
• as sanitizing agent for soil and beddings in poultry/livestock production Dilute 2 tbsps./20mL for every liter of water.