Corn cobs potential organic fertilizer

Corn cobs, when soaked in water for several weeks to release potassium, is showing promise that these could be used as fertilizer, increasing harvest yield and saving money at the same time.
Dr. Apolonio M. Ocampo, of the Institute of Plant Breeding in the University of the Philippines-Los Baños, said they started the study October last year and expected to be finished next year Speaking before the ongoing 8th Philippine National Corn Congress at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here, Ocampo said the potassium from corn cobs soaked in water was tested as fertilizer for open pollinated variety of corn that potentially yields six to seven tons per hectare, and hybrid variety that can yield up to 11 tons per hectare.
At least 1,000 farmers from different regions are participating in the congress, and some 16 exhibitors from seeds and other agricultural companies are displaying their products and conducting demonstrations.
Ocampo said that in the first harvest of the experimental corn farm, both varieties yielded similar quantities to that of the same corn varieties applied with inorganic potassium.
But he noticed that after the first harvest, there is still enough amount of potassium left in the soil for the next planting seasons. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / MindaNews]