Effects of soil chemistry on the Physico-chemical characteristics of the grains of Coix lacryma-jobi Linn grown in Bukidnon, Philippines

• Main Author: Coludo, Felvin Espinosa
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/4824
• Institution: De La Salle University

In attaining food sufficiency for the growing population, the Department of Agriculture introduced in Bukidnon Coix lacryma-jobi L., also called Adlay, as alternative food crop. This study was conducted to determine the amounts of macro-elements (P, K, Ca and Mg), some micro-elements (Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, and B), and two toxic elements (Pb and Cd) in both the grits and the hull/testa of C. lacryma-jobi L., Gulian variety, as a function of the physico-chemical properties of the soil (pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, the amounts of organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, B, Pb, and Cd). The C. lacryma-jobi L. and the soils were collected from the three farms in Bukidnon located in (Site 1) Kuya, Maramag, (Site 2) Northern Mindanao Agricultural Research Center, Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, and (Site 3) Provincial Industrial Zone, Dicklum, Manolo Fortich. The results of this study revealed the amounts of all the macro-elements and some micro-elements in the grits of C. lacryma-jobi L. among sites to be differentiated by the physico-chemical properties of the soil. The P was differentiated by P in the soil, K by CEC, Mg by pH, Ca by Ca in the soil, Fe by Fe in soil, Zn by pH, Mn by pH and Mn in soil, and Cu by Zn in soil. In hull/testa Ca was differentiated by Ca in soil, Fe by Zn in soil, Zn by Fe in soil, and B by organic matter. The mean amounts of macro-elements were in the order of K>P>Mg>Ca for the grits and hull/testa. For the micro-elements, the amounts were in the order of Fe>Na>Mn>Zn>Cu>B for grits and Fe>Na>Mn>Zn>B>Cu for hull/testa. No detectable amount of Pb was accumulated in both grits and hull/testa. Cd was present in both grits and hull/testa but the amounts were below 0.4 ppm the maximum permitted level for Cd by the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme-Codex Committee on Contaminants in Food. Comparison of the amounts of four macro-elements, six micro-elements, and lead and cadmium in the grits of C. lacryma-jobi L. relative to those of the grains of both corn and rice, this indigenous crop may well be a good alternative food crop for human and animal consumption.