The soil is a vital foundation for most plant life. All crops rely on this rich foundation of nutrients and microbes to help turn sunlight into food. The Soils Health and Tropical Crops Research Institute (SHTCRI) envisions being the Agri-science and Technology hub in Soil and Tropical Crops Research in the Region. The SHTCR Institute will bring in science-based solutions to agri-industries and communities and accelerate its adaptation to soil and crop science-based farming. The SHTCR Institute is a platform to establish soil health indices that complement crop productivity and sustainability for the improvement of soil programs and management of farmers promoting resilient crops and to establish sound technologies in consonance with precision agriculture thereby developing agronomic practices for high-valued crops suitable to the growing condition of the region.
This Institute is anchored with the following: Presidential Decree No. 1435 also known as Authorizing the Bureau of Soils to supervise, Regulate and Control the Establishment and Operations of All Soil Laboratories in the Philippines, this PD intend that the present thrust of government is centered on increasing food production for our growing population as well as commercial crops for dollar earnings.
1. To establish appropriate soil health indices that complement crop productivity and sustainability.
2. To establish appropriate technology for improving fertilization programs of Agri-farming communities.
3. To provide management practices in climate change mitigation.
1. To conduct insect pest and disease indexing in key priority crops.
2. To establish sound technologies in consonance with precision agriculture.
3. To develop agronomic practices for high-value crops suitable to the growing conditions of the region.
The Soils Health and Tropical Crops Research Institute of ASSCAT together with the College of Agriculture utilizes the Crop and Soils Laboratory with various advanced and state of the art equipment for purpose of Instruction and Researcher. This facility will cater plant and soil analysis in the nearby municipalities and in the entire Caraga Region.
