BSWM deploys mobile soil laboratories to 3 municipalities in Tarlac
Logo of Bureau of Soils and Water Management
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) has deployed mobile soil laboratories to three municipalities in Tarlac to improve soil health for crop cultivation.
An attached bureau of the Department of Agriculture, the BSWM said mobile soil laboratory (MSL) operations continue in San Manuel, Moncada, and Anao towns as part of an initiative to enhance productivity.
The MSL seeks to make soil testing accessible to all, bringing science-based soil solutions directly to the farmers and other stakeholders.
“By making these services readily available, DA-BSWM empowers communities with the knowledge and tools needed for sustainable soil management and improved agricultural productivity,” the BWSM said in a statement.
READ: Marcos unveils first mobile soil laboratory
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The deployment of MSL in various parts of the Philippines is part of the National Soil Health Program and Presidential Decree No. 1435, which promotes science-based and holistic approaches to improving soil health and crop productivity nationwide.
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“This week, the MSL operation received 45 soil samples and conducted 228 [analyses] for soil chemical, physical, microbiological, and STK analysis,” the BSWM said in a statement.
“Additionally, 116 participants were trained through the activity, and 22 STKs were distributed to the Municipal Agriculture Offices,” it added.
The BSWM unveiled the first MSL, a state-of-the-art 10-wheeler truck, at Malacañang Palace in December last year. It is designed to analyze 42 chemical, physical, and microbiological parameters.
“Farmers will benefit from precise soil data to optimize fertilizer use, improve crop yields, and enhance productivity,” the DA previously said in a statement.
The mobile soil laboratory initially operated in San Ildefonso town in Bulacan province at the National Soil and Water Resources Research Development Lowland Pedo-Ecological Zone, serving rice farmers in Central Luzon.
According to the DA, the MSL is part of the government’s broader push for agricultural modernization, precision farming, and sustainable practices.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. had disclosed plans to procure 16 more MSL units, which will be distributed to various regions.
“This will align with President Marcos’ vision of boosting farm yields and increasing farmers’ incomes,” said Tiu Laurel.