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Depending on the adequacy of rainfall, land preparation could be done as early as
May. Seedlings were grown using the modified wet-bed method (dalakduk) as early
as May to early June. Pregerminated seeds were sown on the seed bed at a thicker
rate. Seedlings were not uprooted. Instead, the existing practice of Il~plup (cutting
the seedlings in the form of turf) was used.
The recommended seeding rate for high-yielding varieties (e.g., BPI-RI 10
and IR62) was 75 kg/ha. Fertilization for rice was at the rate of 45-60-60 kg of
NPK/ha. Insect control was recommended only when the economic threshold level
was reached. The first rice crop was usually harvested in October-November.
Dzcember is a rainy month; therefore, watermelon is not planted
immediately after the rice crop is harvested. Farmers must wait until January to
plant watermelon. Sugar Baby is the preferred variety. No elaborate lrmd
preparation is done to cultivate waternielon. The recommended seeding rate is
1 kg/ha spaced at 1.5 m along rows.
A basal fertilizer (14-14-14) is applied at the rate of about 25 g/hill, and 1
liter of poultry manure is used. A solution that contained 1 liter of urea for every 20
liter of water was used for 12 to 16-d-old seedlings. The rate was gradually increased
to 1 liter of urea, 2 liters of 14-14-14, and 0.5 liter of 0-0-60 mixed with 20 liter of
water for 57 to 62-d-old plants. Watering was done daily. Insecticide was applied
about 5 times during the growth period. Handweeding was done 1 nlo after planting.
The first fruit was pruned and the next 2-3 fruit sets w.ere allowed to continue.
hlelons \\.ere harvested in late March or April.
METHODOLOGY
Several data collection methods were used in this study: collection of secondary data
from published and unpublished sources; hrm surveys; record keeping; case studies;
and key-informant surveys. Data collected from secondary sources were those
related to the characteristics of the site, the management recluirements, and the
performance of the R\VCS.
Descriptive survey
A survey of the rice-based cropping system was conducted in Dnrnbn, Pangil, in May
1989. A list of farmers was provided by the agricult~iral technician and village
officials. Fifty-one respondents were identified ancl intervie~ved. Farmers who
adopted the RWCS were classified as adopters (26 farmers) and the rest (25
farmers) were classified as nonadopters. Interviews were conducted using structured
questionnaires designed to obtain information on existing farming systems,
resources, problems, and constraints.