Saligaw Tree Seeds: the Kuhol Killer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Rice is the staple food for Filipinos. Rice is produced during wet season and during dry season inareas where irrigation is available. Oftentimes, rice is infested by different insects and mollusks. The Golden Apple Snail (GAS) also known as golden icuhol is a type of mollusk that live in rice paddies and feeds on rice seedlings. They are very destructive and can reduce about 20 to 30 percent of rice produce if they are not properly managed. The use of commercial molluscide to control these organisms is an important step. However, it can also contribute to the eutrophication of the soil as well. A breakthrough to control golden kuhol is being studied. This breakthrough can improve the quality of soil since this alternative molluscide come from the seeds of Saligaw tree.

METHODS

Laboratory method and field testing method were used in this study. The researchers conducted a laboratory setup in which a basin was filled with 8 liters of water. 6 Golden Apple Snail (GAS) were freed in the basin. After 30 minutes, a 30 gram pounded seeds of Saligaw tree were placed in the basin. The researchers checked the GAS every hour. A field testing was also conducted to further test the effectiveness of the seeds. The researchers prepared two set ups. Set up A is a 1 square meter paddy with 6 GAS and a 20 gram commercial molluscide was placed. Set up B is a 1 square meter paddy with 6 GAS and 20 gram pounded saligaw seeds was also placed in it. The researchers noticed that the GAS became immobilized after 3 hours. After 24 hours, the golden icuhol eventually died in both setups.

RESULTS

In the laboratory set up the pounded Saligaw seeds was proven to be effective since all the 6 golden kuhol died. In the field testing setup, the effectiveness of the Saligaw seeds as molluscide is the same with that of the commercial molluscide since all the golden kuhol died. Thus, there is no significant difference between the use of commercial molluscide and the use of pounded Saligaw seeds as molluscide.

DISCUSSIONS

The results of the laboratory setup and field testing set up proved that the seeds of the Saligaw tree is an effective kuhol killer. All the GAS in the laboratory set up and field testing setup were killed. The use of the seeds of Saligaw tree can absolutely kill golden kuhol in rice paddies.