Academics
RD&E Programs
Campus Sights
 
    
 

The Department of Agronomy and Soil Science (DASS) is among the very first departments created when this institution was converted into a state college in 1974. Many of its graduates are now successful professionals in various parts of the Philippines and abroad. The department has also produced graduates who became topnotchers in the Agriculturists Board Examination given by the Professional Regulatory Commission of the Philippines.

Sections Course Offerings Curricular Offerings Research Thrusts Faculty Profile International Linkages Selected Publications Facilities & Resources
DASS is composed of two sections:
 
Agronomy Section

       Agronomy is the agricultural science dealing with field crop production and management. In recent years, Agronomy has broadened itself to answer issues regarding sustainable development. Also, the impacts of existing production systems on total plant production, the environment, and human health are now a major concern of Agronomy.

 
Soil Science Section

      Soils are the Earth's living skin. They are major support systems of human life and welfare. Soil Science is the ecological earth science that deals with the characterization, management, and protection of soil resources in forest, agricultural, wetland, and urban ecosystems.
 
Back to Top
 

Agronomy:

  • Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) major in Agronomy

  • Master of Science (MS) in Agronomy

  • Master in Agricultural Development (MagDev) in Agronomy

  • Phd in Agronomy (currently proposed)

            Specializations:

    • Crop Production and Management

    • Crop Physiology

    • Seed Technology

    • Farming Systems

    • Forage and Pasture

Soil Science:

  • Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) major in Soil Science

  • Master of Science (MS) in Soil Science

    •       Specializations:

    • Pedology

    • Soil Conservation

    • Soil Chemistry

    • Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition

    • Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry

    • Soil Physics

    • Soil Survey and Land Use

Back to Top

Agronomy
Agron 21 Fundamentals of Crop Production
FS 121 Fundamentals of Farming Systems
Agron 121 Root Crop Production
Agron 122 Annual Fibers
Agron 123 Seed Technology
Agron 141 Cropping Systems
Agron 142 Legume Production
Agron 143 Forage and Pasture
Agron 144 Cereal Production
Agron 195 Practicum in Crop Production
Agron 198 Research Planning and Manuscript Preparation
Agron 199 Undergraduate Seminar in Agronomy
Agron 200 Undergraduate thesis
Agron 212 Field Crop Production and Management
Agron 213 Manuring of Field Crops
Agron 214 Physiological Aspects of  Crop Production
Agron 215 Applied Field Crop Physiology
Agron 220 Root Crops
Agron 241 Advanced Cropping Systems
Agron 242 Advanced Legume Production
Agron 243 Advanced Forage and Pasture Management and Utilization
Agron 244 Advanced Cereal Production
Agron 290a Special Topic/Research Problem
Agron 290b Special Problem
Agron 299 Graduate Seminar in Agronomy
Agron 300 Master's Thesis
Soil Science
SS 22 Fundamentals of Soil Science
SS 23 Soil Fertility and Fertilizers
SS 110 Soil and Soil Management
SS 111 Agricultural Geology
SS 112 Soil Survey and Classification
SS113 Soil Microbiology
SS 114 Soil and Water Conservation
SS 115 Soil Chemistry
SS 116 Soil Physics
SS 144 Soil and Plant Diagnostic Techniques
SS 198 Research Planning and Manuscript Preparation
SS 199 Undergraduate Seminar in Soil Science
SS 200 Undergraduate Thesis in Soil Science
SS 211 Advanced Soil Fertility
SS 212 Genesis, Morphology and Classification of Soils
SS 213 Advanced Soil Microbiology
SS 215 Advanced Soil Chemistry
SS 217 Land Resource Evaluation

SS 219 Soil Organic Matter
SS 290 Special Topics/Research Problem
SS 299 Graduate Seminar in Soil Science
SS 300 Master's Thesis
In addition, the department handles the following major courses for students of other colleges of LSU:
TEED 121 Earth Science (for students of the College of Education)
BIOL 185 Geomorphology (for ecology students of the College of Arts and Sciences)
TREC207 Tropical Geomorphology & Geo-ecology (for graduate students of the Institute of Tropical Ecology)
EM 111 Principles of Environmental Management (for students of the College of Environmental and Agricultural Technology-LSU Alangalang Campus)
Back to Top
      Agronomy 
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Crop production and management
  • Pasture crop improvement
  • Development of low input agricultural technology
  • Response of crops to environmental stresses
  • Seed technology
      Soil Science 
  • Characteristics of soils in forest and agricultural ecosystems
  • Formation and degradation of volcanic and limestone soils
  • Effects of land use change on soil characteristics and nutrient status
  • Land suitability evaluation and mapping of soils
  • Soil fertility evaluation and management of problems soils
  • Soil pollution and remediation
Back to Top

 
Agronomy Section

            

Hideliza S. Daisog, Instructor 

Specialization: Crop Physiology, Agro-ecology

BSA Soil Science, Leyte State University 

MS in Agronomy, Leyte State University

(On study leave for PhD at San't Anna School for Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy)

e-mail: hedyoo2@yahoo.com

 

Alfredo B. Escasinas, Professor

Specialization: Crop Production & Management; Farming Systems; Seed Science and Technology

BSA Agronomy, Leyte State University

Postgraduate Diploma in Seed Technology, Massey University, New Zealand

Master of Agricultural Science (Seed Technology), Massey University, New Zealand

PhD in Agronomy, University of the Philippines Los Baņos 

Phone: (0ffice) - (053) 335-2627, (home) - (053) 335- 3786  

 

Ruth O. Escasinas, Assistant Professor

Specialization: Crop Physiology, Crop Production & Management  

BSA Agronomy, Leyte State University     

MS in Agronomy, Leyte State University

(On study leave for PhD at the University of the Philippines, Los Baņos

Phone: (0ffice) - (053) 335-2627, (home) - (053) 335- 3786

 

Berta C. Ratilla, Instructor

Specialization: Crop Production and Management

BSA Agronomy, Leyte State University  

MS in Agronomy, Leyte State University

e-mail: bcratilla61ph@yahoo.com

 

Manuel B. Posas, Assistant Professor 

Specialization: Crop Production and Management; Rice

BSA, Agronomy, Leyte State University

MS in Agronomy, Leyte State University

Phone: (Office) (053) 335-2627

Soil Science

          Sergio M. Abit Jr., Instructor

          Specialization: Soil Physics

            BSA Soil Science, Leyte State University

            MS in Soil Science, North Carolina State University, USA 

          Phone: (office) -(053)335-2627

          e-mail: siryo_jr@yahoo.com

 

          Victor B. Asio, Professor

          Specialization: Pedology & Geo-ecology

            Head of Department            

            BSA Soil Science, Leyte State University

            MS in Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Baņos (for course work)/

             The International Rice Research Institute (for thesis research)@yahoo.com  

          Postgraduate Study (1 year) in Geography & Soil Science, Justus Liebig University,

                   Giessen, Germany

             PhD in Soil Science, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

             E-mail: vbasio_ph@yahoo.com

 

             Angela Almendras-Ferraren, Professor

          Specialization: Soil Microbiology  and Biochemistry

            BSA Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Baņos

            MS in Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Baņos 

            PhD in Soil Science, Oregon State University,USA

            Phone : (office) - (053) 335-2627, (053) 335-3838

            

            Suzette Binongo Lina, Instructor

                Specialization: Soil Fertility & Management  

            BSA Soil Science, Leyte State University

            MS in Soil Science, Leyte State University 

            (On study leave for PhD studies at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan) 

            Email: sweti113@yahoo.com

 

 

            Beatriz B. Jadina, Assistant Professor  

                Specialization: Soil and Water Conservation

            BSA Soil Science, Leyte State University

            MS in Soil Science, Leyte State University

            (On study leave for PhD studies at the University of the Philippines Los Baņos)

            Phone: (office) - (053) 335-2627, (home) - (053) 335- 3779

            Email: bjadina@yahoo.com  

 

 

            Raquel C. Serohijos, Associate Professor   

                Specialization: Soil Fertility  

            BSA Soil Science, Leyte State University

            MS in Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Baņos

            PhD in Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Baņos

            Phone: (office) - (053) 335- 2627, (home) - (053) 335-2396  

            Email: raquel59ph@yahoo.com  

 

 

            Faustino P. Villamayor, Professor

               Specialization: Soil Survey and Land Use  

            BSA Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Baņos

            MS in Soil Science, University of the Philippines Los Baņos

            PhD in Soil Science, Oregon State University, USA

            Phone: (office) - (053) 335-2627, (home) - (053) 563-7065

Email: f_villamayor@yahoo.com

             

 

            Juvita P. Sueta, Instructor

               Specialization: Soil Chemistry/Environmental Soil Science  

            BSA Soil Science, Leyte State University

            MS in Soil Science, Leyte State University

            

            

 

 

Visiting Professors & Researchers

        

            Alfred Conklin

                Fullbright Visiting Professor of Soil Chemistry (June 2004-May 2005)

            Professor, Wilmington College, Ohio, USA

             

   

            Carsten Marohn

            Visiting Researcher (2004-2006)

            PhD Candidate, Institute of Agro-ecology in the Tropics & Subtropics

            University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

 

 

Administrative and Support Staff

 

            Melchor G. Abayabay, Administrative Aide VI

            Teodomero C. Ratilla, Supervisor, Field Station      

            Anecita M. Lumacad, Lab Technician, Soil & Plant Analysis Lab

         Janet B. Gemao, Research Assistant/Lab Analyst, Soil & Plant Analysis Lab

         Josierose B. Capricho, Clerk

         Roland V. Rallos, Graduate Teaching Assistant (Soil Science)

         Grace Maglasang, Graduate Teaching Assistant (Agronomy)

         Genaro B. Posas, Driver

         Fernando T. Abocejo, Utility Man

 

 

          

Back to Top

Some professors of the department maintain research collaborations with colleagues from noted foreign universities such as University of Hohenheim (Germany), University of Hawaii (USA), Cornell University (USA), Martin Luther University (Germany), National Taiwan University (Taiwan), Nagoya University (Japan), and United Nations University (Japan). Also, a professor in the department is an officer of the global organization of soil scientists, the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS).

Back to Top

Asio, V.B., C. C. Cabunos and Z.S. Chen. 2006. Morphology, physiochemical characteristics and fertility status of soils formed from Quaternary limestone in Leyte, Philippines. Soil Science, USA, 171 (in press)

Li, C.C., M.Y. Wu, V.B. Asio and Z.S. Chem. 2006. Using soil quality indices to assess the effects of applying swine manure compost on soil quality under a crop rotation system in Taiwan, Soil Science, USA, 171:210-222

Susaya, J.P., and V.B. Asio 2005. Status of phosphorus in the rain forest of Mt. Panagasugan, Leyte, Philippines. Annals of Tropical Research 27(2): 70-82

Asio, V.B. 2005. Comments on historical development of soil and weathering profile concepts from Europe and United States of America. Soil Science of Society of American Journal, USA, 69: 571-572

Ratilla, B.C. and R.G. Escalada. 2005. Time of incorporation of field legume herbage and its influence on the growth and yield of upland rice. Annals of Tropical Research 27:83-102

Tulin, A.B., V.B. Asio, D.M. Campilan and S. Kawai. 2004. Characterization of nutrient deficiency symptoms in sweetpotato through farmer-scientist participatory approach. Annals of Tropical Research 26:141-167

Cagasan, U.A. and B.C. Agarcio. 2004. Yield and economic returns of peanut and sweet corn as influenced by timing of planting the crops in an intercropping scheme. Annals of Tropical Research 26: 1-22

Javier, R.R. 2003. Cultural  management manipulation for baby corn production. I. Effects of variety and organic fertilizer application on baby corn. Annals of Tropical Research 24: 34-47

Villamayor, F.P. 2000. Selecting the best site for a sanitary landfill. Philippine Journal of Science 129: 47-49

Chen, Z.S., T.C. Tsou, V.B. Asio and C.C. Tsai. 2001. Genesis of Inceptisols on a volcanic landscape in Taiwan. Soil Science, USA, 166:255-266

Asio, V.B. R. Jahn, K. Stahr and J. Margraf. 1998. Soils of the tropical forest of Leyte, Philippines. 2. Impact of different land uses on status of organic matter and nutrient availability. In: Soils of Tropical Forest Ecosystems (A. Schulte and D. Ruhiyat, eds.). Springer Verlag, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, pp: 37-44

Asio, V.B. Jahn R., Stahr, K. 1999. Changes in the properties of a volcanic soil (Andisol) in Leyte due to conversion of forest to other land uses. The Philippine Journal of Science 128: 1-13

Asio, V.B. and Chen, Z.S. (1998): Study of and site weathering in Northern Taiwan using micromorphological approaches. Taiwan Journal of Forest Science 13:259-269

Asio, V.B. and Badayos, R.B. 1998. Biological accumulation of calcium carbonate in some lowland rice soils in the Philippines. The Philippine Agriculturist 81:176-181

Escalada, R.G. B.C. Ratilla. 1998. Effects on Leucaena biomass application in comparison with inorganic fertilizer on cassava and taro yields in the Philippines. Agroforestry Systems 41:251-266

Asio, V.B. 1996. Characteristics, weathering, formation and degradation of soils from volcanic rocks in Leyte, Philippines. Hohenheimer Bodenkundliche Hefte vol. 33, Stuugart, Germany, 209 pp. (booK)

 

Back to Top

Lecture rooms, audio-visual room, soil & plant analysis lab, soil microbiology lab, soil science teaching lab, pedology & geo-ecology teaching lab, agronomy teaching lab, department library, graduate student room, computer room, conference room, screen houses, field station & experimental site, seed storage facility, and vehicles.
Back to Top
Academics | Admission | RD&E Programs | | Campus Sights | Contact Info | About VSU

Visayas State University
Visca, Baybay City
Phone: 335-2600 / 335-2601
Fax: 335-2601

VSU DirectoryBack to home page

For further information, please write to:

Dr. Victor B. Asio
Professor and Head
Department of Agronomy and Soil Science
College of Agriculture
Visayas State University
Visca, Baybay City 6521-A
Philippines
Email: Vbasio_ph@yahoo.com

Or call Tel. Nos. (63) (053) 335-2627; Fax: (63)(053) 335-2652 or Click Here to Email CA - DASS.