Informational

	College of Fisheries (VSU-Tolosa Campus)

	College of Industrial Technology and Engineering (VSU-Isabel Campus)

	College of Environmental and Agricultural Technology (VSU-Alangalang Campus)

	College of Education and Agricultural Technology (VSU-Villaba Campus)

dass 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.

The Department is composed of two sections:

Agronomy Section

Agronomy is an 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 the forest, agricultural, wetland, and urban ecosystems.

Curricular Offerings

Agronomy:

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) major in Agronomy

Master of Science (MS) in Agronomy
Master in Agricultural Development (MagDev) in Agronomy
Ph.D. 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

Research Thrusts

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
International Linkages

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).

Selected Publications

Asio, V.B., C. C. Cabunos, and Z.S. Chen. 2006. Morphology, physicochemical 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 the historical development of soil and weathering profile concepts from Europe and the 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 sweet potato through a 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 the 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. The 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 the 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 volcanic soil (Andisol) in Leyte due to the 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, Stuttgart, Germany, 209 pp. (book)

Facilities & Resources

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.

View Larger Map | Get Directions | View Bird's Eye

The VSU (main campus) is situated in Barangay Pangasugan, 8 km north of the City of Baybay, Leyte and 34 km south of Ormoc City. It is accessible from both directions because the national road cuts across the University campus. It can also be reached from various points in Leyte either by air through Tacloban City airport (116 km away) or by sea through the ports of Baybay City, Ormoc City, Hilongos (43 km), and Bato (50 km).

Manpower Capabilities

As of January 2002, the VSU main campus had a total of 261 faculty members (95 PhDs, 115 MS, and 51 BS), 175 (67%) of whom had permanent employment status. Some (52) members of the faculty were detailed in research centers and two were on secondment.

There were 296 (1 Ph.D., 15 MS, 126 BS, 44 graduate of certificate courses, 30 college level, 71 high school level, and 9 elementary level) regular administrative staff.

Physical Features

The VSU-Main Campus has a total land area of 1,099.4 hectares that extends from the shore of Camotes Sea to the top of Mt. Pangasugan. It comprises the following:

Campus Grounds - 61.6 ha.
Research/Experiments - 94.0 ha.
Instruction - 3.0 ha.
Production Area - 104.3 ha.
Pasture Area - 114.0 ha.
Forest Reservation - 574.2 ha.
Coconut - 62.3 ha.
Abaca - 25.0 ha.
Rice - 7.0 ha.
Orchard - 5.0 ha.
Corn - 3.0 ha.
Coffee - 2.0
Roads, Creeks/Marshy Areas - 44.0 ha.

Buildings

The University main campus has 188 buildings: 21 student dormitories, 75 staff houses, 17 academic buildings, 2 Administration buildings, and 63 others which include the Main Library, Student Union, Convention Center, Center for Continuing Education, Infirmary, Guesthouse, Hostel, Pavilion, Cebu and Manila offices, market, cafeteria, high school, elementary, workshop, DA auxiliary, gymnatorium, marine laboratory, fuel depot, powerhouse, motor pool, garage, nurseries, barns, and 9 research/training centers as follows:

Philippine Root Crop Research and Training Center (PRCRTC)
National Abaca Research Center (NARC)
National Coconut Research Center (NCRC) - Visayas
Farm and Resource Management Institute (FARMI)
Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies (ISRDS)
Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) - Leyte
Agricultural Training Institute-National Training Center (ATI-NTC) - Visayas
Multi-Media Development Center (MMDC)
Institute of Tropical Ecology and Environmental Management (ITEEM)

History

The Visayas State University - Villaba Campus (College of Education and Agricultural Technology) started in 1974 as Villaba High School operating under the General Education Program.

Significant events followed: 1.) June 1960 - with the approval of RA 2425 the school was converted into Villaba Rural High School and was operating under the defunct Bureau of Vocational Education; 2.) August 12, 1968 - the school was converted into the Leyte National Agricultural College and authorized to offer Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and agricultural technician courses. 3.) May 25, 1995 - RA 8009 was approved changing the name of the college into the Leyte National College of Agriculture, Science and Technology and expanding its curricular offerings to include: Arts and Sciences, Forestry, Engineering, Veterinary Medicine in addition to the existing programs. 4.) October 31, 1999 - LNCAST was integrated to the Visayas State College of Agriculture and later it was converted to Leyte State University (now the Visayas State University) as one of its satellites under the VSU system as mandated in RA 7722 and 8292.

Vision

VSU -VC as a center of excellence in science and technology, teacher education and allied courses in Northwestern Leyte.

Mission

Attainment of the highest human capital and scientific knowledge in agriculture, science and technology, teacher education and allied courses in Northwestern Leyte.