Landscape-Horticultural Action Research (LaHAR): an innovative approach in urban horticulture

Professorial Chair Lecture

Metro Manila Commission Professorial Chair Lecture

Date

7-18-2003

Abstract

For countless times, the preparation of Landscape Master Plan for the Roxas Boulevard has been called for. According to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDS) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), several landscape plans and greening proposals have been drawn beautifully, submitted to their office and some even implemented on site (CADA, Tan and Associates, Boulevard 2000). None however, has ever carried out an active scientific horticultural research to test and observe the performance and adaptation of some of our sturdiest Philippine native floral species in urban spaces. Specifically, no design has been pushed to enable the use of plant massing of two sturdy indigenous species such as the Mussaendas and the Ardisias for major landscaping of the urban corridors for the tourism gateway, Roxas Boulevard. The mentioned species were planted into five (5) combination of available organic media as an amendment to the existing soil, namely: Treatment 1 - soil mix (1 garden soil: 1 manure: 1 rice hull); Treatment 2 - Pig Manure; Treatment 3 - Horse Manure; Treatment 4 - Rice hull; Treatment 5 - organic mic (Cocorich) and Control - existing soil.

This landscape horticultural action and research (LaHAR) approach was conducted as a parallel activity to the preparation of an overall Landscape Master Plan prepared by the UPLB :andscape Task Force in 1999-2000. It is a fact that in spite of well-conceptualized designs in urban planning and urban greening, the major thoroughfare of Roxas Boulevard landscape suffers from difficult to costly maintenance. The lack of scientific knowledge regarding the growth habit and their adaptation to urban environment of most Philippine native flora has been a reason for excluding it in most beautification projects. Also, their availability in the market is scarce. Therefore the need to actively conduct researches on the recommended plants as well as its preferred media to be tested on site and to be part of a continuing landscape master plan design.

The study is aimed to push for a simultaneous conduct of scientific experiments on urban sites while preparing a landscape masterplan that takes into account the relationship of landscape maintenance with its administrators, the maintenance crew and amidst the existing behavior and attitude of public towards the urban landscape.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

College

College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)

Language

English

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