CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary

The University of Saint La Salle Ecopark at Barangay Granada has currently

developed two hectares of its five hectare land into a venue for biological and ecological

studies. To investigate on the productivity of the Ecopark, the researchers performed

observational studies on the environmental conditions of the two hectare area as well as

constructing a plant survey on the plant species. The environmental conditions recorded

were the air humidity, soil pH and soil temperature. Air humidity increases during the

wet season. The soil is predominantly sandy-loam in texture. The average soil pH range

is 6-7. Soil temperature varies depending on the season. It often ranges from 25 oC to

28oC during the country’s dry season and 26oC to 32oC during its wet season. Mineral

content of soil includes Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium, Nitrogen, and Magnesium.

Around 7.0-8.0% of organic material is also present.

Around 45 species of plants are present in the Ecopark. This includes trees,

shrubs, and grasses. Shrubs are more numerous than the trees and fruit bearing ones.

Shrubs and ornamental plants include the Altheranthera polygonoides, Catharanthus

roseus, Phallaenopsis pallens, Mimosa pudica, Leucaena glauca, Sanseviera trifasciata

‘Laurentii’, Gasteria lingua, Sanseviera trifasciata ‘Hahnii’, Dracaena fragans,

Athurium andreanum, Polypodium virginianum, Codiaeum variegatum, Calathea

bechemiana, Acanthaphoenix rubra, Caryota mitis, Colocasia esculenta, Jatropha

curcas, Syngonium podophyllum, Tradescantia, spatheca, Costus speciosus, Calathea

makoyana, and Coleus blumei. Trees and fruit crops identified were Mangifera indica,

Samanea saman, Montigia calabura, Ficus septica, Azardirachta indica, Swietenia

mahogani, Pterocarpus indicus, Annona muricata, Artocarpus heterophyllus and

Gmelina arborea. Twelve species of grasses were also identified in the sites.

Conclusion

The researchers are able to conclude that the University of Saint La Salle Ecopark

in Granada is capable of supporting a diverse community of plant life. Being situated in a

tropical country, plants experience warm temperatures for most of the year. However,

there may be times of the year when the temperatures decrease during the rainy seasons.

The atmosphere remains humid for a majority of the year which minimizes the event of

transpiration among the plants. This would prevent the loss of much needed water for the

plants’ photosynthetic processes.

The sandy loam soil texture provides enough pore space in soil for water

absorption without allowing too much intake of water too. The pH values derived from

the readings taken are quite suitable for a variety of plants. When its values range from 6-

7, it is said to contain high levels of minerals, especially Calcium.

Given the conditions of the Ecopark, the plant species that thrive well are

the Annona muricata, Leucaena glauca, Altheranthera polygonoides, Mimosa pudica,

and Sanseviera trifasciata ‘Laurentii’. Relatives of such species may also survive well in

the area due to the similar characteristics that they possess. Grasses were the most

abundant which means that the Ecopark environment is most suitable for such type of

vegetation.

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Recommendation

The researchers recommend further investigation of the plant diversity at other

areas of the Ecopark, preferably at the undisturbed areas. It would also be interesting to

construct a plant directory of the different plant species found in the Ecopark. The data

obtained from further studies of the plant diversity of the Ecopark can help in

constructing programs for the rehabilitation, management and conservation of the plant

community.

The personnel from the SRA facility have also recommended that the site suitable

for a sugarcane plantation.

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