Agricultural_Crop_Production_1_ for agriculture students.pdf

lecture for agri-crops production

1. Agricultural Crop
Production

2. Farm Tools, Implement and Equipments
Farm Tools-are the equipment that is used in the processes of land preparation.
Hand farming tools-are usually light, one can use them manually, without the help of
machinery or animals. Commonly they are used for cultivating small areas or backyard-
garden farming.
►Bolo-this tool is used to cut tall weeds
and grasses or chopping branches of trees.
Crowbar-one can dig holes, with the help
of this tool, or dig out stones or stumps. It can
also be used as a lever arm.

3. ►Pick-mattock
-Is a handy tool to dig and break stones.
Spade
-this tool is used for removing soil
or trash, dig canals and so on.
►Shovel
-with the help of shovel, one can
quickly remove trash, dig, move and mix the soil.
Spading fork
-is used for digging out roots,
loosening the soil or turning the materials in
the compost heap.

4. Light hoe
-is used for leveling and loosening soil
or digging the furrows for planting.
Hand cultivator
-is used for cultivating
garden plot and removing the weeds.
Pruning shears
-it is a great tool to cut
branches of trees and brushes.
Axe
-it helps in cutting big size branches and trees.

5. ►Knife
-is a universal tool for cutting.
►Sprayers
-this one is used for spraying insecticides.
►Wheelbarrow
-it is used to remove the trash, haul fertilizers,
manures, planting materials, and other things.
►Sickle
-A tool with a curved metal blade attached to
a short handle that is used for cutting grass, grain, etc.

6. Perform estimation and Basic Calculation
Farm Inputs-resources that are used in farm production, such as:
❑Chemicals
❑Equipment
❑Seed
❑Energy
Examples are fertilizer, seeds, seedlings, insecticides and labors.

7. Fertilizers-chemical or natural substance added to soil or
land to increase its fertility.
Seeds-a flowering plant’s unit of reproduction, capable of
developing into another such plant.
Seedlings-is a young plant, already grown from a seed.
Insecticides-a chemical substance used for killing insects
Labor-the body of persons engaged in such activity,
especially those working for wages.

8. Labor requirement in plantingLabor requirement for land
preparation
Labor requirement for plant
care
•Production of seedlings
•Transplanting
•Plowing using tractor
•Clearing of the land using
hoe
•Plowing using animal
•Harrowing using hand
tractor
•Digging holes(for orchard)
•Preparation of furrow
•Fertilizer application
•Pesticides application
•Irrigation
•Weeding
•Harvesting
Types of Labor Requirements

9. Estimation and Basic Calculation
Estimating Farm inputs and Labor requirements
Basic calculation - Estimated irrigation expenses from planting up to last harvest
Irrigation expenses=
Estimate worker hired to perform irrigation from planting to harvest
Estimated workers = Worker x Total land area
Estimated number of days for spraying insecticides(per worker)
Estimated no. of days= no. of days x Total land area
Estimated no. of workers needed for spraying insecticides(in one day)
Estimated workers= No of workers x Total land area
Estimated cost of insecticide use for spraying
Estimated cost= Price x No. of insecticides x Total land area

10. Farm plans and Layout
►Refers to the compiling of physical structures such as homesteads,
outbuildings, waterways, contours, camps, water supply roads and the
layout of orchards, vineyards or lands.
►involves the location of the fields with respect to the farmstead and
public highways, the size, shape and number of fields, and the location
of hog-lots , feed-yards, etc. In arranging or re-arranging a farm layout
the most important considerations are convenience and economy of
operation.

11. CHOOSING AND PLANNING A FARM
Selecting farming is an occupation : There are two reasons for
selecting farming as an occupation , namely ,
( 1 ) farming is stable and subject to less serious interruption in the
course of its existence , and
( 2 ) farm is considered by many as a good place for a home .

12. Ways of considering farming may be considered in
various ways such as the following :
Farming as a way of livingEconomic advantages of
farming
Providing a home
•(a) country life gives
some people great
satisfaction;
•(b) the country is the
best place to raise
children
•(c) rural scenes and
closeness to the beauty
of nature are preferred
by many
•(a) the farm provides two
main kinds of income,
namely , cash income
from sales of farm
produce, and savings;
•(b) farm life entails a
lower cost of living;
•(c) the farm provides
profitable employment
to all members of the
family.
•(a) a man working for
himself acquires greater
independence than one
working for another;
•(b) there are many
opportunities for small
investments in farming;
•(c) maximum
employment is derived
from the farms
•(d) money properly
utilized in a sound
investment will furnish the
investor the maximum
employment.

13. Safety measures in Farm Operations
“Good Working Equipment + Capable and Attentive Operators = Safety”
10 Tips to Remember About Farm Equipment and their Uses:
✓Read and comply with the manual.
✓Follow and keep up with federal and state laws.
✓Always keep your slow-moving-emblem (SMV) clean visible and properly mounted.
✓Dress Appropriately.
✓Ensure you’re well rested.
✓Avoid alcohol.
✓Maintain Awareness.
✓Adjust equipment accordingly.
✓Keep children and animals away from working areas.
✓Read up about planter equipment safety.

14. Farm waste-is a mixture of animal feces and urine, plus milk and chemicals such as
pesticides.
Farm Manure
Kinds of farm manure : Farm manure is classified into :
( 1 ) Stace manure , which includes all solid and liquid animal excreta and
absorbents which have not suffered any loss yet ;
( 2 ) barnyard manure , which refers to manure which accumulates around the bar
in the farmyard and is exposed to rain and the drying action of the sun ; and
( 3 ) humus or decayed compost , which is made up of materials resulting from
decom position of plants.
Farm Waste

15. Nursery operations
Covers the creation and maintenance of plant farms, including planting
seeds, fertilizing seedlings and harvesting all types of plants.
Graduates of plant nursery operations programs may be employed in
retail and wholesale nurseries or greenhouse businesses as propagators,
growers, seed workers or salespeople.
They may also find jobs analyzing weed seeds, inspecting horticulture
businesses or supervising spray-control operators.

16. The Importance of Nursery Work and Plant
Propagation
Nursery work provides wholesome experiences for young people to
develop life-long interest in the growth and care of young plants and how
they could be multiplied for the benefit of the people. The nursery is a place
for training, educating, or the like.
Plant propagation is a means to continue and increase the production of
vegetables, root and fruit crops, and fruits and ornament- al plants. A school
or home nursery provides the facilities for the preparation of seedlings,
cuttings, marcottages, etc., which could be propagated and planted by
those who want to engage in food production.

17. Selecting the Nursery Site
Selecting the nursery site is like selecting a suitable garden site.
In many schools, the nursery site is a part of the garden site. In
case the nursery is not a part of the school garden site, it must
meet the following factors:
Appropriate kind of soil
Good drainage
Near a water supply.

18. Preparing Seed beds, Seed boxes, and Other
Receptacles
A seed bed is like a seed box. Instead of using a box, the ground is
prepared into a plot or plots for germinating seeds.
 A common size of seed bed is 3 1/2 to 4 ft. wide with a walk-away
between seed beds, the length varying with the size of the project.
The soil is prepared in the same way as the soil in the seed box is
prepared.
Pots, sand boxes, and bamboo tubes, are other receptacles that should
be prepared for the nursery.

19. Propagation from Seeds
•Seeds are first planted in seed boxes. Forest tree seeds and other seeds with hard
coverings should be soaked one to three hours in warm water.
•Tree seeds are planted singly three cm. apart, rows four cm. apart. When the
young plants have four leaves, they are transferred to bamboo tubes or to nursery
plots.
•One seedling is placed in each bamboo pot and the pots are kept under the slat
arbor. When trans- planted to nursery plots, the seedlings should be set 15 cm.
apart, in rows 30 cm. apart.
Cuttings
• Sand boxes are used for starting cuttings. Wood of at least year's growth must be
selected for the cutting. A clean slanting is made with a sharp knife at both ends
of the branch selected for cutting.
•The cutting should be long enough to contain four or five buds. All leaves and all
small branches should be trimmed off with sharp knife.
•The cutting is placed in a slanting position in a sand box so that one bud will be
just at the surface.

20. Marcotting
- A limb or a branch with wood two or more years old is selected. A ring of bark
is removed (with a sharp knife) completely or almost completely around the
limb.
Grafting
- Is the art of joining parts of plants together in such a manner that they will unite
and continue their growth as one plant. The part of the graft combination which
is to become the upper portion or top of the new plant is called the scion, and
the part which is to become the lower portion or root is called the stock.

21. Layering
- is the development of the roots on a stem while it is still attached to the
parent plant. The rooted system is then detached to become a new plant
growing on its roots. A layered stem is known as a layer. This may be a natural
means of reproduction , such as in ornamental plants and vines.
Inarching
- considered to be a form of repair grafting, is used in cases where the roots
of an established tree have been damaged by such things as cultivation
implements, rodents and disease. It can be used to advantage in saving a
valuable tree.

22. Preparing land for agricultural crop
production
Land preparation is important to ensure that the rice field is ready for planting. A well-
prepared field controls weeds, recycles plant nutrients, and provides a soft soil mass for
transplanting and a suitable soil surface for direct seeding.
It typically involves :
(1) plowing to “till” or dig-up, mix and overturn the soil;
(2) harrowing to break the soil clods into smaller mass and incorporate plant residue
(3) leveling the field. Initial land preparation begins after your last harvest.

23. Planting crops
In general, a farmer who intends to raise a crop has to choose
between these two methods of planting: direct seeding and
transplanting.
•Direct seeding- means planting at the crop area with the use
of seeds.
•Transplanting- is planting with the use of pre-grown seedlings or
plants that have been propagated from seeds.

24. Implementing a plant nutrition program
- this competency standard covers the process of implementing a plant nutrition in the
horticultural industry.
Elements of competency
Prepare for implementation of the plant nutrition program
• Target site for implementation of the plan nutrition program including soils , plant species
and varieties are identified according to enterprise work procedures .
• Materials for soil and plant treatments available to the enterprise are identified and the
storage site or supplier details located.
• Services are located using site plans and in consultation with the supervisor.
• OHS hazards are identified, risks assessed, controls implemented and reported to the
supervisor.
• Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected, used and maintained.

25. Monitor soil pH
• Soil pH in the implementation site is monitored in relation to plant nutrition and
according to enterprise work procedure.
• Products useful in changing soil pH are identified, compared, selected and sourced
according to enterprise work procedures.
• Product application methods are assessed according to product type , soils , enterprise
work procedures and in due consideration of the environmental implications .
Determine nutritional problems in plants
• Common nutrient deficiency and toxicity problems in plants are identified using visual
inspection.
• The supervisor and / or nutritional specialist are consulted as required to determine
causes of nutritional or toxicity problem.
• Soil ameliorants to improve soil fertility are identified, compare, selected and sourced
according to enterprise work procedures .

26. Prepare to use fertilizers
• The fertilizer to be used is selected according to fertilizer type , soils , enterprise work
procedures and in due consideration of the environmental implications .
• Fertilizer application methods are assessed according to fertilizer type , soils , enterprise
work procedures and in due consideration of the environmental implications .
• Fertilizers are applied according to the plant growing cycle and the enterprise fertilizer
calendar .
• Fertilizers are handled and stored safely in a manner that minimizes detrimental
environmental impact and according to enterprise work procedures .
Prepare application equipment
• Tools ,equipment and machinery are selected according to enterprise work procedures .
• Pre - operational and safety checks are carried out on tools , equipment and machinery
according to manufacturers specifications and enterprise work procedures .
• Tools , equipment and machinery are calibrated and adjusted according to
manufacturers guidelines and enterprise work procedures .

27. Apply specific products at appropriate rates
• Specific products are selected based on their analysis to meet plant needs
according to enterprise work procedures .
• Product application rates are calculated to optimize plant benefit and
minimize environmental impact according to manufacturers specifications and
enterprise work procedures .
• Specific products are applied at the correct rate , timing and method
according to the product type and analysis , manufacturers specifications ,
enterprise work procedures and in due consideration of the environmental
implications .
• Product applications are recorded according to enterprise work procedure .
• Target plant response to the plant nutrition program, as well as any non - target
effects , such as environmental impact or pest responses , are monitored ,
documented and reported to the supervisor according to enterprise work
procedures .

28. Controlling Weeds
Weeding and Cultivating Plants
 Weeds are wild plants growing in cultivated land and are
harmful to the planted crops .
Weeds may be destroyed by pulling them including their
roots or by the use of pointed bamboo stick about 30
centimeters long .
Weeding should be done daily because weeds grow fast .
 By cultivation we mean the job of keeping the soil around
the plants free from weeds ,

29. 6Proven methods for controlling weeds in your
garden
✓ Let sleeping weeds lie . Kill weeds at their roots but leave the soil - and dormant
weed seeds largely undisturbed
✓ Mulch , mulch , mulch. Don 't give weeds the chance to see the light . Whether you
choose wood chips , bark nuggets , straw , or even pine needles , keep the mulch
coming to smother out weeds .
✓Weed when the weeding ' s good. Young weeds go down much easier than older
ones , so make the most of good weeding conditions .
✓ Lop off their heads . Chopping off weed heads feels good and you’ll reap short -
and long - term benefits
✓Mind the gaps between plants. Tightly planted beds leave no room for unwanted
visitors.
✓ Water the plants you want , not the weeds you’ve got . Drip irrigations is the way to
go for a quick way to water your plants and not your weeds.

30. Preparing and applying chemicals
Using Pesticides Safely and correctly :
✓Read the Label thoroughly !
✓Be familiar with all precautions .
✓Be familiar with First Aid information .
✓Put on the proper Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ).

31. When Mixing or Applying a Pesticide
•Never smoke or eat while mixing or applying pesticides . You could easily carry
traces of the pesticide from your hands to your mouth . Also , some pesticide
products are flammable .
• Follow the " Directions for Use " on the label carefully .
- Use only for the purpose listed .
-Use only the amount directed , at the time and under the conditions specified
- Twice the amount will NOT do twice the job . You could harm yourself , others , or
the plant / area / pet you are trying to protect .

32. • Always mix or dilute the pesticide outdoors or in a well -
ventilated area . Only use the amount listed on the label and
measure the pesticide carefully . ( Never use the same measuring
cups or spoons that you use in the kitchen . )
• Mix only the amount that you need for each application. Do not
prepare larger amounts to store for possible future use. The
pesticide will degrade and become ineffective over time.

33. Harvest and Post-harvest
Harvesting
- removing products from the forest to make room for a new crop.
Postharvest
- is the stage of crop production immediately following harvest , including cooling
, cleaning , sorting and packing. The instant a crop is removed from the ground, or
separated from its parent plant, it begins to deteriorate . Postharvest treatment
largely determines final quality, whether a crop is sold for fresh consumption, or
used as an ingredient in a processed food product.