Maj4 LM4 Crop Management
Maj4 LM4 Crop Management
DURATION: 2 weeks
LEARNING OUTCOMES
VARIETAL/SEED SELECTION
For rice, the simplest way to select healthy seeds is through the floatation method. The seeds are placed in water
and the seeds that float are discarded while those that sink are selected and grown. In rice, salt or ammonium sulfate
is added to increase specific gravity, thereby making the selection more rigid. The ideal specific gravity for rice is 1.06.
Seed Selection, in general, always follows the right maturity of the variety. Good pods, fruits or seeds are based
on size, color and absence of insect, pests and diseases.
Crops are classified as cross-pollinated or self-pollinated. Classes of seeds based on the genetic purity are:
breeder seeds, foundation seeds, registered seeds and certified seeds. It is recommended always to use certified
seeds to insure purity.
For cross-pollinated crops such as corn, seeds are either open-pollinated or hybrid seeds. Open-pollinated seeds
are usually called composite varieties while hybrids are produced by selfing a number of generation then crossing
inbred lines to produce first generation hybrid.
Classes of Seeds
In seed production, four classes of seeds are recognized namely:
Document INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title:
Document CPSC-ACA-F007 Rev. No.: 01 Effective August 26, 2020 Page 1 of 10
Code: Date:
Certificate No.
“CPSC commits to provide quality higher professional, technical instruction, research, extension and production services, SCP000538Q
advanced studies in progressive leadership in Agriculture, Teacher Education, Engineering and Computer Studies, Industrial
Technology, Arts and Sciences, Tourism, Business and Public Administration.”
Field Crops Production & Management Module 4
1. Breeder seed – the purest (kind of) seed obtained through selection, introduction or hybridization. This is only
in small amounts and the seed is directly controlled by the originator or sponsoring plant institution or
individual plant breeder. It is planted to produce foundation seed. It is the source of all classes of certified
seeds.
2. Foundation seed – this is multiplied from breeder seed carefully handled to maintain the highest standard of
genetic identity and purity. It is available only in limited amounts and is planted to produce registered seed. It
is controlled by public or private foundation seed stock organization.
3. Registered seed – this is the progeny of either breeder or foundation seed. It is the source for growing of
certified seeds and is under the control of the registered seed producers.
4. Certified seed – this seed is available in large quantities and is sold commercially to farmers for general crop
production. Likewise, this kind of seed is produced under established standards set by the certifying agency to
maintain satisfactory level of genetic identity and purity.
2. Seedbox Method – Randomly picked seeds from bulk supply are sown in rows in a seedbox and lightly
covered with soil. The seedbox is watered occasionally. About a week after sowing, the germination
percentage is determined.
3. Petri-dish Method – A number of randomly picked seeds from the bulk supply are the placed in a petri-dish or
a similar container. Enough water is placed to soak seeds and cover with filter paper or any paper that can
retain moisture for 5 days. Place in warm and moist place. After 5 days, the germination percentage is
determined. The percentage of germination is calculated using the formula:
% Germination 80 X 100
=
100
= 80
Adjusted Rate of Seeding:
ARS = 80kg/ha
0.8
2. Maize
2.1 Government breeding institutions:
IPB-UPLB, DA, USM
b. F-I hybrids – Pioneer 3228, SMC 305, SMC 301, IPB 911 (single cross), IPB 947 (3 way cross), etc.
3. Tropical wheat: Trigo 1, Trigo 2 and Trigo 3 (yields 1.6-1.8 tons/ha as grown in Northern Luzon)
4. Sorghum – UPL Sg 5 (Cosor 5), PSB Sg 93-01 (USMARC 104), PSB Sg 02 (IES Sor 1), PSB Sg 94-02 (IES Sg 2)
5. Sugarcane – The agencies involved in the breeding work are the Sugarcane Regulatory Administration (SRA) and
the Victorias Milling Corporation (VMC).
Recommended varieties: Phil 66-14, Phil 56-226, Phil 72-70, SRA 80-13, SRA 85-83, VMC 71-39, VMC 711-238,
VMC 73-229
6. Rootcrops (with VisCa, IPB-UPLB)
a. Cassava varieties:
UPL Cv 3 (Sultan 1), UPL Cv 4 (Vassourinha), UPL Cv 5 (Sultan 2), UPL Cv 1 (Datu 1), UPL Cv 2
(Lakan) 1; Lakan 2, lakan 3, Lakan 4, PSB Cv 9, PSB Cv 10
b. Sweet potato – UPL Sp 1 (Kinabakab), UPL Sp 3 (Tinipay), UPL Sp 5, UPL Sp 2, UPL Sp 4 (Cambel), UPL Sp
6, PSB Sp 16 (VisCa), PSB Sp 17 (VisCa)
c. Taro (Gabi) – PSB Vg 2, PSB Vg 3
d. Yam (Ubi) – PSB Vt 2, PSB Vt 3
7. Grain legumes
a. Mungbean – MG 50-10A, Mg 1 (Pag-asa), UPL Mg 3 (Pag-asa 3), UPL Mg 5 (Pag-asa 5), UPL Mg 7 (Pag-asa
7), etc.
b. Peanut – UPL Pn 2 (Mekong), UPL Pn 4 (Biyaya 4, UPL Pn 8 (Biyaya 8), etc.
c. Soybeans – UPL Sy 4 (Tiwala 4), UPL Sy 6 or PSB Sy 2 (Tiwala 6), BPI Sy 4, PSB Sy 3 (La Granja)
10. Pole sitao – UPL PS 1 (Sandigan), UPL PS-2 (Ana), CSL 15, BPI PS 3
12. Cowpea – UPL Cp 1 (Sagana), UPL Cp 3, UPL Cp 5 (Magbunyi), UPL Cp 9 (Juliet), BPI Cp 4, BPI Cp 3
13. White potato – T-204 (Banahaw), Arka, Siro, Kennebec, Up-to-date, Conchita, Cosima
1. High yield
2. High quality in terms of nutrient composition and eating quality
3. Resistant to insect pests and diseases
4. Adapted to the local conditions
5. Viable or high percentage germination
LAND PREPARATION
Tillage is the operational practice of working the soil for the purpose of bringing about a favourable condition for
plant growth. This includes all operations that affect the soil such a stirring, fining and inverting the soil.
Tillage Practices
1. Zero tillage
2. Minimum tillage
After the first plowing, let 7-10 days pass before harrowing. Harrow the field lengthwise and crosswise.
Let another 7-10 days pass to allow the remaining weed seeds to germinate. Then harrow again lengthwise
and crosswise.
The last harrowing should be done a day before the last pass of the harrow to incorporate the fertilizer and
avoid the loss of nitrogen through denitrification.
The direction of the animal or machine-drawn harrow can be done in three ways. A disc or tooth harrow is
driven:
a. To the direction both crosswise and lengthwise
b. Zigzag
c. To the diagonal direction
3. After levelling, the field is marked with rope or tooth markers to bring about a uniform spacing of the seedlings.
Advantages of Puddling
1. Improved weed control by primary and secondary tillage through puddling action.
2. Ease of transplanting.
3. Establishment of reduced soil condition which improve soil fertility and fertilizer management.
4. Reduced draft requirements for primary and secondary tillage.
5. Reduced percolation losses resulting in conservation water from rainfall and irrigation.
6. Reliability of monsoon by the time puddling operation time has been completed.
Disadvantages of Puddling
1. High water requirement
2. Hindrance to regeneration of soil structure
3. Impeded root development
Document INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Title:
Document CPSC-ACA-F007 Rev. No.: 01 Effective August 26, 2020 Page 6 of 10
Code: Date:
Certificate No.
“CPSC commits to provide quality higher professional, technical instruction, research, extension and production services, SCP000538Q
advanced studies in progressive leadership in Agriculture, Teacher Education, Engineering and Computer Studies, Industrial
Technology, Arts and Sciences, Tourism, Business and Public Administration.”
Field Crops Production & Management Module 4
PLANTING/ TRANSPLANTING
Methods of Planting
There are two general methods of planting crops:
1. Transplanting
2. Direct Seedling
Transplanting
Seedlings grown in seedbox may be transplanted once they produce 2-3 true leaves. Transplanting should be
done late in the afternoon. Seedlings with big or too many leaves should be trimmed to avoid too much transpiration
which may eventually cause wilting or death. Water the newly transplanted seedlings especially with starter solution.
This solution may be prepared by dissolving 1 tbsp. 14-14-14/gallon of water. The purpose of the starter solution is to
provide a readily available source of nutrient for the transplants. It is especially important because the transplant has
lost some of most of its roots and thereby has a minimal root area for uptake of minerals. A good starter solution are
those high in phosphorus because it is important in root regeneration (e.g. 12-24-12). It is important to note that
complete fertilizer is often difficult to dissolve. It should therefore, be soaked in water for a few days to get the best
result.
Direct Seeding
Direct seeding can be done by:
1. Broadcasting
2. Drilling
3. Dibbling (hill method)
The rate of seeding and spacing as well as the depth of planting should be carefully considered. The rate of
seeding and spacing, however, is dependent on:
1. The kind and variety of the crop
2. The soil fertility
3. Season
4. Cultural practices used
Fertile soil can accommodate a bigger population than poor soil. A higher plant population is used during dry
season than in wet season. Proper spacing and population are considered in order to avoid too much competition
which may result to low yield and poor quality crops. On the other hand, depth of planting will affect the seedlings in
terms of the availability of O2, moisture and time of emergence from the soil. In general, the larger the seeds, the
deeper it can be planted: i.e approximately 0.5-10 cm in heavy soils and 1-2 cm in light or sandy soils.
Raising Seedlings
For lowland rice in the tropics, seedlings are grown at the time there is an adequate moisture supply. In the
case of irrigated rice, seedlings can be grown any time of the year as needed. For rainfed rice, the starting of
seedbeds usually conform with onset of monsoon rains. Seeds of many tropical rice varieties have a dormancy period
of 2-3 weeks in rice seeds is an important advantage in the tropics, especially for the wet-season crop, when high
temperature and humidity at harvest would result in germination on panicle if there is no dormancy. For seedbed
seeding, farmers have to wait until the dormancy period is over or break it by heat (50 0C for 5 days). Waiting until the
end of the dormancy period is the usual practice.
Wet-bed method
1. Preparing seedbed
Prepare the seedbed 10 to 15 days before sowing. Select 400 sq. m. of ideally located fertile field for
seedbed. This area can hold enough seedlings to plant a hectare. Plow the field once and harrow two to
three times until the soil becomes well puddled. Construct raised beds 1 to 1.5 m wide. Provide drainage
canals between the beds.
3. Sowing Seeds
Sow the germinating seeds uniformly on the beds. Sow at the rate of 2 to 3 handfuls of seeds per
square meter. At this rate about 12 to 20 gantas (30 to 50 kg) is enough for 300 to 500 square meter
bed.
Dry-bed Method
This method is practiced in some areas where water is not sufficient to permit the use of the ordinary
wet-bed method.
Dapog method
The “dapog” method is used in places where water is abundant. It is extensively practiced in Southern
Luzon and Bicol regions. This method needs a small area and is easy to manage. The seedlings are
ready for transplanting 9-14 days after sowing. Seedlings raised by the dapog method can easily be
carried to the main paddy.
3. Care of seedlings
Press the seedbed lightly by hand or with a wooden board every morning and afternoon for 3 to 4
days. This will keep roots of seedlings in contact with the banana leaves, cement or fertilizer bags or
plastic film sheet. It will prevent the drying-up of seedlings.
Water the seedbed every morning and afternoon during the first 3 to 4 days with the use of
sprinkler or irrigate the seedbed continuously at a depth of 1 to 2 cm.
The seedbed may be sprayed with carbaryl insecticide or any of the recommended pesticides
to protect the seedlings against pests and diseases.
The usual process of preparing dapog seedbed method can be dispense with by sowing the pre-
germinated seeds on a concrete floor or plain galvanized iron sheet. The plain G.I. sheet is either laid
on level portion of the yard or provided with platform. If using concrete floor, provide a wall 1 to 2
inches high and 1 meter wide. This will prevent the washing-off of the seeds to germinate to the sides
during watering. This process however, requires frequent watering to prevent drying up of seedlings.
The problem can be easily overcome by mixing a small amount of sawdust with the seeds before
sowing. Another way is to spread about a one-centimeter layer of sawdust uniformly. The sawdust is
spread on the concrete floor or plain G.I. sheet before the seeds are sown. The sawdust will conserve
moisture in the seedbed.
CULTIVATION OR INTERTILLAGE
Cultivation refers to any tillage operation after seeds or seedlings are planted.
Tillage is any operation which stirs the soil and is intended to provide the necessary condition favourable for
growth of crops. Plowing, harrowing, hand weeding are examples of tillage operation. Cultivation is usually done at 2-3
weeks interval, depending on the growth of the weeds. However, cultivation should be done at the proper soil moisture
otherwise cultivation would result in a crusty condition of the soil and the destruction of the soil tilth. This common
cultivation or intertillage implements include the disc plow and harrow, moldboard plow, hoe, hand shovel, and “guna”.
Purpose of intertillage
Intertillage serves the following purpose:
1. To control weeds
2. To break crust which retards seedling development and in some cases roughen the soil sufficiently to
increase water infiltration.
3. To aerate the soil so that plant foods are more readily available because of increased bacterial and
chemical action in the soil.
4. To conserve soil moisture
REFERENCES:
Bautista, O. K.1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture.2 nd Edition. University of the Philippines Los Bańos, Laguna,
Philippines.
Pava, H. and Allan L. Abellanosa. 1995. Introduction to Crop Science. CMU, Musuan, Bukidnon.