DAVAO ORIENTAL STATE COLLEGE OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

BANAYBANAY EXTENSION CAMPUS

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL
in
BTLE 110
(Agri-Fishery Arts 2)

Prepared by:

RENEE ROSE Y. SAYLAN, L.Agr.

Agriculture Department
 MODULE 1

Lesson 2

CROPS AND SITE LOCATION SELECTION

Farmers usually select crop for cultivation according to their traditional knowledge
and past experience in farming, but a farmer’s predictions may go wrong due to natural
disaster. Thus, decision-making tool need to be developed to help farmers to take decision on
crop cultivation.
Different crops need different type of soils, different types and amounts of nutrients,
and different types and amounts of water. The amount of water required by the plant is also
dependent on the growing season and the climate where it is grown. By selecting the right
crop for the given soil conditions and climate, one can optimise yields and save water
requirements for irrigation.

Activity

A. Make a research about the Philippines and gather the information asked below:
1. Land Area - ________________________________________________________
2. No. of Irrigated Areas - ______________________________________________
3. Location - ________________________________________________________
4. Soil type - ________________________________________________________
5. Climate - ________________________________________________________
6. Topography - ______________________________________________________
7. Main Agricultural products - __________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

B. Gather information about your barangay/locality

1. Total Area - __________________________________________________
2. Soil Type - __________________________________________________
3. Location - __________________________________________________
4. Main Agricultural products - __________________________________________
 Abstraction

Site and Location Selection

Site selection should be the first step to be undertaken before deciding to finally go into actual
farming or when the crop to be grown has already been decided. The purchase of a farm lot is being
considered as a better alternative of investing hard-earned money rather than depositing it in a bank.

Factors to Consider in Site and Location Selection

Soil, topographic, and climatic requirements of the crop

Consistent with the rule know your crop first then select the farm, the first part in the
planning stage before site selection is to learn everything about the crop to be grown. This
involves a thorough identification of the environmental adaptation of the crop, particularly its
soil, topographic, and climatic requirements.
The soil requirement of a particular crop includes such specific characteristics as
soil type, depth, drainage, texture, organic matter content, pH, and fertility with respect to the
macronutrient and micronutrient content of the soil.
The topographic requirement of a crop refers to its natural adaptation or tolerance
to land features such as elevation, slope, and terrain.
The climatic factors that can influence the growth and yield of crops include
temperature, water or rainfall, light (including photoperiod or light duration), relative
humidity, and wind. These factors may vary with geographical location and, as to
microclimate, from farm to farm.
Biotic factors and the prevalence of pests and diseases
Site selection may consider the natural population of certain organisms like bees and
other pollinators.
Places with a long history of the presence of serious pests and diseases may be
avoided. Likewise, caution should be exercised in choosing farm sites dominated by weeds
which are difficult to eradicate.
Cost of acquisition or lease and in preparing the land
Financial feasibility or affordability is a consideration, the cost of procuring or
leasing the farmland is a limiting factor. This may take into consideration also the cost of
modifying the physical features of the land such as in flattening or modifying the landscape if
so desired, the removal of barriers like unwanted trees, clumps, stumps and boulders,
diversion of flood ways, construction of drainage, roads and fire lanes; and in preparing the
land for crop growing including the eradication of major weeds and disease-causing
organisms, soil amendment, and provision of irrigation water.
Frequency of typhoon and other calamities.
The frequency of typhoon and the possible occurrence of other calamities like flood,
drought and volcanic eruption are always considered in both location and site selection
because they can cause severe loss in investment or total crop failure.
Accessibility.
A farm that is managed as a business must have access to supplies, equipment, and
the market. It must be provided with infrastructures (e.g. roads) and, if the product is intended
to be marketed elsewhere, shipping facilities or airports.
Labor supply and cost.
Skilled labor must be available at reasonable cost. Otherwise, laborers from other
parts of the country may have to be imported.
 Security and political stability.
The farm should be secure from thieves and astray animals. Otherwise, additional
investment may be provided for fencing or security personnel. In addition, farms are preferred
in locations where the local and regional populace is compliant to the rule of law and where
there is stable existence of peace and order.
Conversely, places with history of unrest, interfamily and intertribal feud, political
turmoil, banditry and lawlessness tend to be avoided.
Bureaucracy and investment benefits.
Site selection favors those locations where bureaucratic red tape is minimal so that
business permits and other papers if so required can be processed with haste. Likewise,
countries and localities which offer incentives, like tax exemption, are preferred.

Agricultural Crop Selection

Crop and varietal selection is the first consideration in starting or developing the farm. Right
decision in the selection of crop or crops to be grown, particularly perennial types, will ultimately
convert into a successful farming venture.
Various factors should be considered in crop selection. This is a requisite that must be
undertaken before actually starting a farming venture. Even without a predetermined location and site
of a farm, the crop to be grown can be decided though based mainly on its marketability and
profitability.
However, there are many cases especially in countries with agriculture-based economy in
which the farm lot is already available. It could have been acquired through inheritance, or by
purchase, or otherwise transferred through other means.

Factors to Consider in Crop Selection

Prevailing farm conditions
An environmental scanning should first be conducted. This involves a thorough
ocular inspection and other methods to obtain information on the biotic factors that can affect
plant growth and yield, soil and climatic conditions prevailing in the area, and accessibility.
Here the guiding rule is: know your farm first then select the right crop.
The biotic factors refer to living organisms including ruminant animals, insect and
other pests, disease pathogens and weeds, as well as organisms having beneficial effects for
the production and the abundance of pollinators. Where there is prevalence of a disease in a
locality, susceptible crops may be excluded or a resistant variety may be selected.
The topographic features of the land like elevation, slope, terrain and aspect (the
direction that a sloping land faces); and the physical and chemical properties of the soil such
as texture, color, organic matter content, pH and fertility levels will determine the crops that
are naturally suited. Also, the various climatic factors, such as prevailing climate type,
temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, incidence of light, and frequency of typhoons will
limit the choice of crops. A stable supply of water within the farm will allow wide
possibilities in crop selection.
The crop(s) and the variety (ies) to be grown should be selected based on their
adaptability to the prevailing conditions in the farm. A useful guide is to identify the crops
growing in the farm and in the neighborhood. An interview of the neighboring farmers will
also provide valuable information as to the probability of success, or failure, of growing
certain preferred crops.
In addition, the accessibility of the farm to and from the market will influence the
choice of crops. Having a farm-to-market road is likewise important in stocking the farm with
supplies.
 For example, cassava and oil palm should be preferably grown in farms with good
roads and as close as possible to the market because the harvest is bulky and must be
transported immediately due to rapid rate of degradation.

Marketability and profitability

For those who want to engage in cash crop farming or, at the least, ensure financial
sustainability, crop selection must consider marketability and profitability. In general, this
means that the crop to be selected must be high yielding. The product, be it the fruit, seed,
modified root or stem, flower or foliage or any part, must have an accessible, stable and
robust market. With efficient labor and use of inputs, the harvest will realize profit to finance
the succeeding farm activities or generate substantial return on investment. However, market
and price are dictated by many factors such as the number of competitors, supply and
demand, development of new products, promotional campaign, and agribusiness cycle.

Resistance to pests and diseases.

Regardless of the purpose of farming, it is important to be able to select a crop and
variety with wide resistance to important pests and diseases. The use of susceptible varieties
may result to high cost of production or, worst, total crop failure.

Available technology.
The technology for the growing of the crop must have been well established or easy
to learn and apply. Likewise, certain crops are preferred because technical assistance is
available locally.

Farming system
Crop selection is affected by the system of farming employed, that is, whether purely
crop farming or integrated with livestock animals. Likewise, the particular crop species to be
grown will depend on the crop production practices such as monoculture, multiple cropping,
hedge row-strip cropping, and planting patterns.
If there is a plan to integrate crop production with free-range livestock, or where entry
of astray animals is unhampered, it would be wise to install tree guards or fences. However,
additional cost can be eliminated or minimized by selecting crops that are less susceptible to
nibbling. In intercropping, it is desirable that the component crops have complementary or
mutualistic relation.
Security
In the absence of security personnel or where there is no fence that will exclude
intruders, crop selection may be done in favor of those which are not susceptible of thievery.
This will avoid such crops as vegetables and fruit crops which can be easily harvested for
food and for cash.
Availability and cost of planting materials.
These are important considerations especially among those who have limited capital.

Availability and cost of labor.

Where farm laborers, particularly in the community where the farm is located, are
scant or cost is high, proper crop selection becomes more important. The need for farm
workers should be a prime consideration because there is continuous need from land
preparation to planting and up to harvest, postharvest, and marketing. For perennial crops, in
fact, the work does not end with the first harvest but rather perpetually.
In such case, it may be preferable to select crops which do not require plenty of farm
workers at regular basis. Or, at least, avoid those crops which are heavily dependent on
regular labor.
 Application

A. Answer the questions below with your own understanding on the topic discussed
above.
1. What is/are the contribution(s) of farm to market roads in crop production activities?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. How does topography affects crop selection?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Why do we need to consider the above discussed different factors in selecting crops
and site for crop production?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Justify the following rule
a. know your crop first then select the farm
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
b. know your farm first then select the right crop
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________