LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET No.

4
TLE 9-AGRICULTURE
Quarter 4
LO 3. STORE AND STOCKPILE MATERIALS TLE-AFAC9NW-IVa-e-3
Name of Student
Learning Area/Grade TLE 9-AGRICULTURE
Level
Date

I. Introductory Concept
Good nursery hygiene is extra essential. Disease-free seedlings are those
that are greatly needed by plant growers because they do not have to spend
money to maintain newly transplanted plants in the field. In order to maintain
nursery hygiene and to ensure a high standard of plant health surplus
materials must be properly managed.

II. Objectives:
At the end of this learning activity sheet, you should be able to:
3.3 Stockpile all surplus materials according to company disposition
guidelines
3.3.1. Maintain a clean and safe work site while completing nursery activities
following routine maintenance procedure.
III. Activities
Vocabulary Lists
 Potting materials – materials such as earthen pots, polyethylene
bags, recycled cups.
 Holding area – area where plants are kept/ separated.
 Prick out room – placed as an extension of germination area.
 Seed store/ Seed treatment section – Seeding and Germination
room.
INFORMATION SHEET
PROPER STOCKPILING OF NURSERY MATERIALS

This can be done by:

1. Potting materials such as

earthen pots, polyethylene
bags, recycled cups should
be properly arranged and
placed together in one
area.
 2. Media, mixing area including a
section for sterilization of
media and trays; sterile
material must be protected.

3. Seed store, seed treatment

section, seeding and
germination room are neatly
found.
4. A pricking out room must be
placed as an extension of the
germination area.
5. Plants that aged already
should be in the growing-on
area.
6. A holding area for reject,
surplus material, or returned trays for recycling and composting, until
sterilized recycled material need to be kept separate and isolated from the
nursery

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING SEED MATERIALS

Storage may be defined as the preservation of viable seeds from the time of
collection until they are required for sowing (Holmes and Buszewicz 1958). When
seeds are for afforestation, it can be sown immediately after collection, no storage is
needed. The best sowing date for a given species being raised in a nursery
depends on:
(a) The anticipated date of planting which by itself is dependent on
seasonal climate
(b) The time needed in the nursery for planting stock of that species to
reach the right size for out-planting. Only rarely does best sowing

date coincide with the best date for seed collection. More often it is
necessary to store the seed for varying periods which may be:

1. Up to one year when both seed production and afforestation are

regular annual events, but it is necessary to await the best season for
sowing.
2. 1 – 5 years or more when a species bears an abundant seed crop at
intervals of several years and enough seed must be collected in a
good year to cover annual afforestation needs in intermediate years of
poor seed production.
 3. Long-term storage for purposes of conserving genetic resources. The
period of storage will vary according to the seed longevity of the
species and the storage conditions, but will be measured in decades in
species which are easy to store.

The storage facilities to be provided must be related to the amount of seeds

and the period over which they are to be stored. It is a waste of money to create
expensive facilities capable of maintaining viability for 10 years if the seeds will
never stay longer than nine months between collections and sowing. It is equally
wasteful to spend money on seed collection, extraction and cleaning if storage
conditions are so inadequate that the seeds are 90 % dead before they reach the
nursery.

WASTE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

Every business especially agricultural practice produces waste. Waste

represents a loss of resources and money for your project. By thinking creatively,
you can reduce the waste you create and make better use of the waste that can‘t be
avoided.

The following strategies that can be done to manage waste properly:

a. Install recycling bins in and around your premises. There are materials
that can be used as media or containers in the nursery. Place them in a bin
immediately then sort them into recyclables. You can reduce the volume of
waste going to landfill and you may be able to ĺRQ-sell’ your waste.

b. Use recyclable and reusable plant trays. Reusable and returnable plant
boxes, pots and trays can reduce the waste generated
significantly.
c. Reuse and recycle other nursery products. For example, reuse potting
mix in top soil production, use pruning material for compost and mulch.
d. Install water efficient monitoring and management systems. Read how
to save water in the reducing water use section.
e. Order in bulk where possible. Purchasing in bulk minimizes packaging. If
necessary, consider installing larger storage facilities so that you can order
raw materials in bulk and store them for later use. Bulk purchasing is usually
cheaper and you will also be reducing the environmental impacts of frequent
deliveries to your premises.
 f. Minimize production waste. Look at your production processes and see
what can be altered to minimize waste. If you have a café, consider the size
of the meals and if food is leftover consider downsizing the portion a little.
g. Think about waste produced by your customers. With takeaway coffee,
consider refillable mugs, which costumers can come back and get refilled at
a discount, rather than throwaway cups. If the throwaway cups are used
choose cups made from
recycled materials and/or
are certified as sustainable.
h. Establish a composting
system. If you are
preparing food at your
nursery, you might like to
consider a simple
composting system. Even a
city business can compost
nowadays, using a counter-
top composter like a bokashi bucket’. If you have outdoor space, you could
establish a worm farm or compost heap. Paper can be composted, along
with fruit and vegetable scraps.
i. Introduce a no or low plastics policy. Ask members to bring their own
water bottles of clean cups or use recycled alternatives.
j. Use recycled materials for fixtures where possible. Recycled building
materials can also reduce the construction costs.
k. Act as a recycling center for other recyclables. Work with council to be a
recycling center and promote this service to customers.
l. Implement inventory control procedures to avoid over-ordering. Custom
made computer programs can be set up specifically to track your business
needs, if necessary.
m. Eliminate materials that cannot be recycled from the
production process or the services you provide. Convert to
recyclable materials to reduce your waste volume and seek out
businesses that will take your waste for recycling.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF WORKPLACE

It is important that plant nursery should be managed properly. If not, effort and
money will turn into nothing but a wastage of investment. A properly and organized
plant nursery can become a source of income. Customers, clients who need
planting materials, ornamental plants, seeds are looking for reliable source. How
can you become a known supplier if plant nursery is in disarray and not properly
maintained?

The following are preventive maintenance techniques SPR uses to ensure the
quality of its nursery grown plants.
 ‡ Plants will be pruned as needed to ensure good health and structure.
‡ Routinely groom crops. Remove debris from ground cloth to reduce the
slips and falls.
‡ All plants shall be spaced to allow for optimal growth and good air
circulation to prevent diseases.
‡ Containerized plants will be re-potted as needed to prevent encircling
roots and to allow them to grow into their desired natural form without
girdling.
‡ All plants will be watered as needed. The primary method of irrigation is the
existing overhead system. This system works well for field growing areas but is
modified as needed for watering containerized plants.
‡ Fertilize plants as needed with a fertilizer appropriate to the crop. Use a
slow release product whenever possible.
‡ Plants requiring shade conditions will be held in the shade houses
or provided a shade cover.
‡ City water used for plant irrigation purposes will be used efficiently.
‡ Plants should be grouped by size and water needs.
‡ Watering will be done on an as-needed basis.

The most efficient system for watering individual planted areas will be used.
Where plants are dissimilar in size or species differ, hand watering will be required.

Avoid watering nursery areas that aren’t currently holding plants.

‡ The nursery will support recycling operations.

Compost will be used whenever possible.

Growing containers will be reused (following cleaning). Plant debris will
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‡ Plant holding areas will be used for plants that are in transition. While in
holding, plants shall be mulched, staked as needed, watered, and provided with
shade protection if required.

Protection shall be provided for plants as needed especially during rainy days
and when the environment is too hot. Smaller and more tender plants will have
priority during these period.

‡ Routinely evaluate all gravel surfaces where crops are staged for the
presence of potholes and standing water.
Site Maintenance

‡ All potting soil, compost, and bark mulch will be covered with a tarp to
prevent weed seed germination. Alternatively, routinely turn all piles.

‡ Noxious weeds will be controlled or removed from the site during

preparation

‡ Roads and pathways will be maintained on an annual basis to ensure

accessibility.
 ‡ While the nursery supports various community programs the general
public shall not be allowed to get in and out of the vicinity.
ACTIVITY:
In a piece of clean paper.
Answer the following questions.
1. Can you enumerate some materials that are abundant in your community and can
be used as containers in the nursery?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2.What is composting? Is there a composting project found in your community?
What method is being practiced?
_____________________________________________________________
____________________
IV. EVALUATION
Write T if the statement is correct and F if it is wrong.
________ 1. Compost is considered a plant supplement.
________2. Compost and other media should be sterilized first before using.
________3. Seed treatment can be done anywhere in the nursery.
________4. Plants and other seedlings can be placed along with others.
________5. A holding area for rejects must be separated or isolated in the nursery.
________6. Seeds can be stored for a longer period of time.
_______7. All waste materials in the nursery can be sorted as recyclables.
_______8. Plastic cups and other materials are best to use for repotting.
_______ 9.It is best to have a composting bin near your house for nursery needs.
________10.Plants need not be groomed because it will not good for them in the
future.