SITE CHARACTERIZATION

Agripina Rana-Aradilla
Associate Professor IV
Department of Agronomy & Plant
Breeding
College of Agriculture
Central Mindanao University
 SITE CHARACTERIZATION

 The initial step prior to actual

production constitute a planning
phase or the conduct of a feasibility
study to decide on the location and
crop enterprises that will be set up.
Factors to consider in site
characterization/evaluation

1. Physical factors (soil)

2. Biological factors
3. Climate (rainfall, frequency of
typhoons, wind velocity &
direction)
4. Economic factors
5. Socio-cultural factors
 There is a need to evaluate the
physical, biological and socio-
economic conditions existing in the
area, the options that are available in
terms of crop species and the
technological inputs that will be
required in growing the crops.
The Farm Environment

 It consists of the natural,

biophysical, social, economic and
political environment.

 Farming systems is equated to the

environment and the type of
farming systems to be adopted in a
farm and is determined by several
factors that influence it.
 The site characteristics and qualities of
the area play an important consideration
in crop production and management.

 These characteristics include

topography, slope, effective soil depth,
soil texture, available moisture, water
holding capacity, soil drainage, flooding
hazard and natural soil fertility like pH,
organic matter, available P,
exchangeable K, cation exchange
capacity, etc.
 The ideal soil for upland crops has a deep
rooting zone and easily penetrable by air,
water and roots. It has good water
holding capacity but drains excess water
freely. It has a balance supply of nutrients
that cannot be easily washed away during
rains. Paddy rice, e.g. prefers level,
deep, fertile and poorly drained soils that
can be flooded while the crop is growing.
Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 Slope – is the ratio of the vertical

distance over the horizontal distance
both of the same linear unit
multiplied by 100%. It influence
retention and movement of water,
movement of soil materials, soil
depth and rate and amount of run-off
Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 Soil Texture – refers to the relative

proportion of clay, silt and sand. Soil
structure depends on the kind and
amount of clay in the soil.
 Clay works with organic matter to
hold water and nutrients, binds soil
particles together; holds more water
and nutrients than sandy soils; has
higher cation exchange capacity than
sandy soils
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production
 Medium textured soils like loam and silt
loam are best soils for diversified upland
crops. Paddy rice prefers poorly drained
clayey soils
 Soil Depth – Effective soil depth refers to
the thickness of the soil to layers coarser
than loamy fine sand, sand, gravels,
stones, rocks or any impermeable layer
or to depth to water table.
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 Soil Depth – Effective soil depth refers

to the thickness of the soil to layers
coarser than loamy fine sand, sand,
gravels, stones, rocks or any
impermeable layer or to depth to water
table.
Depth of surface soil:
For Annuals – relatively shallow depths
are all right
For perennials – greater depths should
be advantageous
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 The thicker the effective soil depth,

the more the volume of soil that can
be extracted of plant nutrient and
water

 Deeper soils are more productive than

shallow soils. Crops can endure a
longer drought when they thrive on
soils having a higher water holding
capacity.
Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production
 Soil Drainage is the removal of water
from the soil through surface run-off
and by flow through the soil to
underground spaces

 Well-drained soil promote favorable

conditions for plant growth and
microbial activity.
Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

Soil Drainage
 Drainage is important for crops that
are sensitive to waterlogging

 Factors affecting soils drainage:

slope, permeability, vegetation and
land use, and amount of rainfall
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for
Crop Production

 Available Water & Water holding

Capacity

 Available water is the water content of

a soil held between field capacity and
permanent wilting point expressed in
percent
Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 Field capacity represents the

maximum amount of water a soil can
hold against normal drainage

 Permanent wilting point is the

moisture of soil water when the
plants start to wilt
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 Soil with poor drainage have limited

agricultural use because of wetness.
These soils are not suitable for
upland crops unless adequately
drained but they are best for paddy
rice.
Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 Medium textured soils hold the most

water in available form
 Coarse textured soil hold little water
because of their low water content at
field capacity
 Fine clayey soils supply limited
available water because they return
large amount of water at permanent
wilting point
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production

 Soil Erosion
 The degree and amount of soil erosion
is mainly dependent on steepness and
length of slope, climate, kind of soil,
nature of land use and vegetative
cover, and cultural and soil
management practices.
 Surface erosion occurs when the
amount of rainfall exceed to that of the
infiltration capacity of the soils.
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production
 Soils with larger & steeper slopes are
more susceptive to sever soil erosion than
soils with lower shorter slopes & all other
factors are equal
 Soil erosion is more severe on areas with
more frequent and more intense alternate
wet and dry periods than areas with
uniform rainfall throughout the year
 Sandy soils are more susceptible to
erosion than clayey soils due to
detachment and lack of binding materials
 Effects of Soil Characteristics…
 Plowing and tilling across the slopes tend
to hasten soil erosion to a great degree
Flooding Hazard
 Flooding occurs on areas occupying low
physiographic positions along rivers and
streams, low alluvial terraces of the
coastal landscape
 Prolonged deep flooding prevents root
respiration due to absence of oxygen and
deprives the plants of the essential soil
nutrients
 Effects of Soil Characteristics for Crop
Production
 Inherent Soil Fertility
 Soil fertility refers to the status of the
soil in terms of its ability to provide the
plants adequate amount of nutrients in
balance proportion and on readily
available form necessary for normal
plant growth

 It is related to pH, organic matter, CEC,

available P, extractable K and base
saturation
 Inherent soil fertility …
a. Soil pH affects plant growth on its
nutritional needs. It influences the
rate of plant nutrient released by
weathering, the solubility of all
materials in the soil and the amount
of nutrient ions kept on the CEC sites.
b. Organic matter content affects soils
fertility in terms of CEC and nutrient
supply.
 The higher the organic matter
content, the higher is the CEC supply
of available N, P and S.
 Inherent soil fertility …

c. Available P – second most deficient

nutrient in most soils; is derived from
mineralization of organic matter. P
availability is related to soil pH. A pH
range from 6.5 – 7.5 is usually best for
P availability
d. Exchangeable P - essentially needed
in large amount by plants which comes
mostly from mineral solids. K is most
available at pH 6 – 7.5.
but in leached soils, available K
declines
Inherent soil fertility…

e. Percentage base saturation – refers

to the percentage of CEC occupied by
basic cations such as Ca, Mg, K and
Na measured at pH 7 or 8. Cations
like H and Al are excluded because
they are acid produced.
 Biotic Factors
a. Cropping patterns. These are temporal
and spatial arrangement of crops in the
field which are based on type of climate
and soil, availability of farm inputs and
technical know how of the farmer.
One cannot deviate much unless
the community as a whole, changes the
pattern. The risks from pest damage is
the field are greater if planting is not
synchronized with that of the
community.
 Biotic Factors

b)Varietal selection – The variety to be

planted in the farm depends on its
adaptability, the preference or purpose
for planting it, its resistance to pests
and diseases, maturity indices, high
yielding and good eating quality.
Information on yields of best
farms in the area must be obtained and
used for upgrading operations.
 Biotic factors…

c) Insects & diseases – The prevalence of

insects & disease must be considered
thus planting synchronously is
favorable and the variety should be
resistant to pests & diseases. Cavite,
Laguna, Batangas and nearby
provinces should not be planted with
papaya due to prevalence of ringspot
virus.
 Biotic Factors…

d) Weeds – There must be thorough land

preparation before planting and there
must be maximum utilization of the
land to prevent growth of weeds
(increase plant density)
e) Animals – Astray animals in the farm
affect production. However, draft
animals are beneficial to farmers.
There must be compatibility of the
animal component to the crop
components.
Physical Component (Soil)

1) Geography – The location of the

farm affects production. Farms near
big municipalities/cities produce a
variety of crops in a small area
(diversified) whereas those in the
upland are at a disadvantage due to
lack of accessibility to roads and
markets.
Physical Component (soil)…

2) Topography and elevation – The

terrain or contour of the land affects
cropping patterns.

Lowlands are utilized for producing

most likely annuals (cereals, etc)
whereas in the uplands with high
altitudes, vegetables are raised.
Physical Component (soil)…

3)Land Use Pattern – It depends on the

rainfall pattern of the area and the
cropping patterns used such as that
after one cropping, it is followed by a
short fallow before another cropping
starts. Or the farm is fallowed to
rest for a few months before another
cropping starts.
 Physical Component (Climate)

1)Rainfall Pattern – With upland farms

usually rainfed, planting crops should be
in timing with good rain.
A planting calendar based on rainfall
pattern de adopted to fully utilize
photosynthesis. The climate also
influences cropping patterns as this
depends on the rainfall intensity and
distribution as it affects soil workability,
crop growth and development, and
maturity
 Physical Component (Climate)…

2)Temperature – Plants have specific

temperature requirements to grow
vigorously at different stages of
growth.
In the choice of crops, the growing
season has to be considered which are
also influenced by latitude, altitude and
slope of the place.
Physical Component (Climate)…

3)Typhoon/Drought Occurrence – In
areas where there are ‘typhoon
belts’, the crops to be planted are
creeping species (sweet potato, etc)
and the annuals so that these could
be harvested with less effect from
strong winds or the planting of
drought tolerant crops
 Physical Component (Climate)
4) Wind Velocity – Still air are beneficial to
crops as this aids the pollination process.
But wind velocity also cause soil erosion
and therefore planting wind breaks are
necessary.
5) Solar radiation – Light intensity, duration
and quality affects dry matter
accumulation as this is used for
photosynthesis. Plants have higher dry
matter accumulation under optimum
sunlight.
 Economic Components
1) Off-farm income sources – Farm
management involves capital and the
capital of a farmer might not be enough
hence, he has to secure off-farm income
to augment his finances
Economic Components

2. Labor market – There is shortage of

labor during “peak months” and labor
is expensive and if labor is available,
it is expensive and demand higher
price. Therefore in the farm,
operations should be done on
staggered basis such that labor is
available at off-seasons
 Economic Components

3)Market & Credit – In deciding what to

raise in the farm, the farmer has to
the consider the demand (quantity
and quality) of the products at high
price based on customer preference;
the marketing outlets and the ROI.
Economic Components

3)Market & Credit …

Supply and demand situations should
be known so that operations can be
adjusted for harvesting to coincide
with the slack periods of supply when
prices are high. Also, the farmer has
to develop storage and selling
strategies to avoid risk.
 Economic Components

3)Market & Credit …

 Credits are supplied by banks, etc. or
middlemen. Credits help farmers a lot
but this may also tie down their
produce to lower prices. On the other
hand, capital for inputs and services
are readily available.
Economic Components

4) Transport facilities. Necessary for

marketing of farm products as well
as transport of supplies and inputs.
Insufficient transport facilities in the
farm results to slow turnover of
outputs to cash, and may even result
to wastage of produce.
Economic Components

5)Channels of market information –

Media and technicians inform farmers
of the recent product demand and
prices of commodities in the market.
Farmers has to raise goods of
preference to consumers that
command high prices.
 Economic Components

6)Landholding, inheritance pattern and

land tenure status – Available land
resources and farm distribution affect
crops grown and the farming system
used. For land owners, they can plant
on extensive scale whereas others on
small scale based on farm sizes.
Landholding…

 Land tenure status influences

production as there are agreements
and disagreements between landlord
and tenants. With fragmented
holding, fields may be of different soil
types due to complex management
practices
Socio-Cultural Components

1) Organization and Leadership –

Formal and non-formal leaders help
members in understanding the
current pattern of resource
distribution and these leaders would
mobilize the members to form
cooperatives and avail of and have
access to support and technical
assistance
Socio-Cultural Components…

2)Ethnicity and idiosyncrasies – Values,

outcomes and traditions are inherent
to all people and this affects farming
system. Farmers have to raise crops
as handed down traditions such as in
Mt. Province, people raised
vegetables and in Cebu, people raise
and eat corn
 Socio-Cultural Components …
3)Aspirations and attitudes – Aspirations
help farmers to strive more for certain
definite purpose – child’s education or
alleviate income. Farmers’ attitude also
limit production but if they are taking
risk as opportunities then they have to
diversity their farms to have continuous
cash flow, much food, wider host range
of pests and diseases and if one crop
fails, there are still others to be
harvested.
 Socio-cultural Components

4) Intellectual and technical perspective

Those who engaged in farming are
the middle age group and are of low
educational attainment. They lack
technical know how but with wider
farming experiences.
Socio-Cultural Components …

5) Tradition, customs and beliefs

Whatever traditions, customs and
beliefs of the people influence the
type of crops or animals raised.
They have to follow on what they
“believe” in terms of farming.
Bio-physical Features of Land
and Crop Adaptation

Crops have acquired their

mechanisms to specific factors of
climate, soil and biotic factors through
natural evolution and man’s
intervention. Crops with special
adaptation should match a given bio-
physical situation.
1. Submerged conditions during most of
the crop’s life cycle e.g. rice, taro
water chestnut (apulid) and Sesbania
rostrata for green manuring.
 Most crops are sensitive to water
logging
 Jute and sorghum can tolerate
periodic waterlogged conditions
 Corn can not tolerate waterlogging
and sensitive to even short period (36
hr) of waterlogging
 Rambutan, papaya and durian are very
sensitive to under-drainage or water-
logged conditions
 Mango can tolerate waterlogging for a
certain period of time
 Sorjan – a system of raising upland
crops (vegetables & peanuts) in raised
beds along side submerged lowland rice
2. Humid condition and where rainfall is
more uniformly distributed which is
suitable to all perennial crops such as
mangosteen (Mindanao) and abaca
(Mindanao, Easter Visayas and Bicol
peninsula). Mango produce quality and
tasty fruits in areas where there is a dry
spell.
3. Cool climate or mild climate in the
highlands of Mt. province, Mt Kanlaon
(Negros Island) and in Bukidnon-Lanao
plateau are suitable for vegetable
species like white potato, cabbage, peas,
carrots, head lettuce, asparagus, etc.
The suitable fruit species are litchi
(lychee), longgan, ponkan mandarin
orange, strawberry, grape and
macademia nut.
4. Coastal areas are suited for coconut,
cashew, tamarind and talisay
(Terminalia catappa) which is a source
of dye for clothing materials and nipa
palm (Nympha fruticans) can thrive well
in saline conditions. The limit of
elevation for coconut is 600m above sea
level.
5. Partial shade is good for ginger, black
pepper, vanilla, lanzones, rambutan,
mangosteen, cacao, coffee, banana,
arrowroot, pachouli and many other
crops can be grown under coconut
trees, ipil-ipil and madre de cacao (G.
sepium).
6. Low pH 4.3 – 5.0 as in Bukidnon is
suitable for rubber, pineapple, cassava,
sweet potato and Stylosanthes humilis, a
forage legumes that nodulates at pH 4.0-
4.5. Acid tolerant crop varieties of corn
have been developed by CIMMYT,IPB-
UPLB and CMU; mungbean, peanut and
cowpea in IPB-UPLB and rice in IRRI and
CIAT-Colombia.
7.Light-textured soils are good for
rootcrops, asparagus, legumes and corn.
8.Poor and stony soils are good for cashew
and forage legumes. Kaong or sugar
palm “Areca pinnata” can also be grown
in these areas.
9.Drought-prone areas are suited for
sorghum, cashew, pineapple, sweet
potato, pigeon pea,cowpea, mungbean,
and napier.
10.Photoperiod or daylength. Soybeans,
winged beans, kenaf, coffee, pineapple,
chrysanthemum and some rice varieties
are photoperiod sensitive responsive and
will flower when daylength has become
shorter than 12 hours. Bulb formation is
hastened by longer days. In yams (ubi),
long days favor vine development and
short days hasten tuberization.
 Crops that have become dominant
in certain areas

 La Union and Pangasinan - tobacco,

garlic
 Quirino Prov, CagayanValley & Siquijor
- peanut
 Negros Tarlac-Pampanga and Batangas
– sugarcane
 Guimaras Island, Cebu & Central Luzon
– mango
 Crops that have become dominant
in certain areas

 Albay, Camarines Sur, Bicol – Pili Nut

 Cavite, Laguna, Bukidnon, General
Santos - pineapple
 Bicol, Leyte, Mindanao (started planting
in late 1800s and early 1900s, but
failed) – abaca
 Davao & Bukidnon – export bananas
 Cagayan Valley & Mindanao - corn
…End…

Good Luck and God Bless You…