Government Property

NOT FOR SALE

NOT
10
Technology and
Livelihood Education
AGRICULTURE 10
Quarter 3- Module 6
Growing Seedlings - Cultural Practices

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

 Pre-Planting Operations
1
What I Need to Know

At the end of the lesson, students must be able to:

• identify the different cultural practices.
• classify the macro and micronutrients; and
• analyze the treatments of seed when there are pests and diseases.
.

What I Know

Pre-Test Multiple Choice

Direction: Read the following questions and encircle the letter of the correct
answer.

1. It is a tool for farmers to plan for production to ensure that marketing

coincides with the period of the year when the market price of a produce is
highest.
a. seeds planting calendar b. plant planting calendar
c. crop planting calendar d. farm planting calendar

2. It is a series of activities carried out in a form management system prior to

planting the seed or planting materials.
a. pre-planting operation b. prior planting operation
c. first planting operation d. start planting operation

3. Which of the following does not belong to pre-cultural practices?

a. seed procurement b. land preparation
c. soil pH determination d. soil sterilization
4. Which of the following is the correct land population formula?
a. Seed type x Land size b. Seed rate x Land size
Spacing Spacing
c. Seed type x Land area d. Seed rate x Land area
Spacing Spacing
5. Which of the following ways that can carried out soil pH?
a. mechanical analysis and on field test
b. chemical analysis and field testing
c. technical analysis and on field testing
d. physical analysis and field testing

6. Which of the following are the two purposes of seed treatment?

a. It avoids the attack of soil-borne diseases and prevents the seeds to
become dry.
b. It hastens germination and protects the seeds or planting material from
pest and diseases.
c. It protects the seeds from too much heat of the sun and gives extra
nutrients for seeds.
d. It eliminates the diseases from the seeds and helps it grow faster.

7. Most smallholder farmers apply either immature or inadequate quantity

of_______?
a. crops and fertilizer b. compost/fertilizer
c. seeds and compost d. manure/compost
8. It aims to provide a suitable environment for your seeds and crop.
a. pre-cultural preparation b. land preparation
c. cultural preparation d. choosing of best media

9. It is one way to carried out soil pH without the use of laboratory.

a. on field test b. cultural test
c. soil pH test d. soil test

10. Which of the following does not belong to the procedure of market survey
using the planting calendar?
a. determine from the market survey results when there is peak demand
for selected crops
b. work backward from the month when there is peak demand to prepare
monthly farm activities preceding the peak period
c. use the monthly activities preceding the peak as a procurement plan
for farm inputs and a guide for farm operations
d. identify the month the demand is high and procure plan for farm inputs
11. It is vital to establish the type and quantity of fertilizer. Which of the
following reasons is incorrect?
a. increase production
b. avoiding making the soils either too acidic or alkaline
c. saving expenditure on inputs thus reducing the cost of production
and
increasing the profitability
d. avoid pest and diseases to penetrate in the plants

12. When the value you obtain from soil testing falls below or above these
values, 5.5-6.5, you need to correct the soil pH through_______.
a. burning b. sterilizing c. composting d. liming
13. To determine if the embryo of the seed is either alive or dead, what
test must be done?
a. test the viability b. test the ability
c. test the capacity d. test the germination

14. It is the first fundamental practice that smallholder farmers must

undertake regularly in order to realize economic returns from farm.
a. seed testing b. manure preparation
c. economic survey d. market survey

15. It is one way to carried out soil pH through laboratory.

a. physical analysis b. chemical analysis
c. mechanical analysis d. technical analysis
 What’s In

The success of our farm depends on the foundation we have

prepared. Most farmers experience crop failure due to lack of preparation.
In this lesson you will find out the pre-planting operations to have a good
foundation for planting.

What’s New

Activity 1

1. Do you have any business in mind that you have planned to pursue in
the future?
2. What possible preparations you think that would be essential before
pursuing such business?
3. Copy in your notebook the chart below. Write all your preparations
before realizing your business.

type of business

preparations

1
2.
3.
4.
5
What Is It?
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 What is It

Pre- Planting Operations are series of activities carried out in a form

management system prior to planting the seed or planting materials. They are
those operations you carry out before sowing the seeds. Pre-planting
operations are very important; they are the foundation on which you build the
success and survival of the crop. Most farmers experience crop the failure
because of the failure in the pre-planting operations.

Examples of pre-planting operations are:

• seed procurement
• land preparation
• soil pH determination
• seed treatment
• seed viability test
• plant population determination

Now let me enumerate why these pre-planting operations are

paramount to the success and survival of your farm business.

1. Seed Procurement

Firstly, where, and how do you outsource your seeds or planting materials?

This is where most farmers get it wrong. You are expected to get your
planting materials or seeds from a reputable agro-allied store. The word
reputable is very important here; because, when your seeds or planting
materials are bad, automatically you are going to experience crop failure not
only crop failure but also huge losses of investments, because the pre-
planting operations you had carried out are no longer useful.

2. Land Preparation

This is another important pre-planting operation in agriculture that

most farmers get wrong from inception. Land preparation aims to provide a
suitable environment from your seeds and crop.

For your crop, it ensures a sterile environment where crop pests and
disease pathogens are eradicated. It also provides anchorage and support
for the crop.

5
3. Soil pH Determination

I am sure you know that crops also select the type of plant they
grow on; you will need to check the compatibility of your soil with the land
you intent to use by running a Soil pH test. The soil pH meter ranges from
1 – 14; most crops thrive best in soil with pH reading within 5.5 – 6.5. Soil
pH can be carried out in two ways:

• Mechanical analysis: this is carried out in the laboratory. Here, the

exact soil pH value is gotten after carrying the test.

• On field test: there are ways you test soil pH without going to the
laboratory. This can be achieved using a material such as litmus paper.

When the value you obtain from soil testing falls below or above
these values, 5.5-6.5, you need to correct the soil pH through liming.

4. Seed Treatment

Even after buying your seeds from a reputable agro-allied

company. It is essential you treat your seed or planting material. Seed
treatment serves two purposes:

• It hastens germination.
• It protects the seeds or planting material from pest and diseases.

There are different ways to treat seeds or planting materials; seed

treatment for plantain suckers is different from that of maize seeds. To
hasten germination, the seeds can be bruised mechanically to aid water
imbibition; hence, quick germination is achieved.

5. Seed Viability

It is very imperative that you test the viability of the seeds before
planting to determine if the embryo of the seed is alive or dead. Although,
in most cases, the manufacturer of the seeds would have indicated the
viability percentage; but in cases where this is devoid, you can carry out a
very simple viability test using water. Just pour the seeds in water, leave
for about 20 minutes, the floating ones are dead while the ones below are
good for planting.

6
6. Plant Population Determination

If you are planting, you should be able to predict your yield. It allows
you to estimate your profit and assist in making farm management
decisions. There is a formula to calculate the plant population.

Plant population formula is: Seed rate x Land size

Spacing

What’s More

Activity 2.

You already have an idea about pre-planting operations. Now, let

me measure what you have.
Get your activity notebook and answer the following questions:
1. Why is it pre-planting operations are paramount to the success and
survival of a farm business? (5 points)

2. How important is implementing the pre-planting operations in our farm?

Explain your answer. (5 points)

3. Among the six pre-planting operations, what do you think is the most
important and why?
(5 points)

What I Have Learned

Activity 3

Interview at least three farmers in your own land area. Ask them
about pre-planting operations that they had experienced and how helpful
they are. Use any gadget to capture the interview for your output.

7
 What I Can Do

Activity 4

You did a great job in Activity 2. Congratulations for a job well

done! This time you will undergo an exciting and challenging task in
Activity 3.
Among the six pre-planting operations, choose three that could be
possible to apply in your land area. Make a vlog while doing the three
operations for your output.

Additional Activity

Activity 5

You have an excellent job after doing all the previous activities.
This time, let us find out how creative you are.

Make a poster of an ideal garden. Use a one half catolina for your
output. Make sure to use your coloring materials to make your poster as
beautiful as possible.
 8

Lesson
Pre-Cultural Preparation Practices
2
What I Need to Know

At the end of the lesson, students must be able to:

• recognize the different pre-cultural practices;
• observe how pre-cultural practices should be done; and
• apply the different practices in the real life situation.

What I Know

True/False

Direction: Identify whether the statement is true or false. Write TRUE if the
statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is incorrect. Put your answer
in the space provided before each number.

______1. Market surveys need not be cumbersome.

______2. The conduction of market survey recognizes market survey as the
first fundamental practice that big holder farmers must undertake
regularly to realize economic returns from farm.
______3. We must determine from the planting calendar the results when
there is peak demand for selected crops.
______4. The work backward from the month when there is peak demand to
prepare monthly farm activities preceding the peak period.
______5. Market surveys provide useful information in guiding a producer
(farmer) in producing what he/she can sell.
______6. A crop planting calendar is a tool for farmers to plan for production
to ensure that marketing coincides with the period of the year when the
market price of a produce is low.
______7. There is a need to use the monthly activities preceding the peak as
a procurement plan for farm inputs and a guide for farm operations.
______8. Transplanting happens 50 days after seed germination.
______9. The fertilizer application is 80 kg DAP per acre.
______10. The manure application is 2 – 3 kg per m2.
 9

What’s In

After knowing all the pre-planting operations, we also need to know

about pre-cultural preparations or practices. These two are both useful in the
different land areas and they are aiming for a bountiful harvest.

What’s New

Activity 1

Do you have an idea of an ideal site for vegetable production? Have

you ever seen an area planted with various vegetable crops? An ideal site for
vegetable growing is dependent on the vegetable’s needs. Now go to any
area where you probably plant your vegetable. Think of vegetables that could
be planted in the said area (identify the vegetables based from what is
needed in your community) and then list it all. Plan what to do first before
planting the seeds in your area to meet the desire growth of plants. Write it in
a one whole sheet of paper.

What is It

Pre- Cultural Practices

1. Farmers Conduct a Market Survey

“Do you undertake a market survey to determine the crop to cultivate?”

Most smallholder farmers are not in touch with the present reality about
the market. Therefore, they tend to struggle selling what they have produced
rather than producing what they can sell. Market surveys provide useful
information in guiding a producer (farmer) in producing what he/she can sell.

The conduction of market survey recognizes market survey as the first

fundamental practice that smallholder farmers must undertake regularly in
order to realize economic returns from farm.
 Market surveys need not be cumbersome; farmers should obtain the
following information on the crop of their choice:

– During which month there is peak demand for the crop

– The price of the crop during the peak demand
– The crop variety that has the highest demand
– Supply requirements (quantities and frequency)
– Quality of market requirements
– The source of current supply
– Potential buyers and terms and modes of payment
– Marketing challenges, trader’s willingness to buy from them

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

Land Transplant 30 Weed, pest & Harvesting Peak

A
Preparation days after seed disease 60 days after demand for
Blac germination control direct Black
k Manure seeding/ 30 Nightshade
application Spacing 30 – 40 Topdressing days after
Nigh
2 – 3 kg per cm between 80 g CAN per transplanting
tsha m2 rows & 10 – 15 acre
de cm between Yields 4,000
Sowing plants – 8,000kg
Plant
nursery per acre
ing Fertilizer
Cale application 80
kg DAP per acre
ndar
The answers to the above questions determine what the farmer can
sell in terms of quality, quantity and the anticipated profit margins.

2. Crop Planting Calendar

“Do you use crop planting calendar(s) to plan production for the next cropping
season?

A crop planting calendar is a tool for farmers to plan for production to

ensure that marketing coincides with the period of the year when the market
price of a produce is highest.

Procedure

1. determine from the market survey results when there is peak demand for
selected crops
2. work backward from the month when there is peak demand to prepare
monthly farm activities preceding the peak period
3. use the monthly activities preceding the peak as a procurement plan for
farm inputs and a guide for farm operations
 What’s More

Activity 2.

Do some research about different types of planting areas and plants

that could grow in each type of areas and include its present nutrients. Use a
long bond paper for your output.

What I Have Learned

Activity 3

Copy in your activity notebook the chart below. Aside from the pre-
cultural practices enumerated in the topic, what other activities must you do
before planting? Write your ideas in the big box and the reasons in the lines
opposite each box.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 What I Can Do

Activity 4
Let get physical! You have done a lot of activities in this lesson. Be
prepared on this another exciting activity.

In your own land area, conduct a market survey on crop that you need
to cultivate. After that, use the black nightshade calendar on the best month to
do your pre-cultural practices. Follow the procedure on how it should be done.
Write it on a one whole sheet of paper.

Assessment (Post Test)

True/False

Direction: Identify whether the statement is true or false. Write TRUE if the
statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is incorrect. Put
your
answer in the space provided before each number.

______1. Market surveys provide useful information in guiding a producer

(farmer) in producing what he/she can sell.
______2. The manure application is 2 – 3 kg per m2.
______3. The fertilizer application is 80 kg DAP per acre.
______4. Transplanting happens 50 days after seed germination.
______5. Market surveys need not be cumbersome.
______6. There is a need to use the monthly activities preceding the peak as
a procurement plan for farm inputs and a guide for farm operations.
______7. A crop planting calendar is a tool for farmers to plan for production
to ensure that marketing coincides with the period of the year when the
market price of a produce is low.
______8. The work backward from the month when there is peak demand to
prepare monthly farm activities preceding the peak period.
______9. We have to determine from the planting calendar the results when
there is peak demand for selected crops.
______10.The conduction of market survey recognizes market survey as the
first fundamental practice that big holder farmers must undertake
regularly in order to realize economic returns from farm.
Additional Activity
Activity 5
Make a reflection about the topic. Put the lesson in the real-life
situation by identifying the symbolism present on it. Based it with your
experiences. Write it on a one whole sheet of paper.
 14

Lesson
Pre-Cultural Preparation
3 Practices

What I Need to Know

At the end of the lesson, students must be able to:

• recognize the different pre-cultural practices;
• observe how pre-cultural practices should be done; and
• apply the different practices in the real life situation.

What I Know

In your activity notebook, answer the following:

1. Have you done soil testing? What do you think is the purpose of testing
the soil before planting? (5 points)
2. What do you mean by ma manure composting? How important it is?
(5 points)
3. How do you describe a quality seed? What possible reasons of
identifying the quality seeds before planting them? (5 points)

What’s In

There are still pre-cultural practices that we need to know. In this

lesson you will learn about collecting soil samples, manure preparation
through composting, quality seed/planting materials and its procedure.
 What’s New

Activity 1

Identifying your likes and dislikes. Based from your experienced,

what is your bases or characteristics of fruits and vegetables that you like
and dislike while shopping?

Get your activity notebook, copy the chart below and answer the
following:

kind of fruit characteristics

like dislike
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
kind of vegetable like dislike

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
 What Is It

Pre-Cultural Practices

3. Collecting Soil Samples

“Do you undertake soil testing at least once in two to three years?”

It is recommended to have the soils analyzed for nutrient availability

and other factors vital to crop production after every 2-3 years. The results of
the soil analysis should be used to determine fertilizer and manure
requirement.

Establishing the type and quantity of fertilizer is vital in:

– increase production
– avoiding making the soils either too acidic or alkaline
– saving expenditure on inputs thus reducing the cost of production and
increasing the profitability

4. Manure Preparation through Composting

“Do you use recommended composting practices by using different organic

materials to supply major nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and
Potassium (K)? ”

• Most smallholder farmers apply either immature or inadequate quantity of

manure/compost.
• Most smallholder farmers do not have money to purchase adequate
amount of inorganic fertilizers
• Due to significant role of manure in increasing crop productivity, farmers
need to adopt more efficient methods of preparing the manure.
• Adopting more efficient methods of preparing manure will ensure optimal
application, thus increasing productivity

5. Quality Seed/Planting Materials

“Do you use recommended quality planting material(s) with one or more of
the following characteristics: disease resistance and tolerance, high yielding,
early maturing, better tastes, size, and longer shelf life?”
 17

• The fifth fundamental practice of the quality seed/planting materials is

the use of quality seed/planting materials
• Use of quality seed/planting materials can positively improve the returns
of smallholder farmers for two major reasons:
– High yields
– Less expenditure on control of pests and diseases, since the materials
are either resistant or tolerant to the menace
• The overall effect is higher net income

What’s More

Activity 2.

Get your activity notebook and answer the following questions below:

1. Have you ever tried an organic composting? What materials did you
collect? (5 points)
2. Based from the physical appearance of soil, can you determine whether
the soil is still fertile or not? Explain your answer. (5 points)
3. Do you think you can determine the quality of seeds based from its
physical appearance? Why? (5 points)

What I Have Learned

Activity 3
Room around in the nearby areas. Observe your environment and identify
whether the pre-cultural practices are being applied. Capture all scene you have
observed and make a description. Place your output in a long bond paper.

What I Can Do

Activity 4
 Among all pre-cultural practices, choose three only and apply it in
your land area near your house. Make a narrative report about you have
done and then make sure to take pictures for your documentation. Place
your output in a long bond paper.

Additional Activity

Activity 5

Make a short story related to the topic. Use your wide range of idea
to make a creative story that will give a heartfelt attack to the reader. Write
it on a long bond paper.
 Summative Assessment

Post Test Multiple Choice

Direction: Read the following questions and encircle the letter of the
correct answer.

1. To determine if the embryo of the seed is either alive or dead, what test
must be done?
a. tests the viability b. test the ability
c. test the capacity d. test the germination

2. It is a series of activities carried out in a form management system prior

to planting the seed or planting materials.
a. pre-planting operation b. prior planting operation
c. first planting operation d. start planting operation

3. Which of the following does not belong to pre-cultural practices?

a. seed procurement b. land preparation
c. soil pH determination d. soil sterilization

4. Which of the following is the correct land population formula?

a. Seed type x Land size b. Seed rate x Land size
Spacing Spacing
c. Seed type x Land area d. Seed rate x Land area
Spacing Spacing
5. It is the first fundamental practice that smallholder farmers must
undertake regularly in order to realize economic returns from farm.
a. seed testing b. manure preparation
c. economic survey d. market survey

6. Which of the following ways that can carried out soil pH?
a. mechanical analysis and on field test
b. chemical analysis and field testing
c. technical analysis and on field testing
d. physical analysis and field testing

7. Which of the following are the two purposes of seed treatment?

a. It avoids the attack of soil-borne diseases and prevents the seeds to
become dry.
b. It hastens germination and protects the seeds or planting
material from pest and diseases.
c. It protects the seeds from too much heat of the sun and gives extra
 nutrients for seeds.
d. It eliminates the diseases from the seeds and helps it grow faster.

20

8. It is a tool for farmers to plan for production to ensure that marketing

coincides with the period of the year when the market price of a
produce is highest?
a. seeds planting calendar b. plant planting calendar
c. crop planting calendar d. farm planting calendar
9. Most smallholder farmers apply either immature or inadequate quantity
of_______?
a. crops and fertilizer b. compost/fertilizer
c. seeds and compost d. manure/compost
10. It aims to provide a suitable environment for your seeds and crop.
a. pre-cultural preparation b. land preparation
c. cultural preparation d. choosing of best media

11. It is one way to carried out soil pH without the use of laboratory.
a. on field test b. cultural test
c. soil pH test d. soil test

12. Which of the following does not belong to the procedure of market
survey using the planting calendar?
a. determine from the market survey results when there is peak
demand
for selected crops
b. work backward from the month when there is peak demand to
prepare
monthly farm activities preceding the peak period
c. use the monthly activities preceding the peak as a procurement plan
for farm inputs and a guide for farm operations
d. identify the month the demand is high and procure plan for farm
inputs

13. It is one way to carried out soil pH through laboratory.

a. physical analysis b. chemical analysis
c. mechanical analysis d. technical analysis
14. It is vital to establish the type and quantity of fertilizer. Which of the
following reasons is incorrect?
a. increase production
b. avoiding making the soils either too acidic or alkaline
c. saving expenditure on inputs thus reducing the cost of production
and
increasing the profitability
d. avoid pest and diseases to penetrate in the plants
15. When the value you obtain from soil testing falls below or above these
values, 5.5-6.5, you need to correct the soil pH through_______.
a. burning b. sterilizing c. composting d. liming

Summary
A good harvest does not only depends on one factor. Several
factors are needed in order to achieve a prosperous return. The field does
not contain the nutrients needed for the good growth of plants in this
modern world. Thus, we need to find out some remedies to return its
fertility. Pre-cultural preparations and pre-planting operations has its vital
role for ensuring the growth of plants. There are several ways under each
preparations that deals with planning to have a good and profitable harvest.