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Produce Vegetables (AutoRecovered) (AutoRecovered)
Produce Vegetables (AutoRecovered) (AutoRecovered)
• Submit outputs of the Task Sheets, Operation Sheets, and Job Sheets
to your facilitator for evaluation and recording in the Achievement
Chart. Outputs shall serve as your portfolio during the Institutional
Competency Evaluation. When you feel confident that you have had
sufficient practice, ask your trainer to evaluate you. The results of
your assessment will be recorded in your Achievement Chart and
Progress Chart.
You must pass the Institutional Competency Evaluation for this
competency before moving to another competency. A Certificate of
Achievement will be awarded to you after passing the evaluation.
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION NCII
COMPETENCY BASED LEARNING MATERIALS
LIST OF COMPETENCIES
INTRODUCTION
NOMINAL DURATION:
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Establish nursery
2. Plant seedlings
ASSESSMENT
3. Perform plant care and management CRITERIA
4. Perform harvest and post-harvest activities
1. Seeds are
selected in accordance with the PNS, and NSQCS/BPI.
2. Seedbeds are prepared in accordance with planting requirements
based on Vegetable Production manual (VPM).
3. Care and maintenance of seedlings are done in accordance with
enterprise practice.
4. Potting media are prepared in accordance with enterprise procedure.
5. Land preparation is carried out in accordance with enterprise practice
6. Beneficial micro-organisms are introduced prior to planting in
accordance with enterprise procedure
7. Seedlings are transplanted/planted based on VPM recommendations
8. Seedlings are watered based on VPM recommendations
9. Water management is implemented according to plan.
10. Effective control measures are determined on specific pest and
diseases as described under the “pest, disease and weed management”
of the
PNS
11. All missing hills are replanted to maintain the desired plant
population of the area
12. Plant rejuvenation/rationing are maintained according to PNS.
13. Organic fertilizers are applied in accordance with fertilization policy of
the PNS
14. Products are checked using maturity indices according to PNS,
Inorganic agriculture and enterprise practice.
15. Marketable products are harvested according to PNS, PNS-organic
agriculture and enterprise practice.
16. Harvested vegetables are classified according to PNS, PNS-organic
agriculture and enterprise practice.
17. Appropriate harvesting tools and materials are used according to PNS.
18. Post-harvest practices are applied according to PNS and GAP
recommendations
19. Production record is accomplished according to enterprise procedures.
LEARNING OUTCOME #1 Establish nursery
CONTENTS:
1. Seeds
2. Care and Maintenance of Seedlings
3. Prepare Seedbeds
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
CONDITIONS:
All supplies, materials and farm implements needed during farm
operations should be readily available at the farm site.
METHODOLOGY:
• Demonstration
• Discussion
• Oral questioning
• Video presentation
• Field demonstration
• Film viewing
ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Learning Objectives:
Seeds are the vital part of agriculture. Selection of good quality seeds is a
challenge for famers.
Only good quality seeds which are sown properly can
give an expected result or yield. Seeds of variety of types and strains are
available; cultivators have to choose from these and these have to be sown in
the field. Let us see selection of seeds and methods of sowing.
Seed Selection
Sowing
After the preparation of soil, the previously selected seeds are scattered in
the field. This is called sowing. Sowing should be done carefully and
uniformly. If seeds are not sown uniformly, overcrowding of crop happens.
For sufficient sunlight, water and other requirements congestion needs to be
prevented.
Traditionally, sowing is done manually whereas nowadays seed drilling
machines are used.
Selection and sowing of seeds are two agricultural practices which demand
extreme attention and care.
Self-Check 2.1-1
True or False
Write TRUE if the statement is correct and false if it is incorrect
1. False
2. True 3. True 4. True
5. True
INFORMATION SHEET 2.1-2
COMPOST AND HARVEST FERTILIZER
Learning Objectives:
The seeds contain two parts: an outer protective coat, and the inner embryo
that develops into the plant. Germination begins when water penetrates the
seed coat and the seed swells. When seeds swell, plant immediately. Discard
seeds that float; they probably have air pockets caused by insects or dead
embryos. Always use 2–5 parts of water for each part of seed (e.g. two to five
tablespoons of water for one tablespoon of seed). Change the water every 12
hours to remove chemicals that may also slow down germination. Do some
tests to see the best orientation for sowing the seeds. This is especially
important if the shoots or roots are twisted when they emerge from the seed,
which is common in mahogany and mango. In southern Mexico, the
common way to sow mahogany seedlings is with the wing pointing up. But
in one nursery, the manager noticed that the best way to plant was with the
wing pointed down. In Puerto Rico, it is recommended by a forest research
station that seed be planted flat. In such cases, you should do trials of all
three methods and see what works best under the conditions you have.
1. Cold water treatment: Soak seeds in cold water for at least 12 and
up to 48 hours. You can also try soaking the seeds in water during the
day, and leaving them to dry at night.
2. Hot water treatment: Boil water in a large pot, remove from heat and
cool for 10 minutes. Add seed to water and let soak for up to two days.
3. Boiling water treatment: Boil water in a large pot, remove from heat,
add seed and leave for two minutes. Pour off the hot water and replace
with cold water. Soak the seed for up to two days.
4. Mechanical: It is important not to damage the embryo, or the part of
the seed where the root will emerge (usually an indented place or a
pointed area). Nick the seed with a knife, crack it with a stick, or
scratch its surface on a concrete floor, or with sandpaper. For small
seed, place in a jar lined with sandpaper facing the inside of the jar,
and shake vigorously. It is not necessary to completely remove the
tough outer seed coat — just crack it so that water can enter the seed
and trigger germination.
Only clean, dry seed should be stored. Hang the sacks from a pole so that
air can circulate all around them. Keep the seed in a cool dry place, out of
direct sunlight. A fungicide may help reduce fungus attack. Moth balls or
other strong-smelling materials like cedar wood may also help reduce insect
attack. Check seed regularly for signs of decay, insect or rodent damage.
The length of time seed can be stored for varies greatly between species.
Some seed can be stored for many months, while other seeds lose their
viability (ability to germinate quickly). If the seed has been stored for more
than one month, a good nursery practice is to test the germination rate to
see if the seed is still good. A poor, but unfortunately common nursery
practice is to sow old seed in many containers, without knowing if it will
germinate — you might be wasting time, labour, and resources. Sow 100
seeds in a shady germination bed and water normally. Count the number of
seeds that germinate, and this will tell you how many you need to put into
each container to achieve one plant per pot. If, for example, only 25 out of
100 seeds germinate, sow four in each container.
Controlling germination
The substrate should not receive additional fertilizer because this could
increase the risk of diseases such as damping-off. Germinating seedlings
generally receive all nutrients they require from the cotyledons (or in the
case of palms, from the first leaf), that are formed inside of the seed. Thus, a
substrate like sand, which does not contain fertilizer, is generally a good
germinating medium. Damping-off is common with small seedlings and is
recognisable as either decayed seed or, more frequently, decay around the
stem at the soil line. The leaves of the seedling droop as though they need
water, although the substrate is wet, then the stem appears “pinched” and
brown near the base. Eventually, the seedling falls over at the soil line.
When you are direct sowing, follow these good nursery practices:
Watering
Although it’s a simple fact that plants need water, watering itself can be a
little tricky. Consistent watering will produce the best results. You may also
want to consider drip irrigation or a soaker hose, especially if you have a
large garden. This can save up to 60% of the water used by sprinkler
systems and will ensure that your plants are watered without getting their
leaves wet, which will help prevent disease problems.
You’ll know if you’ve over watered if the soil around the plant stem is
soaked. Mold or moss growing on the top of your soil is another dead
giveaway as is plants with wilting, yellowing or dead leaf margins.
Too little water has a different set of symptoms: wilting of plants, brown or
dead leaves, stunted growth (see Watering Guidelines).
Besides direct observation, you can also purchase a moisture meter to help
measure whether roots are too wet or too dry.
If you’re watering newly planted seeds, be careful to gently sprinkle water on
them. Don’t use a torrent from a hose or a bucket that has enough force to
mistakenly wash away seeds or cause them to clump together.
Different soil types have different watering needs. However, you don’t need
to be a soil scientist to know how to water properly. The following tips are
provided by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service:
• Loosen the soil around plants so it can quickly absorb water and
nutrients.
• Use a 1 to 2-inch protective layer of mulch on the soil surface above
the root area. Cultivating and mulching reduce evaporation and soil
erosion.
Clay soil: Add organic material such as compost or peat moss. Till or spade
to help loosen the soil. Since clay soil absorbs water very slowly, water only
as fast as the soil absorbs the water.
Sandy soil: Add organic material to supplement sandy soil. Otherwise, the
water can run through it so quickly that plants won’t be able to absorb it.
Loam soil: The best kind of soil. It’s a combination of sand, silt, and clay.
Loam absorbs water readily and stores it for plants to use.
Foliar feeding
Foliar feeding was earlier thought to damage tomatoes, but has become
standard practice.
Ocean-based sources
Effectiveness
Usage
Pest Management
Table 1. Common insect pests and diseases of vegetables (will vary between
crops and regions)
Insect Pests Diseases
Prevention
5. When foliar diseases are present avoid working in the crops while
foliage is wet to reduce spread.
8. Chipping out and removing (roguing) diseased plants will reduce the
source of host plants that assist in spreading infection to healthy
plants. Once chipped, the plants need to be properly destroyed:
buried, bagged or removed from site.
Self-Check 2.1-2
True or False
Write TRUE if the statement is correct and false if it is incorrect
1. From the available varieties, select ones that have resistance to or
tolerance of important diseases or insect pests in your area.
The requirement for a seed bed is basically the same as for any vegetable
bed, except that the soil need be only forked to a relatively shallow depth. If
it is a new bed (i.e. never previously used to grow plants), the bed will need
to be dug and prepared as with any new bed - see this other page.
If plants have previously been grown on the bed, the preparation required is
much less as the soil will have been broken up and most stones removed.
The biggest challenge to any gardener is to decide when the soil is suitable
for working - not too dry and not too wet. This depends to some extent on
the type of soil, a clay soil can turn from a sticky mass to hard as rock very
quickly. Choosing the right time is one of the hardest choices, especially for
new gardeners - it is largely a matter of experience with the particular soil
type in the garden.
Assuming the seed bed is established, the likelihood is that there will be
some seedlings in it when you come to prepare it for a new sowing, so any
preparation will just apply to the area you require and care must be taken to
avoid disturbing the existing seedlings. To prepare for a new sowing:
Lightly fork over, or hoe, the top 5 to 7.5cm (2 to 3 inches) of the bed.
If the bed has not been used for some time, or the soil is very wet, it
may be necessary to leave the soil for a day or two to dry out.
When the soil is dry enough for it to freely break up, rack the surface
back and forth to give a suitable tilth - some clods may need a hit with
the back of the rack or even breaking up by hand. Larger seeds
generally benefit for a rather coarse tilth while fine seeds need a fine
tilth.
As you rack back and forth, remove any stones, weeds or other
vegetation. Keep racking to get the surface fairly level.
How to Make a Seedbed
A seedbed is a plot of garden set aside to grow vegetables seeds, which can
later be transplanted. It is the alternative to starting seeds in pots, and it is
best used when you can control the temperature, soil quality and water in
the bed. You can make a seedbed outside or in a greenhouse several months
before you want to plant your garden and flowerbeds.
1. Get to know
your climate. If you
have a short vegetable
growing season, you should
make your seedbed inside
a greenhouse. You may
need to bring in soil and
compost from outside into
your greenhouse.
2. Choose a location with
plenty of light. Seeds
require plenty of light, so the seedbed should be placed in an area
with the most consistent light and the fewest shadows.
3. Pick an area that you can
protect from wind, foraging
animals and flooding. If
these are big risks in your
yard, consider purchasing or
making a small plastic hoop
house in which the seeds can
be protected.
4. Don’t choose a plot where
you grew tubers or had a
heavy weed problem. The tuber roots and the weeds can crowd
out the seedlings.
6. Cover the soil with a plastic sheet and leave it for 10 days. Flies
are attracted to fresh soil and they will disappear during this time.
Weed the area if weeds germinate during this process.
The plastic sheet will serve to warm up the soil for better
germination.
6. Thin the seedlings after they germinate and start to grow. This
will keep your seedbed from overcrowding before you transplant.
Compost the unwanted seedlings
Once the seed bed is ready, choose a day when the soil is moist and little
wind to plant your seeds.
Normally a 'drill' (or number of drills) is created on the surface of the seed
bed - a drill is a shallow depression into the bottom of which seeds are
sown. The drill can be formed either by pulling a hoe or a gardening trowel
(backwards) through the surface of the prepared bed with the earth pulled to
the sides, the depth required varies from seed to seedt. A line stretched
above the soil before drills are made will help keep them straight.
The way the seeds are sown along the bottom of the drills will depend upon
the seed been planted, typically one of three variations will be specified:
Very thinly - say 2.5cm (1 inch) between seeds.
Thinly - say 1.2cm (½ inch) between seeds.
At stations - a number of seeds together at given spacing.
Check on the seed packet (or look here) to determine the appropriate spacing
for particular vegetables. Using more seeds than necessary will just waste
seeds and cause extra thinning later on.
Once the seeds have been sown, they are normally covered by pulling the
back of a rack or hoe over the surface of the bed to fill the drills.
Identify the drill and the seeds sown by putting in a short stick at each end
of each drill and attaching a waterproof label with the name of the plant
marked on it.
Stretching a line between the end sticks above each drill will help keep birds
off the seeds and young seedlings.
Watch out for other pests - for example slugs; young plants are tender and
will provide a good meal for a number of pests.
Self-Check 2.1-3:
True or False
Write TRUE if the statement is correct and False if it is incorrect. Wirte
in a separate sheet of paper.
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False 5. True
Job Sheet 2.1-3
Title: Prepare Seed Bed
Performance Objective:
Given the materials you are ask to prepare seed bed within 4 hours.
Supplies/materials:
Greenhouse
Hoop house
Plastic sheet
Garden soil
Compost
Garden sieve
Sandy soil
Rake
Hoe
Water
Yogurt container
Beer
Seeds
Labels
Steps/Procedure:
Choosing a Location
Planting Seedbeds
Assessment Method:
10. Cover the soil with a plastic sheet and leave it for 10
days.
11. Prepare a slug trap by burying a small yogurt container
so that the lip is flush with the soil level.
12. Create “drills” in the soil with a hoe.
14. Sprinkle seedlings just barely into the soil along the
drill/row.
15. Rake a thin layer of soil over the “v” lines so that the level
of the soil is the same as the rest of the garden.
17. Thin the seedlings after they germinate and start to grow.