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Agriculture Science
School Based Assessment
(CROP PRODUCTION)

Name:

Candidate #: 100072

Centre #: 100072

Location: Central High School Tutorial Farm

Name of Project: Crop Production

Botanical Name:

Subject: Agriculture Science

Teachers’ Name: Miss. T. Timoll

Territory: Jamaica, West Indies

Duration: 12 Weeks
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Agriculture Science
School Based Assessment
(CROP PRODUCTION)

Name:

Candidate #: 100072

Centre #: 100072

Location: Central High School Tutorial Farm

Name of Project: Crop Production

Botanical Name:

Subject: Agriculture Science

Teachers’ Name: Miss. T. Timoll

Territory: Jamaica, West Indies

Duration: 12 Weeks
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Table of Content
Chapters Pages

Acknowledgement 4

Introduction 5

Problem Statement 6

Objectives 7

Project Layout 8

Schedule of operations 9-10

List of materials and equipment 11-12

List of Activities 13-24

What information was collected? 25

Findings 26-30
Projected Budget 33-34
Actual Budget 31-32
Cost Analysis 35-36
Discussion 37-38
Conclusion 40
Limitation 41
Recommendation for Improvement 42
References 43
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Acknowledgement

I would like to use this opportunity to thank all who lend their hand to help and complete my

Crop Production School Based Assessment. Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to

my Teacher for giving us this project and also guiding us until it was completed. Secondly, I

would like to thank my mother for providing all my necessities and for her constant

encouragement. Last but not least, Jehovah, who gave me the strength to effectively complete

my SBA.
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Introduction
Back-Ground Information

According to www.Britannica.com (2018) , Bell pepper also called sweet pepper or

capsicum.

Pepper cultivar in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) is grown for its thick, mild fruits.

Cultivars of the plant produce fruits in different colors, including: red, yellow, orange, green,

white and purple. Preferred growing conditions for bell peppers include warm, moist soil in a

temperature range of 21 to 29 Degree Celsius (70 to 84 degrees F).

According to www.naturefresh.ca (year). Some health benefits are, they are an excellent

source of Vitamin A, Vitamins C and potassium. Bell peppers also contain a healthy dose of

fiber, folate, and iron. Along with being full of nutrients, Bell peppers deliver a satisfying and

low-calorie crunch with every bite.

According to www.burpee.com (year). Most sweet peppers mature in 60-90 days. After

flowers appears on the bell pepper plant, bell peppers will start to form the flower in around

14 days. Bell pepper fruits will have changed color and be fully ripened about 2 weeks after

they reach full size.

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Problem Statement

Two farmers within the community of the researcher cultivate and sell sweet peppers for a

living. The researcher noticed that one farmer had a higher yield production and also the plant

heights were different. From such an analysis the researcher could tell that both farmers

didn’t make the same profit. Therefore the researcher took it upon themselves and asks both

farmers what type of fertilizers they use. Farmer A was using organic fertilizer while farmer

B was using inorganic fertilizer. After which the researcher will embark on an experiment

using two separate plots to plant sweet pepper. Plot A will be organically fertilized while Plot

B will be inorganically fertilized. Both plots will be exposed to the same amount of irrigation

and sunlight. Plants were measured on both plots to see the height difference. This will help

to conclude which fertilizer allows for higher yield production, higher profit and also higher

plant height.
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Objectives

Functional Objectives

❖ To establish whether organically fertilized will acquire a higher yield than

inorganically fertilized.

❖ To discover whether organically fertilized will secure a higher plant height than

inorganically fertilized.

Business Objectives

❖ To settle whether organically fertilized will get a higher profit than inorganically

fertilized.

❖ To determine whether inorganically fertilized will secure a higher profit than

organically fertilized.
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Project layout

Two plots with six beds will be used. Both plots will contain 24 sweet pepper seedlings with

planting distance of 18 inches. One plot will be organically fertilized and the other will be

inorganically fertilized.
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Schedule of Operations

Activities Weeks

Site Selection Week 1 (Monday October 25,2021-Friday

October 29,2021)

Land Preparation Week1 (Monday October 25,2021 –Friday

October 29,2021)

Planting of seeds Week2 ( Monday November 1, 2021 – Friday

November 5,2021)

Irrigation Week 2- 12 (Monday November 1, 2021 –

Friday November 14, 2021)

Muclching Week 3 (Monday November 8, 2021 – Friday

November 12, 2021)

Moulding Week 4 (Monday November 15, 2021-

Friday November 19, 2021)

Fertilizers Application Week 5 (Monday November 22, 2021-

Friday November 26, 2021)

Pesticide Application Week 7 (Monday December 6, 2021 – Friday

December 10,2021)

Harvesting Week 10-12 ( Monday December 27, 2021 –

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Friday December 14, 2021)

Packaging Week 10-12 ( Monday December 27, 2021 –

Friday December 14)

Marketing Week 10-12 ( Monday December27,2021 –

Friday December 14,2021

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List of Tools and Materials Used

Hand Shovels: This was used to dig holes.

Cutlass/ Machete: This was used to cut and remove all unwanted weeds from the sweet

pepper plot.

Fork: This was used to plough the land during land preparation.

Rake: This was used to remove cut grass and weeds into heaps.

Buckets: Plastic buckets were used to carry fertilizer.

Watering Can and The Hoe: The water can was used to water the sweat pepper plants.

Hand Trowel: This was used to break up large clods in the soil.

Knapsack Sprayer: This was used to apply insecticides (diazinon) to the crops in the sweat

pepper plot.

Poly bag: This is a plastic bag, which the sweat pepper was placed in when they were ready

for marketing.

Gloves: These were used on the hands for protection from cuts, when manually weeding,

when applying insecticides etc.

Water boots: The water boots were used on the feet for protection while performing

activities such as land preparation and crop maintenance.

Lining cords: This material was used to line-out the land during land preparation.
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Tape measure: This was used to measure the length and width of the plot.

Dust Mask: It was used to cover the mouth and the nose to prevent the chemicals from

entering the body.

NPK Fertilizer (11:22:22): This was used to add nutrients to the crop in the plot.

Sweet Pepper Seedlings: This was used as the planting material.

Dried Grass: This was used for mulching.

Water: this was used to water the crop.

List of Activities
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Site Selection

The site was selected by our teacher based the nutrients the soil contains, the type of soil

and the amount of water the land can capacitate. The field was examine for a well-drained,

flat area and closed to water source. A well-drained area was selected to prevent building

up of water, a flat area was selected to prevent soil erosion and it was closed to water so

that water could be applied to plant to prevent them from drying up.

Figure 1 shows image of site being selected.

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Land Preparation

Land preparation is the process by which the land is made ready or suitable for optimal

plant growth. It also helps the land to get rid of weeds through uprooting and cutting them.

Land preparation was done using machete, fork, hoe and rake they play important roles

such as: using machete to cut grasses and weeds, the rakes were used to remove the weeds

and grass that has been cut down and the fork was used to the plough the soil. The soil was

plough to loosen the dirt or to break up big parts of the dirt . Afterwards the hoe was used

to make ridges and furrows and also refine the soil.

Figure 2 Shows image of land preparation (land clearing).

Transplanting of Seedlings
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Plants were transplanted meaning they were moved to another place to complete their

growth. The hand shovel was used to dig shallow holes to plant the sweet pepper plant in.

The plants were covered firmly with the soil so that the plant anchor in the soil and prevent

it from washing away. Water was applied to the furrows after crops were planted.

Figure 3 shows transplanting taking place.

Irrigation
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Irrigation is the application of water to the soil in which the crops were planted.

The soil should be irrigated to keep it moist and also allows the plants to grow.

Irrigation is important because it keeps the soil well moist and allows for good crop growth.

Water was applied when needed. The method of irrigation being used is the flooding of

furrows.
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Moulding

Moulding is the process by which soil is dug up around the base of the cultivated crop to

form a small mound using a hoe or hand spade/trowel. This helps the plant or crop to be

firmer in the soil and to keep some amount of water in the soil.
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Mulching

Mulching is the use of dried grass; straw or peat to cover the surface of soil of the cultivated

area to prevent evaporation from occurring and it also breaks down and gives off nutrients.

Dried grass is the ideal mulch to use because it does not contributes to any environmental

problems or any harmful effect to the soil.

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Application of fertilizer

The plants were fertilized due to the fact that most soil doesn’t provide the essential nutrients

required for A1 growth. A hand full of NPK 11:22:22 fertilizer was distributed to each plant.

The method of application being used is circle bonding. Circle bonding is when a hand spade

is used to dig a circle around the plants. The NPK 11:22:22 fertilizer was then applied and

covered with soil after which it was watered to soak the nutrients into the soil from the

fertilizer.
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Weed Control

Weeds are defined as unwanted plant which competes with crops for nutrients, sunlight and
water. Weeds were controlled by hand weeding in both beds.
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Pest Control

Pest control is the process of using chemical, biological or mechanical methods to control
pest or inhibit their development. Pests were controlled by using the appropriate pesticides at
approved application rates. Pesticide was equally applied to each sweet pepper plant on both
beds using the knapsack sprayer.
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Harvesting
Harvesting is the removal of the fruit by cutting or picking from the parent plant. The sweet
peppers were harvest, wash, and package then was sold to consumers.
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Packaging
This is the process by which food are packed in bags, boxes or any other material used for
packaging to be sold.
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Marketing
Marketing is the selling of any crop production to consumers. They were weighed and sold to
variety of person within my school.
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WHAT INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED

● The information that was collected was the length and the marketable weight of the

sweet peppers.

● The length of the sweet pepper plants were randomly selected as an average length of

the plants taken on a weekly basis.

● Marketable weight of sweet pepper being organically fertilized over the 12 weeks

period

● Marketable weight of sweet pepper being inorganically fertilized over 12 weeks

period

● The total average height for sweet peppers organically fertilized after 12 weeks is 60.9

cm and the average height for sweet peppers organically fertilized is 65.9 cm.

● The total marketable weight of sweet pepper plants organically fertilized is 35 lbs

and total marketable weight of sweet pepper plants inorganically fertilized is 40lbs.
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FINDINGS
Table 1 illustrates the total market weight for plot A (Sweet Pepper Organically Fertilized)

and plot B (Sweet Pepper Inorganically Fertilized)

PLOT A PLOT B

35lbs 40lbs

Plot A which was organically fertilized had a total weight of 35lbs while Plot B which was
inorganically fertilized had a total weight of 40lbs.Therefore Plot B is 5lbs more than Plot A.

Chart illustrating the total marketing weight of sweet peppers.

TOTAL MARKET WEIGHT ( POUNDS)

41
40
39
38
37
Pounds

36
35
34
33
32
Plot A Plot B
Plots

The Chart above shows that Plot B had a higher marketing weight than Plot A. Plot B

marketing weight being 40lbs was 5lbs more than Plot A which is 35lbs.
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Table 2 illustrates the weekly average plant height for PLOT A (Sweet Pepper Organically

Fertilized)

Week Average plant height for sweet pepper

organically fertilized

1 10 cm

2 14.7cm

3 22.4cm

4 28.3cm

5 31.5cm

6 36.5cm

7 39.5cm

8 43.2cm

9 47.5cm

10 52.5cm

11 57.6cm

12 60.9cm
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The above table illustrates the record of the weekly average plant height for Plot A that is

organically fertilized for duration of 12 weeks. The plant height recorded for week 1 was

10cm, for week 2 it had an increase of 4.7cm making it 14.7cm, for week 3 it increased by

7.7cm bringing it to 22.4cm. Week 4 it had an increase of 5.9cm taking it to 28.3cm. Week 5

the height recorded was 31.5 and it had an increase of 3.2cm. Week 6 increased by 5cm

making it a total of 36.5cm. Week 7 it increased by 3cm bringing it to 39.5. Week 8 it

measured 43.2cm and increased by 3.7cm. Week 9 it increased by 4.3cm carrying it to

47.5cm. Week 10 had a total height of 52.5cm and increased by 5cm. Week 11 increased by

5.1cm carrying it to a length of 57.6cm. At the end of the 12 weeks duration it had an average

plant height of 60.9cm.

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Table 2 illustrating the weekly average plant height for PLOT B (Sweet Peppers Organically

Fertilized)

Week Average plant height for sweet pepper

inorganically fertilized

1 10cm

2 15.3cm

3 23.5cm

4 29.7cm

5 34.4cm

6 42.6cm

7 48cm

8 53.7cm

9 57cm

10 59.8

11 62.1
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12 65.9

The table above illustrates the record of the weekly average plant height for plot B that is

inorganically fertilized for duration of 12 weeks. The plant height recorded for week 1 is

10cm. For week 2 it increased by 5.3cm allowing it to be 15.3cm. For week 3 it measured

23.5cm and had an increase of 8.2cm. For week 4 it measured 29.7cm and increased by

6.2cm. Week 5 it increased by 4.7 and it measured 34.4cm. Week 6 it measured 42.6 and had

an increase rate of 8.2cm. For week 7 the plant measured 48cm and increased by 5.4cm.

Week 8 it increased by 5.7cm and it measured 53.7cm. Week 9 it measured 57cm and

increased by 3.3cm. Week 10 it measured 59.8 and increased by 2.8cm. Week 11 it measured

62.1 and increased by 2.8cm. At the end of 12 week duration it measured 65.9.
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Actual Budget

Plot A (Organically fertilized)

Income Total

35 lbs sweet pepper @$150/lb

=$5250

Total Income =$5250

Expenditures

1 pack sweet pepper seeds @ $350 per pack =350

1 pack Polly bags@ $120 = $120

Insecticides (Diazinon)@$850 = $850

Total expenditure = $1,320

Profit = total income – expenses

$5,250- $1,320 = $3,930

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Actual Budget

Plot B (Inorganically fertilized)

Income Total

40 lbs sweet pepper @$150/lb =$6000

Total Income =$6000

Expenditures

1 pack sweet pepper seeds @ $350 per pack = $350

1 pack Polly bags@ $120 = $120

Insecticides (Diazinon)@$850 = $850

3lb Fertilizer (NPK)@200/lb. =$600

Total expenditure = $1,920

Profit = total income – expenses

$6000- $1920 = $4,080

Surplus = $4,080
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Projected Budget

Plot A (Organically fertilized)

Income Total

30 lbs sweet pepper @$120/lb

= $ 3,600

Total Income =3,600

Expenses

1 pack sweet pepper seeds @ $250 per pack = $250

1 pack Polly bags@ $120 = $120

Insecticides (Diazinon)@$750 = $750

Total expenditure = $1,120

Profit = total income – expenses

$3,600- 1,120 = $2,480

Surplus = $2,480
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Projected Budget

Plot B (Inorganically fertilized)

Income Total

40 lbs sweet peppers @$120/lb =$4,800

Total Income =$4,800

Expenses

1 pack sweet pepper seeds @ $250 per pack = $250

1 pack Polly bags@ $120 = $120

Insecticides (Diazinon)@$750 = $750

4lb Fertilizer (NPK)@190/lb. =$760

Total expenditure = $1,880

Profit = total income – expenses

$4,800- $1,880= $2,920

Surplus = $2,920
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COST ANALYSIS

In Plot A (Sweet Pepper Organically Fertilized) projected budget the total income was

calculated to be a value of $3600. However in the actual budget the total income was $5250.

The difference between the total income for the projected budget and the actual budget is

$1650. Therefore the actual budget had a higher total of income of $1650. Plot A (Sweet

Pepper Organically Fertilized) projected budget was noted to have a total expenditure of

$1120 however in the actual budget the total expenditure was $200 higher. That is, the total

expenditure in the actual budget was $1320. Plot A (Sweet Pepper Organically Fertilized)

projected budget was assessed and found to have to obtained a total profit of $1720 however

in the actual budget it was a profit of $3930. Therefore the actual budget had a greater

surplus of $2210.

Plot B (Sweet Pepper Inorganically Fertilized) projected budget had a total income of $4800

while the actual budget was a total income of $6000. The difference between the total income

for the project budget and the actual budget is $1200. The actual budget had a higher total of

income. Plot B (Sweet Pepper Inorganically Fertilized) projected budget had a total

expenditure was $1880 on the other hand in the actual budget the total expenditure was

$1920. The difference between the actual budget and the projected of expenditure is that the

actual budget was higher than the projected budget by $40. Plot A (Sweet Pepper

Inorganically Fertilized) projected budget was assessed and found to have to obtained a total

profit of $2920 however in the actual budget it was a profit of $4080. Therefore the actual

budget had a greater surplus of $1160.

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In comparing the project budget of Plot A and Plot B it was evident that the total income of

Plot A was $3600, while for Plot B it was $4800. Based on this it was noted that Plot B

obtained a higher income than Plot A of $1200. For total expenditure for the projected budget

for plot A is $1,120 while for Plot B it was $1,880. Plot B was $760 more than Plot A. Both

plots made a profit in the project budgets. The estimated profit for Plot A was $2,480 while

for Plot B it was a profit of $2920. Plot B obtain a higher profit than Plot A. The profit obtain

was $440 higher than Plot A profit.

The actual budget for Plot A and Plot B was compared. For Plot A it was an income of $5250

while for Plot B it was an income of $6000. The difference being Plot B had $750 more

income than Plot A. For expenditure it was a total of $1320 for Plot A while for Plot B it was

a total of $1920. The difference being Plot B had a higher expenditure rate being $600 more

than Plot A. For the Profit/loss the researcher estimated a profit of $3930 for Plot A however

Plot B had a profit of $4080. Plot B had a higher profit of $150 more than Plot A.
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DISCUSSION

According to https://BYJU’s.com fertilizers are chemical substances supplied to the crops to

increase their productivity. These are used by the farmers daily to increase the crop yield. The

fertilizers contain the essential nutrients required by the plants, including nitrogen, potassium,

and phosphorus. They enhance the water retention capacity of the soil and also increase its

fertility. There are two different types of fertilizers it includes: Inorganic and Organic

Fertilizer. Inorganic fertilizers are broken down into Nitrogen and Phosphorus fertilizer

meanwhile organic fertilizers are natural substances such as agriculture waste, livestock

manure and municipal sludge.

Inorganic Fertilizers are chemical fertilizers that contain nutrient elements for the growth of

crops made by chemical means. The inorganic fertilizers are of the following types:

NITROGEN FERTILIZER: it contains nitrogen necessary for the development of crops.

Nitrogen is the main constituent of chlorophyll that maintains the balance in the process of

photosynthesis. It also apart of amino acids in plants and constitutes protein. Nitrogen

fertilizers improve the production and quantity of agricultural products.

PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER: The main nutrient in a phosphorous fertilizer is phosphorous.

The efficiency of fertilizer depends upon effective phosphorus content, methods of fertilizing,

properties of soil and crop strains. Phosphorus found in the protoplasm of the cell growth and

proliferation. The phosphorus fertilizer is beneficial for the growth of roots of the plants.
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Organic Fertilizers are natural fertilizers obtained from plants and animals. It enriches the

soil with carbonic compounds essential for plant growth. An organic fertilizer increases the

organic matter content of the soil, promotes the reproduction of micro-organisms, and

changes the physical and chemical properties of the soil. It is considered to be one of the

main nutrients for green food.

Organic fertilizers can be obtained from the following products:

1) Agriculture Waste

2) Livestock Manure

3) Industrial Waste

4) Municipal Sludge

After embarking on this assessment it had helped me come to conclusion that inorganic

fertilizer is best for better growth, more profit and more marketable weight. During this

project it was an highlight that inorganic fertilizer has allow for better growth, Plot A being

organic fertilizer had a lower growth rate than Plot B that was inorganically fertilized which

had 65.9cm at the end of the growth period.

Based on the actual budget profit made for inorganic fertilizer which was $4,080 had a higher

actual budget profit for organic fertilizer being $3,930 therefore inorganically fertilizer allows

for more profit.

Plot B being inorganically fertilized had a higher marketable weight which was 40lbs and

Plot A which was organically fertilized had 35lbs therefore the inorganically fertilized sweet

peppers had 5lbs more than organically fertilized sweet peppers.

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CONCLUSION

This business was effective because there was a profit of 8,010. This projected allowed me to

learn about the different types of fertilizer and which will give me a greater yield production.

It can therefore be concluded that sweet peppers that are being organically fertilized will

result in less yield production however sweet pepper that are being inorganically fertilized

will have a greater yield. This experience will allow me to obtain a more successful crop

production in the future.

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LIMITATION

● Plants weren’t given enough pesticides and that caused pest to linger on the sweet

pepper plants and eat then.

● Machetes were dull and it caused the land clearing process to be tiresome.

● The sticks on the rake broke when they were being used.
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RECOMMENDATION FOR IMPROVEMENT

● Crops should be sprayed with pesticides as much as possible.

● Purchase files to sharpen the machetes.

● Purchase metal sticks for the rake.

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REFERENCE
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CSEC Agricultural Science – SINGLE AWARD

Guidelines for Sweet Pepper Production Investigation
Name of Project: Crop Production
Location: Central High School
Starting Date: ______October 2021_______________
Termination Date: ____________December 2021________
Marks
Item Descriptor Total Awarded
Introduction Problem Statement clearly written 1 1
(2)
Aim Clearly Statement 1 1
Experimental Design 1 1
List of Materials and Equipment Used 1 1
Activities (2) 5 or more activities 2 2
Methodology (6) described
1 to 4 activities described 1
No activities described 0
3 or more photographs showing student engaged in this 1 1
investigation
Data collection 1 1
Collected Relevant Data 1 1
Presentation of data 1 1
Result
Interpretation of results (2) Fully interpret results 2 2
(4)
Partially interpret results 1
Did not attempt to 0
interpret results
Fully discussed findings with reference to relevant 3
supporting literature
Discussion Partially discussed findings with reference to relevant 2 2
(3) supporting literature
Discuss findings with no supporting literature 1
Did not attempt to discuss findings 0
Conclusion, Limitation Conclusion 1 1
& Recommendations (3) Limitations 1 1
Recommendations for improvement 1 1
Presentation (1) Less than 5 spelling and grammatical errors contained in the 1 1
report.
References (1) At Least 2 references properly cited 1 0

Total (Technical Report) 20 ÷ …18…..÷

2 2
= 10 =…
9……
Complete Budget Projected Income – 1 1
Output, price, total
Projected expenditure – 1 1
Inputs, price, total
Surplus/Shortfall correctly 1 1
calculated
Cost Actual Income & Expenditure Income/Sale of Produce – 1 1
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Analysis Quantity, price, total

Expenditure – Quantity, 1 1
price, total
Surplus/Shortfall correctly 1 1
calculated
Comparison of Projected and Provides a full and 4
Actual Budget income, accurate comparison of all
Expenditure and Surplus or 3 parameters 4
shortfall Partially compares all 3 3
parameters
Correctly compares any 2 2
parameter
Correctly compares any 1 1
parameter
Did not attempt to 0
compare any parameter
Total (Cost Analysis) 10 10
19 /20
Student’s name: _________SHINNELLE-ANN PATTERSON ___________________

Candidate number: __________1002950373__________

Centre Number: 100072