AGRICULTURAL CROP RPRODUCTION 9

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 2

Quarter 4
Name of Student:
Grade/Section:
Date:
Learning Area: TLE9-AFA Agriculture and Crop Production NCI
Activity Title: RECYCLING/COMPOSTING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

I. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPT

Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as fertilizer and used as soil amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming as well
as plant crop production. There are plant leftovers and other biodegradable materials such as dried leaves, saw dust, kitchen waste, weeds. manure, grasses, leaves, vines
and others that could be used for making compost.
In this learning activity sheet learners should discuss and demonstrate how to prepare and process plant debris and waste materials in an appropriate and safe
manner according to accepted recycling/ composting practices and procedures.

VOCABULARIES

1. Composting- is an aerobic method of decomposing organic solid wastes. It can therefore be used to recycle organic material. The process involves decomposition of
organic material into a humus-like material, known as compost, which is good fertilizer of plants.
2. Decomposition- the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide, water, simple sugars
and mineral salts.
3. Humus- the organic component of soil, formed by decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganism.
4. Worm castings- contain a highly active biological mixture of bacteria, enzymes, remnants of plant matter and animal manure, this is essentially earthworm waste that are
rich in water soluble plant nutrients, and contain more than 50% more humus than what is normally found in topsoil.

STEPS OF COMPOSTING
1. Spread a five to six – inch layer of soil under the shelter.

2. Gather and dust weeds, leaves, animal manure, wood ashes, garbage, garden waste, kitchen leftovers, and other biodegradable materials on top of the soil layer.
Continue adding weeds, grasses, garden cuttings until the pile is about shoulder high. Keep the sides of pile vertical with lightly dished top to hold water

3. Water the pile evenly every day or every two days to keep it moist. The moisture will help in rotting the file faster

4. Provide aerators like bamboo poles in the middle of the pile to allow air to pass down the pile thereby helping decomposers in its process

Modern method of composting nowadays is a multi-step, closely monitored process aided by shredding the plant matter, adding water and ensuring
proper aeration by regularly turning the mixture. Worms, fungi and organisms further break up the material. Aerobic bacteria manage the chemical process by converting
the inputs into heat, carbon dioxide and ammonium. The ammonium is further converted by bacteria into plant nourishing nitrites and nitrates through the process of
nitrification.

Compost is generally recommended as an additive to soil, or other matrices such as coir and peat as a tilth improver, supplying humus and nutrients. It provides a rich
growing medium or a porous, absorbent material that holds moisture and soluble minerals. It provides support and nutrients in which plants can flourish. Compost is
primarily mixed with soil sand, grit, bark chips, vermiculite, perlite or clay granules to produce loam. Compost can be tilled directly into the soil or growingmedium to
boost the level of organic matter and the overall fertility of the soil. Compost that is ready to be used as an additive is dark brown or even black with an earthy
 smell.
Other Composting Approaches
In addition to the traditional compost pile, there are various approaches that have been developed to handle different processes, ingredients, locations, and
applications for the compost product.
A. Bokashi- is a method that uses a mix of microorganisms to cover food waste to decrease smell. It was derived from the practice of Japanese farmer centuries ago of
covering food waste with rich, local soil that contained the microorganisms that would ferment the waste. After a few weeks, they would bury the waste that weeks
later, would become soil.
B. Compost tea- is a liquid extract of compost that contains plant growth compounds and beneficial organism. Liquid extracts have been used for hundreds of years in
agriculture to promote plant and soil health.
C. Humanure is a human excrement (feces and urine) that is recycled via composting for agricultural or other purposes
D. Vermicomposting is the product of composting utilizing various species of worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and African nights crawler.
Vermicast, also known as worm castings, worm humus or worm manure, is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by species of earthworm.
Vermicomposting has gained popularity in both industrial and domestic settings because, as compared to conventional composting, it provides a way to
compost organic materials more quickly (as defined by a higher rate of carbon to nitrogen ratio increase) and to attain products that have lower salinity levels
that are therefore more beneficial to plant media

II. ACTIVITIES

A. Activity 1
Direction. Arrange the procedure in compost making in an orderly manner. Write A for the first, B for second and so forth.
Spread a five to six – inch layer of soil under the shelter.
Provide aerators like bamboo poles in the middle of the pile to allow air to pass down the pile thereby helping decomposers in its process.
Construct a shelter to protect the pile from hard rain, measuring at least two meters by three or four meters. If this cannot be done, provide covering of the pile with
polyethylene materials.
Choose a site near your supply of waste materials. It should also be near your house and at a level that will not be flooded easily.
Water the pile evenly every day or every two days to keep it moist. The moisture will help in rotting the file faster.
Gather and dust weeds, leaves, animal manure, wood ashes, garbage, garden waste, kitchen leftovers, and other biodegradable materials on top of the soil layer.
Continue adding weeds, grasses, garden cuttings until the dished top to hold water pile is about shoulder high.

B. Activity 2 Video presentation. (Making a compost pit/pile) Ask where is the best place to put a compost pit/pile?
How composting is done?
What are the materials needed in making a traditional compost pit? What is the ratio of greens and browns?
When is compost finished and safe to use?

C. Activity 3 Video presentation (Making a Vermicast) Ask what do you observe in the presentation?
Does farmer in your locality do the same?
What is vermicomposting and how does it work?
Did the farmer performed the right procedure in making a Vermicast? In your opinion, which is proper to use in your garden, an
organic Inorganic fertilizer?

D.Activity 4. Video presentation (Making a vermi-tea)

Ask, Are the class ready to make this kind of liquid fertilizer?

III. RUBRICS
10 Students create an original, accurate and interesting description of all the steps to make a vermi tea

7 Students create an accurate description that adequately addresses each step of how to make a vermi tea

4 Students create an accurate description but it does not adequately addresses each step on how to make a vermitea

1 The description is not accurate

Questions:
1. How did you find the activity?
2. What are the benefits of vermicompost tea?
3. In your opinion, is vermitea best in your plants? Why

IV. REFLECTION

Write at least 2 things you learned in the lesson and how it helps you as a student in Agri-Crop NC1.
1.
2.