Subject : Agricultural Science

Term : Second Term

Class : JSS 2

Week 11

Topic :  Cultural Practices

CONTENT

CONTENTS: i. Definition and types of cultural practices ii. Description of pre-planting operations

Sub-Topic 1: Definition and types of cultural practices

Cultural practices or operations refer to all the operations carried out on the farm from the beginning of the farming season to the end of that season. Cultural operations can be classified as

Pre-planting operations Planting operations

Post-planting operations Description of pre-planting operations

Pre-planting operations are the farming activities carried out before planting is done. These activities are carried out to prepare and make the soil conducive for the crop to be planted.

Pre-planting operations include: selection of the site, clearing, burning, stumping, plotting or layout, tilling or ridging, ploughing, harrowing, nursery and nursery practices. •

Selection of site: The site selected should suit the purpose of production in term of size, fertility of the soil, topography, accessibility, availability of water

• • •

Clearing: The bush on the site is cleared using a cutlass or bulldozer, and fell some big trees

Burning: In the tropics the vegetation is usually disposed by burning. The ash from burnt bush enriches the soil with potash.

Stumping: This involves uprooting the bases of shrubs and trees. It can be done manually, using a cutlass, mattock, or by a bulldozer.

Sub-Topic 2: v. Plotting or layout: A new farm is usually laid out into rectangular plots, using the 3, 4, 5 method. A ranging pole and a measuring tape are the essential tools for plotting

vi. Tilling: A small farm is usually cultivated by tilling; using a hoe to break and loosen

the soil to the correct depth .This enables air and water to reach the roots. It enables the roots push their way into the soil and absorbs water and mineral salts.

vii. Ploughing: This breaks up the soil, leaving it in large clods .It buries the weeds and loosen the soil, making it possible and easy for crop roots to penetrate and for air and water to reach the roots of crops. This is the first operation in tillage.

viii. Harrowing: This involves breaking up (pulverizing) the soil into smaller clods after the initial ploughing, and in readiness for planting or ridging.

ix. Ridging: Ridges, heaps, or mounds serve the same purpose in crop production. Ridges are made at right angles to the slope , using hoe hoes or a tractor driven mould-board disc ridger

x. Seed selection: Pour the seeds into a container of water. Those seeds that float on top should be discarded while those that stay at the bottom should be planted, they are tested viable.

xi. Nursery practice: Small seeds and fragile planting materials need special care in a nursery beds, baskets, pots, trays, polythene bags or boxes. This allows greater care to be given to them. Seedlings protected in this way are stronger, grow faster and more uniform. The containers should be three –parts good topsoil, two-part compost, and one-part fine river sand, sterilized to kill micro-organisms weeds. The containers are perforated at the bottom to allow excess moisture to drain off in each case. Some of the crops raised in the nursery are oil palm, guava, cocoa, orange, etc.

EVALUATION

1. What is ploughing?

2. State three advantages of ploughing a piece of land before planting.

3. Why is it necessary to raise

4. List the pre-planting operations in their order and explain on any five.