Description of planting operations and post planting operations
Subject : Agricultural Science
Term : Second Term
Class : JSS 2
Week 8
Topic : Planting operation
CONTENT
TOPIC: Description of Planting and post-planting operations CONTENTS: 1. Planting operations: seed treatment, spacing, planting
2. Post-planting operations : thinning, supplying, mulching, manure/fertilizer application
Sub-Topic1: Planting operations
These are operations associated with the actual planting or sowing of the planting materials. Planting operations include seed treatment, spacing, seed rate, planting date, planting depth, planting.
1 Planting date: No definite date can be given for planting a crop because topographic and climatic factors differ from place to place and from time to time. However, planting is done when rain has sufficiently moisture the soil.
2 Seed rate: Seed rate is the amount or quantity of seeds or planting material used on a hectare of land. It is expressed in kilogram per hectare (kg /ha) in the case of seeds and in number of stands per hectare for vegetative propagation
3 Planting distance / spacing: spacing refers to the distance between two plants. It varies from species to species. Crops should be given the correct spacing to avoid too much competition for light, water and nutrients.
4 planting or sowing depth: The depth of planting required by seeds or seedlings varies with the type of crop>the seed should be covered with rich topsoil, gently pressed down to avoid air pockets.
5 Capping: The practice of using dry grasses or pieces of wood to cover the spot where the yam sett or seed yam is planted either ridge or mound.
EVALUATION Explain the following terms •
Seed rate • • Planting distance Capping
Sub-Topic 2: 6. Transplanting: The following procedure should be adopted in transplanting. • Water the bed thoroughly 3-4 hours before transplanting. • Transplant in the evening of a cloudy or rainy day. • Transplant only strong seedlings, taking them with a ball of earth with a hand trowel.
• Place each seedling with the ball of earth in a planting hole and cover with soil, pressing the ball of earth firmly down.
7. Planting methods
• Planting at stake: When planting materials are sown directly in the field on flats, ridges or beds.
• Drilling: Sowing seeds in rows.
• Broadcasting: To scatter over the soil surface. EVALUATION State the methods of transplanting seedlings from the nurseries to the field.
Sub-Topic 3: Post-planting operations
These are the operations carried out after planting . They include thinning, supplying, mulching, manure / fertilizer application, weeding, control of pests and diseases, harvesting, processing, storing and marketing.
1. Thinning: This is the removal of extra seedlings from a stand to give room for others to grow. The weakest plants should be carefully pulled up without damaging the remaining ones.
2. Supplying: This is the replacing of seeds that failed to germinate at all because they have lost their viability.
3. Mulching: This is the practice of covering the soil surface with grass, crop residue, straw or sawdust. Mulching helps to prevent growth of weeds, conserve soil moisture, regulate soil temperature and add organic matter to the soil.
4. Fertilizer and manure application: This is the application of inorganic and organic manure to supply plant nutrients for good growth.
5. Weeding: Weeding is the removal of unwanted plants in the farm. Early weeding is recommended as early weed competition is hazardous. Weeds compete with crops for space, light, water and nutrients.
6. Staking: This is supporting some twining and creeping crops such as tomato, yams, pumpkin, etc with sticks to raise them from the ground.
7. Pruning and Trimming: This is the cutting off of dead and dropping branchings.in fruit trees and flowers.
8. Control of pests and diseases: When crops are attacked by pests and diseases, the result is low yield or crop failure. To ensure this it is necessary to prevent and control pests and diseases. This can be achieved by the use of resist ant varieties, good management practices and spraying of pesticides.
EVALUATION 1.
State four reasons why weeding is necessary in crop production. 2.
List five post-planting operations and explain how two of them are carried out in the farm.
Weekend Assignment Explain the following terms •
Thinning • • •
Mulching Supplying
Pruning and trimming
HARVESTING
Harvesting is the removal and gathering of mature crops for processing and storage.. The sign of maturity differ for different crops. For crops like yam, cocoyam and ground nut, maturity is signified when most of their leaves are turning yellow and drying. The purpose of production also affects the maturity the stage at which the crop is to be used. For example, maize meant to be eaten fresh is generally harvested green while that meant for storage is harvested dried. •
Late harvest: Leads to pest infestation, reduces storage quality, and leads to spoilage s, and exposes crops to thieves and predators.
•
Timely harvest: Protects crops from pest infestation in the field, protects crops from mould, prevents deterioration and makes the crops store well.
EVALUATION Explain the term harvesting.
Sub-Topic 2: Post- Harvest Operations Farm level processing: After harvesting, crops needs to be processed so that they can be consumed or stored for future use. Some crops can be processed directly in the farm, and the various activities involved vary from crop to crop. For cereal crops and legumes, the process involves drying, threshing, and winnowing For root and tuber crops, it is cleaning as in cocoyam.
STORAGE: Storage materials are used for storing agricultural produce until they are sold or used for next season’s operation. They include silos, cribs, rhumbus, beans, fences, compost pits, silage pits, etc.
EVALUATION List five farm storage facilities Weekend Assignment Distinguish between harvesting and post-harvesting operations
