Crop Production: Introduction to Crop Production PDF

1/16/2025 TOPICS ❖SOIL STERILIZATION CROP 221: ❖PLANTING MEDIA...

1/16/2025 TOPICS ❖SOIL STERILIZATION CROP 221: ❖PLANTING MEDIA INTRODUCTION ❖ NURSERY CONTAINERS TO CROP ❖TILLAGE PRACTICES PRODUCTION ❖CROPPING SYSTEMS ❖WEED CONTROL Daniel Brain Akakpo, PhD. 1 2 COURSE GOALS I. STERILIZATION TO TRAIN STUDENTS IN: Methods of sterilization used in crop production Learning Objectives Types and uses of planting media Become familiar with methods of sterilization Types and suitability of plant propagation containers used in crop production especially for soils/planting media Types of tillage practices Principles and selection of cropping systems for crop production Identify advantages and disadvantages of each sterilization method. Principles of weed management 3 4 1  1/16/2025 STERILIZATION OF SOILS/PLANTING MEDIA METHODS OF STERILIZATION The various methods of sterilization: It is defined as the process of cleaning the soil/ planting medium to rid it of pests. It aims to control soil borne pathogens e.g. ❑Steam nematodes, insects/arthropods and weed seeds. ❑Hot water Sterilization methods may be used to treat both field and nursery soils and other propagating ❑Chemical (fumigants) media to promote the production of high-quality ❑Dry Heat (Oven drying/frying / surface seedlings, planting materials and plants. burning). Soils/media to be sterilized must be free of plant debris and free of clods. ❑ Solar radiation 5 6 STEAM STERILIZATION DRUM METHOD Steam sterilization can be used for both field and nursery soils: Field soils Obtain a metal barrel and cut part off to a steam producing equipment utilize tubes connected into the soil manageable/desirable size with only one part open medium from a steam source for delivery of steam for sterilization. Nursery soils Create a metal grid for holding the samples within the Use of the Improvised John Innes Method/Drum Method barrel to facilitate steam passage (this could be placed about half way through the container) Soils for steam sterilization should be moist and not wet and heated up to about 80°C. Thus an improvised drum is created Minimum period of sterilization follow soils heating to the requisite Set improvised drum on a heat source, fill with water temperature set. Nematodes, pathogens, insects and weeds are effectively killed by just short of the grid to allow for steam passage upon steam sterilization boiling An Autoclave is a high-pressure metal steam sterilizer used in the Soil to be sterilized (clod free) is moistened, divided laboratory for smaller samples usually for research purposes. into sizeable jute sacks and placed on grid. 7 8 2  1/16/2025 DRUM METHOD http://www.uq.edu.au/_School_Science_Lessons/6.0.1.GIF 9 10 DRUM METHOD CONT’D ADVANTAGES OF STEAM STERILIZATION A space of about 20cm from the top-most sack to the top of drum is left and the pack is covered Readily available with a moist jute sack. Does not require high technical know how Water is then allowed to boil to release steam It is the most common, thorough and efficient that passes through the grid to sterilize the soil. soil sterilization method used in agriculture A potato or an egg placed on top of jute sack can be used to indicate completion of sterilization Able to kill large amounts of soil pathogens, when cooked. arthropods, weed seeds and nematodes Soil is allowed to cool in the sacks before transporting to nursery. 11 12 3  1/16/2025 DISADVANTAGES OF STEAM CHEMICAL STERILIZATION STERILIZATION Heat source may be a little expensive Involves the use of chemicals to kill soil borne pests. Cannot be used for large scale sterilization in the It is a method for both field and nursery soils. absence of equipment Fumigants (chemicals that release volatile Drum method is small scale usually gases/fumes) are employed. Fumigants may be used together with plastic Can be injurious (steam/fire/hot water) sheets covering the soil or without sheets covering the soil. Can be laborious (labour intensive) The plastic cover keeps the fumes in the soil to prevent volatilization into the air. 13 14 PROCEDURE FOR CHEMICAL CHEMICAL STLZN CONT’D STERILIZATION First dig a trench in soil on the field Fumigants used are : Put in fumigant and cover trench with soil. Lay the plastic sheet (tarp) over the entire surface/area to ✓ Vapam (Metham sodium) be sterilized and leave for requisite number of days ✓ Dazomet PRECAUTIONS Chemical measurement should be as per recommended ✓ Formaldehyde (40% formalin) rates. Trench depth should be about 5-10cm. ✓ Tear gas (Chloropicrin) Sterilization takes between 3-7 days, depending on the chemical. With tarping , the cover should be in place at least for 7 ✓ Furadan days and removed prior to planting. 15 16 4  1/16/2025 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES It is expensive Kills most soil pathogens without physical disruption of the soil It may leave residues which are harmful to crops. It is fast/quick It may not be environmentally friendly It is less laborious. It does not change the chemical properties of Fumigants are not as efficient as steam in killing the soil if reactions do not occur. pests Can be used for both nursery and field soil. Technical know-how is important. 17 18 DRY HEAT Dry heat can be applied both to field and nursery soil. Surface Burning Temperature for nursery soil can be raised from about 160-180°C when you use oven drying method. On field, it involves the burning of plant residues on soil surface. This method provides also provides ash which is useful for liming in some circumstances although organic matter is lost. 19 20 5  1/16/2025 DISADVANTAGES OF DRY HEAT ADVANTAGES OF DRY HEAT Hastens the process of desertification It is relatively cheaper compared to the other methods The field method only partially sterilizes the soil because heat generated does not Aids in land preparation for planting penetrate deep into the soil and is very short lived (for surface drying). Can be used on a large scale Sometimes essential plant nutrients are also Provides ash (lime) to control acidity volatized 21 22 STERILIZATION BY SOLAR RADIATION This technique referred to as Soil Solarization harnesses solar energy for the control of soil borne pests and pathogens. It is a good non-chemical alternative for soil sterilization and can be used for both field and nursery soils. Process involves placing of a transparent plastic sheet tightly over the soil surface to increase soil temperature for sterilization process 23 24 6  1/16/2025 Soil Solarization STEPS INVOLVED IN SOIL SOLARIZATION. Leave plastic cover in place for about 4-8 Clear field of weeds and remove all plant debris weeks to capture the heat energy beneath the sheet to sterilize the soil. Break all soil clods after clearing to a very fine tilth for heat penetration. If possible irrigate top of polythene sheet, for Irrigate soil sufficiently but do not flood. accumulated water on top to trap heat on the sheet. Use thick transparent polythene sheet and lay it completely over the soil surface and tuck it at the This process allows for maintenance of heat sides very tightly by digging trenches around the within the soil over an extended period when field and burying the sheet edges by covering the sun sets. with the soil. 25 26 DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ADVANTAGES OF SOLAR STERILIZATION STERILIZATION It is tedious/laborious at early stages. It is relatively cheaper compared to the chemical It is time consuming method It delays planting time if not started early. Prepares the land for planting It is affordable in terms of energy use. Can only be used where there is adequate Environmentally friendly and less hazardous. solar radiation. Does not require much technical know-how Can only be used on clean and well-prepared The method makes available nitrogen and other fields, meaning you could incur a lot of cost in essential plant nutrients that can improve plant labour. growth It does not kill all the pathogens. 27 28 7  1/16/2025 Practical Two ▪ This activity seeks to introduce the student to the influence of various sources and types of fertilizer on growth and development of maize. Evaluation of Different Nutrient Sources and Fertilizer Types on the Growth and Development Objective: to evaluate different fertilizer types and nutrient sources on the growth and of Maize. development of maize. Procedures ▪ Nutrient availability and fertilizer application are critical ▪ A Group of students will be allocated (through balloting) with different types of factors influencing maize growth and development. fertilizers for maize production on the Ghanaian market e.g. N (SOA) N (Urea), P, K, NKP, N&P, N&K, P&K, cow dung, pig and poultry manure etc. ▪ Different nutrient sources and fertilizer types can ▪ Students will fill 5 polybags with soil and sow maize seeds at three (3) seeds/pot and significantly impact maize growth and development. later thinned to one. ▪ Fertilizer application is an important agronomic practices in ▪ The various fertilizer types assigned to each group will be applied on the third week after sowing. plant production and fertilizers can be obtain from organic and inorganic sources. ▪ Watering will be done twice a day, and, cultural practices such, weed and pest control 29 will be carried out. 30 Fertilizer Types 1. NPK(SOA) 11. Control Data collection ▪ Data will be collected every two weeks. 2. N (Urea) 12. N+CD 3. P 13. N+Pig ▪ Data will be collected on the following parameters, (height, 4. K 14. N+PM number of leaves, leave length, leave breadth, stem girth, and germination percentage. 5. N&K 15. P+CD 6. N&P 16. P+Pig Presentation of Results 7. P&K 17. P+PM ▪ Individual groups will present their finding in class in the last two weeks of the semester. 8. Cowdung 18. K+CD 9. Pig M 19. K+Pig 10. Poultry M 20. K+PM 31 32 8