Agricultural Crop

Production NC II
Learner's Manual

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Department of
Education Republic
of the Philippines
Technology-Vocational-Livelihood – Senior High
School
Agricultural Crop Production NC II
Learner's
Manual First
Edition 2019

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 Development Team

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface,
How to Use the Modules,
MODULE 1: Perform nursery operations

Expected Learning Outcomes,

Pre-assessment,
Lesson 1 Prepare nursery tools, implements and simple
equipment.

Lesson Information 2.1.1: Identifying target pest and their natural

enemies
Self-Check 2.1.1
Activity 2.1.1
Rubrics 2.1.1
Lesson Information 2.2 Select bio-control activities and prepare
for the application
Self-Check 2.1.2.
Activity 2.1.2

Rubrics 2.1.2

Lesson information 2.3: Implement control activities

Self-Check 2.1.3
Activity 2.1.3

Rubrics 2.1.3
Lesson Information 2.4: Select bio-control measures, natural enemies, and
other beneficial organisms, determine its availability and appropriateness in
order to reduce pest density and level of severity/infestation.

Self-Check 2.2.1
Activity 2.2.1

Rubrics 2.2.1

Post Assessment,
Answer Key,
References
Lesson 3 : Implement control activities

Lesson Information 2.3.1: Implement appropriate bio-control measures in

line with farm work procedures

Self-Check 2.3.1
Activity 2.3.1

Rubrics 2.3.1
 PREFACE

Welcome to this course on Agricultural Crop Production NCII!

This manual consists of Four modules: (1 Identify the

target pests and their natural enemy, and their beneficial
organisms, (2) Select Bio-control Activities and prepare for
the application, (3) Implement control activities, and (4)
Check performance of control activities. It is designed to
equip you, TVL learners, with essential knowledge, skills,
and attitude on pest management in accordance with
industry standards that will lead you toward achieving
National Certificate Level II.

Each module is made up of the following components:

1. Expected Learning Outcomes—This lays out the

learning outcomes that you are expected to have
accomplished at the end of the module.
2. Preassessment—This determines your prior
learning on the particular unit of competencies
you are about to take.
3. Definition of Technical Terms—This lists the meaning
of unfamiliar words used in this module.
4. Lesson Information—This provides you with the
important knowledge, principles, and attitude that
will help you meet the expected learning outcomes.
5. Self-Check—This helps you to assess your
understanding of a lesson.
6. Learning Activity—This provides you with the
application of the knowledge and principles you have
gained from the lesson and enables you to further
enhance your skills as you carry out prescribed
tasks.
7. Post-assessment—This evaluates your overall
understanding about the module.

This manual is designed so you can pace yourself as

you use them to achieve the prescribed learning
competencies. It also aims to prepare you to be at the
forefront of the fast-growing world of industry and in
your quest for higher education, middle-skills
development, employment, and entrepreneurship.

We hope this material will be of great help to you!

HOW TO USE THE MODULES

Each module contains several lessons. To make the most

out of them, you need to do the following:

1. Scan the list of Expected Learning Outcomes to get an

idea of the knowledge and skills you are expected to
gain and develop as you study the module. These
outcomes are based on the content standards,
performance standards, and learning competencies of
the K to 12 Curriculum for the Technical- Vocational-
Livelihood (TVL) track.

2. Take the Preassessment. Your score will determine

your knowledge of the lessons in the module. If you
get 100% of the items correctly, you may proceed to
the next module. Otherwise, you must go through
the lessons.

3. Each Lesson aims to develop one of the learning

outcomes set for the module. It opens with a list of
objectives that you are expected to have
accomplished by the end of the lesson. The objectives
are intended to unpack the learning outcome for the
lesson.

4. Read and understand the content in the Lesson

Information sections that make up a lesson. This
component contains the basic information that you
need to know to be able to accomplish the lesson
objectives.

5. At the end of the lesson, take the Self-Check to find

out how much you have learned. If you do not get all
the test items correctly, go back to the Lesson
Information. This will ensure your mastery of basic
information.

6. Perform the required Learning Activity, which may

consist of one or more tasks for you to accomplish. It
is not enough that you acquire content or
information, but you must also be able to apply what
you have learned in real-life situations. Evaluate
your performance using the Scoring Rubrics.

7. At the end of the module, take the Post-Assessment

to evaluate your overall understanding about the
lessons.
 MODULE 1: Perform Nursery Operations

Source: Biological Control of Pests: Grade 9 Understanding for IGCSE 5.4

Module Descriptor: This unit covers the skills, knowledge and attitudes required
to apply bio-control measures for pests as a primary IPM strategy. It includes
identifying the target pests and their natural enemies and other beneficial
organisms, selecting bio-control activities and preparing for the application,
implementing the control activities and checking the performance of the said
control activities
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the module, you should be able to:

LO1.Identify target Pests and their natural enemies,

and other beneficial organisms
LO2.Select pest control activities
LO3.Implement control activities; and
LO4.Check performance of control activities.

PREASSESSMENT
Let us determine how much you already know
about installing mechatronic devices. Read and
analyze each statement carefully. Choose the
best answer and write only the letter of your
answer on your answer sheet.

LESSON 1

PREPARE FARM TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS AND SIMPLE

EQUIPMENT

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ABOUT?

The lesson deals with the identification and pre-operative check

up of farm tools, implements and equipment for horticultural
farm operations.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. identify and classify farm tools, implements, and simple
equipment for horticultural farm operations;
2. conduct basic pre-operative check up of tools, implements and
equipment; and
3. develop the value of checking up of tools before use to avoid
accidents.

LET US STUDY

Let us Define

Hand tools – objects that are usually light and are used without

1
the help of animals and machines
Farm implements – accessories pulled by animals or mounted to
machineries to make the work easier
Equipment – powered tool machine used in farming
Repair – to restore something broken or damaged to good
condition.
Prepare – to take the necessary action to put something into a
state where it is fit for use or for a particular event or purpose.

Farm tools, implements, and equipment play a very important

role in horticultural operations. Their presence make the work
much easier and faster. However, even if one may have the most
sophisticated tools and implements, if he does not know how to
use them, they are useless. In order to do horticultural
operations successfully, one must have a good working
knowledge of the tools, implements and equipment before using
them.

2
 Hand Tools

Hand tools are usually light and are used without the help of
animals or machines. They are being used in performing farm
activities which involve small areas like school garden and home
garden.

Examples:

1. Bolo is used for cutting

of grasses and weeds,
loosening and
pulverizing the soil,
digging small holes for
planting and posts, and
breaking the topsoil in
preparing garden plots
if no other tools are
available.
2. Crowbar is used for
digging big holes and
for digging out big
stones and stumps.

3. Pick-mattock is used
for digging canals,
breaking hard topsoil
and for digging up
stones and tree stumps.

4. Grab-hoe is used for

breaking hard topsoil
and pulverizing soil.

3
5. Spade is used for
removing trash or soil,
digging canals or
ditches and mixing soil
media.

6. Shovel is used in
removing trash, digging
loose soil, moving soil
from one place to
another and for mixing
soil media.

7. Rake is used for

cleaning the ground
and leveling the topsoil.

8. Spading fork is used

for loosening the soil,
digging out root crops
and turning over the
materials in a compost
heap.

9. Light hoe is used for

loosening and leveling
soil and digging out
furrows for planting.

10. Hand trowel is

used for loosening the
soil around the growing
plants and putting
small amount of
manure in the soil.

4
11. Hand cultivator
is used for cultivating
the garden plot by
loosening the soil and
removing young weeds
around the plant.

12. Hand fork is for

inter row cultivation.

13. Pruning shears

is for cutting branches
of planting materials
and unnecessary
branches of plants.

14. Axe is for cutting

bigger size post.

15. Knife is for

cutting planting
materials and for
performing other
operations in
horticulture.

Farm Implements

These are accessories which are being pulled by working animals

or mounted to machineries (hand tractor, tractor) which are
usually used in the preparation of wide land. These are usually
made of a special kind of metal.
5
 Examples are:
1. Plows. These are farm implements used in horticultural
operations either pulled by a working animal or a tractor. The
plow is specifically used for tilling large areas, making furrows
and inters row cultivation.
Plows pulled by working animals are made of either a
combination of metal or wood or pure metal. They are used to
till areas with a shallower depth than that of the disc plows
which are pulled by tractors.

Native plow Disc plow

2. Harrow. The native wooden harrow is made of wood with a

metal tooth and pulled by a carabao while the disc harrow is a
metal mounted to a tractor. Harrows are used for tilling and
pulverizing the soil.

Native wooden harrow Disc harrow

3. Rotavator. The rotavator is an implement mounted to a tractor
used for tilling and pulverizing the soil

Equipment

These are machineries used in horticultural operations especially

in vegetable production. They are used in land preparation and
in transporting farm inputs and products. These equipment need
6
a highly skilled operator to use.
1. Hand tractor is used to pull a plow and harrow in preparing
a large area of land.
2. Four wheel tractor is used to pull disc plow and disc harrow
in preparing much bigger area of land.
3. Water pumps are used to draw irrigation water from a
source.

Hand Tractor Four Wheel Water Pump

Tractor

Other materials, tools and equipment

1. Water pails – for hauling water, manure and fertilizers

2. Sprinklers – for watering seedlings and young plants
3. Wheel barrow – for hauling trash, manures, fertilizers,
planting materials and other equipment
4. Sprayers – for spraying insecticides, foliar fertilizers,
fungicides and herbicides

Water pails Sprinklers Wheel barrow

Trigger sprayer Knapsack sprayer Power Sprayer

7
It has been mentioned earlier that tools, implements and
equipment facilitate work conveniently but then a user must
bear in mind that knowledge on the usability of these tools lead a
safe and successful endeavor. Before using any of the tools,
implements, and equipment, always check whether or not they
are still usable or serviceable. Always check or refer to the
manual of operations as prescribed by the manufacturer for
other tools and equipment that are new to you. Always ask the
assistance of skilled operator whenever necessary.

Tools that are defective should be separated and be fixed

immediately to avoid accident.

PRE-OPERATIVE CHECK UP OF FARM TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS

AND EQUIPMENT

Imagine that the long, hot summer vacation has finally come
to an end. It’s the beginning of the school year and you are
ready to start working your vegetable gardens. But before that
check first the tools, implements and equipment you are going to
use.

Armed with your working clothe and personal protective

equipment (PPE), please proceed to the shop to retrieve your
tools so that you can start clearing away the last remnants of
summer and begin breaking the soil for a new year. Imagine your
frustration as you start pulling out all of your tools to see that
they are covered with rust and dirt that has hardened like
concrete, and crusty globs of oil that have collected dust last
vacation. It seems that you are going to spend more time
cleaning and repairing tools on this nice day than you will
actually use them.

LET’S REMEMBER

To facilitate any work in the field, farm tools, implements,

and equipment should be prepared ahead of time before field
work starts. In doing such, you can avoid untoward incidents
that may happen due to negligence.

Always remember to use the right tool for the right task.
Serviceability of tools depends on how they are being used,
maintained and stored.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED?

8
 A. Read the questions carefully and select the best answer by
writing only the letter in your quiz notebook.
1. What do you call that hand tool that is used for digging smaller
size of hole?
a. bolo
b. crowbar
c. grub hoe
d. pruning shear

2. Which tool is used for cutting grasses?

a. shovel
b. bolo
c. crowbar
d. mattock
3. What tool does NOT belong to the group?
a. crowbar
b. mattock
c. shovel
d. pruning shear
4. Farm tools, implements and equipment are very important in pre-
horticultural operations because they __________
a. make work easier
b. make work faster
c. save time and effort
d. all of the above
5. A tool with one end of its blade flattened and the other is pointed
at right angles to its handle is --------
a. pick mattock
b. crowbar
c. bolo
d. spade
6. This tool resembles the appearance of spoon and is used for
transferring soil is
a. spade
b. shovel
c. spading fork
d. grub hoe
7. What implement in tilling the land is being pulled by a working
animal?
a. harrow
b. native plow
c. disc plow
d. disc harrow
8. An implement mounted to a tractor used to pulverize the newly
plowed soil.
a. trailer
b. disc harrow
c. native plow
9
 d. disc plow
9. What equipment in horticultural operations is used to draw water
from a source?
a. sprinkler
b. sprayer
c. water pail
d. water pump

10. A small cart used to transport things, usually in the form of

an open container with a single wheel in front and two handles at
the back is --------------.
a. hand tractor
b. tractor
c. basket
d. wheel barrow

A. Answer the question below. (10 points)

What benefit do you get if you familiarize yourself to

the uses of the different tools, implements, and equipment in
horticultural operations?

LET US APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Conduct a practical test in the farm shop. Proceed to the

farm shop and identify, classify or sort out the farm tools,
implements and farm equipment according to use by filling in
the table below. Write your answers in your quiz notebook.

Classificatio
Name Uses
n of Tools
Tools 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Implement 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Equipment 1.
2.
3.
Other 1.
Materials 2.
10
 Rubric Score Card for the identification of tools/implements and
equipment

Name ___________________________ Date

___________________
Yr. & Sec. _______________________

Activities Weig Scor Points

ht e (weig
ht x
score)
Mastery of the 40%
identity of the
tools/implemen
ts and
equipment
Mastery of the 60%
uses of each
tool, implement
and equipment
TOTAL POINTS EARNED

LEGEND:

Points Earned - Descriptive Rating

25 - 30 - Outstanding
18 - 24 - Very Satisfactory
11 - 17 - Satisfactory
1 - 10 - Needs Enrichment
RESOURCES
 Pruning shear  String
 Pick Mattock  Knife
 Grab hoe  Cutting saw
 Wheelbarrow  Rake
 Bolo  CBLM
 Spade  Water pump
 Axe  Plow
 Shovel  Sprayer

11
 Sprinkler
 Harrow
 Tractor and its accessories
 Nursery shed or greenhouse
 Bodega or Farm shop buildin

12
REFERENCES
Agricultural Arts for Secondary
Agricultural Arts (T.H.E., SEDP, NSEC series) by Ramon G.
Asuncion et.al.
Farm Mechanics Textbook by Phipps, McColly, Scranton, & Cook
p.393 – 689
Growing Vegetables by Tony Biggs p.6 – 7
Growing Rich, Tasty Veggies in Harmony with Nature, vol. 1 by
Jef Van Haunte-Lyds Quileste Van Haunte p.117-120
http://www.antiquefarmtools.info
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/01-111b
http://www.ebc.com.au

LESSON 2

13
 MAINTAIN FARM FACILITIES

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ABOUT?

This lesson deals with the maintenance of farm facilities. It

includes cleaning and repairing of defective farm tools,
implements and equipment.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

1. perform maintenance activities of farm facilities based on standard
manual;
2. clean garden tools, implements and equipment;
3. repair defective tools, implements and equipment; and
4. develop the value of cleanliness and orderliness.

LET US STUDY

Let us Define

facility- something designed or created to provide a service or

fulfill a need
nursery shed – a light structure where seedlings are cared for
before planting. The shed also provides shade to growers while
raising seedling
green house – a more sophisticated building in which seedlings
are being started before bringing to the nursery shed. In most
green houses, environmental conditions are controlled
storage barn – a building where agricultural chemicals are being
stored
shop building – a building where hand tools are being stored and
repaired
manual handling – any activity that requires a person to use
force to push, hold, restrain, or carry an object.
maintenance – work that is done regularly to keep a machine,
building, or piece of equipment in good condition and working
order

Maintaining Farm Facility

14
 The most common facility we have is nursery shed or
greenhouse. It must be thoroughly cleaned and organized. Users
are required to help in the general cleaning to maintain safe,
sanitary, and orderly work environment.
General housekeeping requirements for users are:
• clean worktables and/ potting benches
• clean floors and benches during and after work
• use compost and trash cans
 replace lids to avoid insect and growth of bacteria
• clean sinks after each use and limit the amount of soil going
down drains

In cooperation with the users, the staff should:

• wash and/or sweep floors of greenhouses and potting areas
at least once per week
• empty trash and compost cans regularly
• sanitize and disinfect work areas as the need arises
• empty bottles or containers of chemicals and other unusable
materials should be disposed properly following the practice of
waste management act
For productive, cost-efficient and effective farm facilities, here are
activities you can immediately implement:
 Schedule a regular clean up at least twice a year. This is also
the time to undertake a general inspection on machines and
equipment. The activities include removing all cobwebs, thorough
scrubbing of the ceiling, walls, and floor, and cleaning of machines.
Segregate unserviceable tools, implements and equipment that are
beyond repair from those that can be repaired.
 Schedule clean-up activities twice a month, including wiping
lighting fixtures and windows, scrubbing of rest rooms, cleaning
and oiling of metal parts of farm tools, and placing lubricants to
the moving parts of machines. Repair defective tools, implements
and equipment as soon as possible.
 For regular clean-up chores, give workers about five minutes
daily to tidy the work station, including the tools, farm
implements, machine and equipment they use before they go
home. This motivates the next workers (if they you operate in
shifts) to start work immediately. Besides, this is a subtle way of
developing in them the housekeeping routine.
 Cultivate the habit of collecting waste even before it touches
the floor. Provide a sack or bag in one or two corners of the
workplace where you can throw your garbage. At the end of the
day, your workers can just put their wastes in the designated
places for disposal at the scheduled day and time.

How to Clean Your Tools

15
Let’s start with the basics. Your shovel, spade, hoe, or even the
blades on a hedge trimmer will be a lot easier to use if you take a
few minutes to knock some of the rust off the blade. Not only will
this extend the life of the tool, but also it will cut through the soil
better, and thus require less effort to use. It is a good idea to
keep a large whetstone in your shop to sharpen the blades of
your garden tools. This tool can be purchased at most hardware
stores. A whetstone is an ideal tool to use to keep all of the
cutting edges on your garden tools honed. It will work well on
your shovel, as well as many other common garden tools.

The best way to use the stone is to find a way to stabilize the tool
that you want to work on. A bench vise is ideal. You will be able
to clamp the tool into place at an angle, so you can work on it.
Clamping the garden tool into place with a vise frees up both of
your hands to use the whetstone and gives you more control over
what you are doing.

Apply a little bit of lubricating oil to the end of the tool and
carefully begin to work the stone over the blade. Maintain a 30-
degree angle between the stone and the blade to form the ideal
cutting edge for your tool. Not only will the edge become sharper,
but you will also be removing any pitting and rust that has
formed at the edge of your tool’s blade.

In instances where the moving parts of

your garden tools (e.g. pruning shears, and
loppers) have frozen in place, like springs
and pivot joints, you should disassemble
them carefully. Clean and make them free
from rust and dirt that keep the tools from
functioning properly. Break free any rust or dirt that may keep
the tool from functioning properly. Remove stubborn rust with
fine steel wool or wire brush. Using an old toothbrush with some
lightweight lubricating oil is a great way to
work fresh oil into the joints of most garden
tools. Fresh oil will not only help your tool
work as it is intended but it will also prevent
the formation of rust. Use medium-grit
sandpaper to remove rust on larger tools
such as shovels, spades, and hoes.

Once your tools are clean, they're ready to be sharpened. When

sharpening, try to maintain the original factory bevel or angle.
For pruners, use a whetstone because it produces a very sharp
cutting edge. Depending on the type of whetstone, apply a few
drops of oil or water to the stone. With the
beveled side of the blade against the stone,
rub the sharp edge of the blade toward the

16
 stone in a curved motion, as if you were trying to shave off a thin
slice from the stone.

When working with a file, stabilize the blades in a vise or against

a solid surface such as a work bench to avoid injury and ensure
an even stroke. Always push the file across the blade in a motion
away from your body. Move the file diagonally, so that its cutting
teeth are biting into the metal on the tool. When sharpening with
a file, do not use oil; metal filings will accumulate and clog the
file's serrations.

Farm implements like ordinary plow and wooden harrow

should be checked thoroughly before use. Loosened bolts and
nuts should be tightened firmly. Disc plow and harrow should
also be lubricated on their moving parts like bearings. Tractors
should be tuned-up very well by an skilled operator. Check on
their oil, lubricant, fuel and cooling system.

Tools that are defective should be separated and be fixed

immediately to avoid accident.

Simple Repair and Modification of Tools and Implements

“Simple garden tools are simple to repair”. Spend a little time
checking your garden tools for things to fix and recycle.

To replace a tool handle:

1. Clamp the tool blade in a bench vise.
2. Remove the handle from the hasp using a drill, hammer, or other
tools as needed.
3. Insert the new handle into the hasp.
4. Tighten the handle in the hasp using fasteners. Use a screw and
screwdriver to firmly attach the handle to the tool head.

To fix a leaky hose:

1. Cut through the hose on either side of the bad section using a
sharp knife.
2. Attach male and female hose couplings to the cut ends, following
the directions that come with the couplings. If the new hose
fittings don't slide in easily, try softening the ends of the hose in
hot water or lubricating them with soap or cooking oil.
To fix a broken tooth of rake/fork:

17
Bring this to the shop and weld the broken portion of the tools.
Do the same with the other tools and implement that need
welding. For farm machineries that need repair, contact expert
mechanics to the job.

Installation of Preventive Structure

It has been observed that as we go on our horticultural work we

always experience the occurrence of inclement weather. Before it
is too late, think of anything that you can do to safeguard your
crops, tools and other facilities. We should not only focus our
attention for occurrence of inclement weather but we have to
consider also other elements that may cause loss or damage to
our property (ex. astray animals, fire and thieves).

Let’s take a look into our facilities, such as; nursery shed,
storage house, and farm shops. Examine their physical
conditions (roofing, sidings, or floorings). Can they survive any
disaster that may occur? Are the things inside safe? If not, what
preventive structures should you undertake?

Below is a table indicating the facilities physical conditions,

possible calamities or disaster that may occur and the suggested
preventive structures or contingency measures to be undertaken.

Facili Physic Calamiti Suggest

ties al es/ ed
conditi Disaster preventi
ons ve/
conting
ency
measure
Nurse Weak typhoon Put
ry posts braces
shed
Stora Leakin Heavy Put
ge g rains water
barn roofing sealant
(vulcase
al)
Farm Unsafe Thief/bur Put
shop window glars grills
s and and
doors heavy
duty
padlocks
Fires Provide
18
 fire
hydrant
s
Or call
fire
departm
ent
Run off Constru
ct
drainage
canal
Vicini Dilapid Astray Reconstr
ty ated animal uct
fence fence

Prepare Farm Facilities for Storage:

After a quite long time, farming operations finally come to an
end. This time we have to check the tools, implements, and
equipment we used and prepare them for storage.
Regarding the preparation of garden tools for long storage, you
can adopt some of the practices mentioned below:
 Begin by gathering all hand tools and removing any dirt or rust
with a wire brush, steel wool or light sandpaper. An old pro’s tip is
to keep a galvanized tub with sand and waste oil to clean tools in.
By inserting the shovels, spades and forks into the mixture and
moving them up and down, they get a good scrubbing with the
abrasive sand as well as a coat of lubricant.
 Sharpen the tools using a file that is made specifically for this task.
Remember to move the file in one direction only, and at a 45 degree
angle.
 Sand wooden handles with sandpaper and follow up with a coat of
paste wax or linseed oil if necessary.
 Spray all metal parts with a good coat of lubricating oil. This will
discourage rust as your tools are stored in your tool shed or
garage.
 Store your tools up off the ground and in a dry spot.
 Drain water hoses and hang them in the garage. Water hoses left
out during winter and exposed to freezing temperatures are more
likely to tear and spring leaks.
 Don’t forget about the lawnmower. If you don’t have a chance to
use up the gas before storing it, add a gas stabilizer to the fuel
tank to prevent corrosion.
 Store pesticides out of reach of children and pets. Store dry
pesticides in plastic bags. Liquid pesticides should be stored in a
location that will stay above 40 degrees F.
By following these few basic preparatory steps, you can ensure
19
 that on the following year, you’ll be working in your garden
instead of working on your garden tools. With proper care of the
farm tools, implements and equipment, you can also save
yourself from buying new ones.
For proper care and maintenance of farm hand tools and
equipment, the following guidelines should be observed:
1. Hand tools must always be kept dry in a tool rack when they are
not being used.
2. Tools should be washed or cleaned before keeping them in the tool
rack.
3. The iron parts of tools should be oiled, greased or painted with coal
tar when they are to be stored for a long time.
4. Defective tools should be repaired immediately. Those tools,
implements, and equipment which are beyond repair should be
disposed properly.
5. Cutting and digging tools (bolos, scythe, hoes and axes) should be
frequently sharpened.

LET US REMEMBER

Using the appropriate and in good condition tools will make the
work easier, faster, less prone to accidents and minimize their
wear and tear.
Proper care and safekeeping of tools, implements and equipment
in accordance with the standard practices shall be done to
ensure longer usability of facilities.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED?

Answer the following questions.

1. What should you do to your tools after use and why?

(5 pts.)
2. Why is there a need to construct preventive structures
in your work place? (5pts)
3. What preparations should you do before you store the
farm facilities? (5pts)

LET US APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Conduct post operative check up of the farm tools, implements

and equipment in the tool room and perform the following:
1. Segregate the damaged tools from the good ones.
2. Clean the tools and place them in their rack.
3. Repair tools with slight damage and ask
assistance in repairing the
heavy damaged tools.
20
 4. Observe safety precautions while doing the
tasks.
RESOURCES
 Pruning shear
 Pick Mattock
 Grab hoe
 Wheelbarrow
 Bolo
 Spade
 Axe
 Shovel
 String
 Knife
 Cutting saw
 Rake
 CBLM
 Water pump
 Plow
 Sprayer
 Sprinkler
 Harrow
 Tractor and its accessories
 Nursery shed or greenhouse
 Bodega or Farm shop building

21
References
Agricultural Arts for Secondary
Agricultural Arts (T.H.E., SEDP, NSEC series) by Ramon G. Asuncion et.al.
Farm Mechanics Textbook by Phipps, McColly, Scranton, & Cook p.393 –
689
Growing Vegetables by Tony Biggs p.6 – 7
Growing Rich, Tasty Veggies in Harmony with Nature, vol. 1 by Jef Van
Haunte-Lyds Quileste Van Haunte p.117-120
A Practical Safety Guide for the Horticulture Industry in the Murray Valley
http://www.antiquefarmtoolsinfo
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/01-111b
http://www.ebc.com.au
http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/safe@work/workplace_hazards.asp
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/iacl102.pdf
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc165.pdf
http://www.farm-garden.com/growing-vegetables/artichokes
http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/safe@work/workplace_hazards.a

22
 SELECT QUALITY SEEDS

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ABOUT?

This lesson deals with the selection of quality seeds, ways to secure quality seeds for
planting, purposes and methods of seed testing, reasons why some seeds fail to germinate, seed
treatment and determining the percentage germination of the seeds.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. secure and select quality seeds ;
2. perform seed testing and seed treatment;
3. determine the percentage of germination of seeds; and
4. recognize the value of seed selection, seed testing and seed treatment.

LET US STUDY

Let us Define

Seed - a fertilized and ripened ovule which may develop into a plant by
germination.
Seed testing - the operation involved in determining whether or not
seeds are viable, free from diseases, injuries and foreign matters or their
combination.
Germination - the development of the seed into a young plant.
Dormancy - a period in which a plant has no active growth in response
to harsh environmental conditions. It also refers to the rest period of seeds.

Securing Seeds

There are two ways of securing the seeds to be planted:

1. You can buy seeds from seed stores in your town or order from reliable seed producers in
the city.

2. You can also produce your seeds to plant.

Factors to Consider in Securing your Seeds to Plant.

 Quality of the product

 Adaptation of seeds to ones locality.

Advantages of Producing your own Seeds

1
  Supply of seeds for your farm is always made available.
 Higher percentage of germination is assured.
 Improvement of quality and quantity of the produce is possible.

Disadvantages of Producing your Seeds

 Seed growing is an exacting work.

 It competes with the normal work in the nursery.
 It calls for knowledge of the principles of plant breeding.
 It calls for keen observation.
 It requires close application of details.

Farmers are very much aware that the quality of seeds affects the yield of crops but still
many are using low quality seeds. This is because of the inability of some farmers to secure good
quality seeds. Good quality seeds should possess the following characteristics:

 Damage free –seeds that do not possess cracks, holes and are not broken
 True- to-type - seeds that carry the desirable characteristics of the parents
 Viable – seeds that germinate and able to survive until the stored food in the cotyledon is
consumed up to the time it can support itself by absorbing plant food nutrients from the
soil through their root system
 Free from mixtures – seeds that are free from weed seeds and other foreign matters.
 Free from seed borne diseases
 Properly developed – The size of seeds depends upon the amount of food stored in it. It is
important that the seeds are large, plump and well developed. If the seeds are small and
wrinkled, they may not contain enough stored food for their initial growth that is why
crops that grow from poorly developed seeds are stunted during the early stages of growth
and never recover sufficiently to produce normal plants.

After selecting your seeds, you must also test the viability of your seeds.

Nearly 50% of the local farmers who engage in small-scale vegetable growing save their
own seeds for next planting season. This can be done provided that the seeds are still viable
during the planting season. To be sure that the seeds are viable, you have to conduct seed testing
and compute for the % germination.

Seed Testing

Purposes of Seed Testing

 Discover whether or not the seed is true to its name, except as to variety.
 Ascertain whether or not it has been intentionally adulterated.
 Remove the relative proportions of inert material and of foreign seed.
 Disclose the presence of noxious or other weed seeds.
 Find out the percentage of seed germination
 Find out the amount of seeds needed to plant in a given area.
 Economize labor and expenses in re-planting.
 Obtain a uniform stand of crops.

2
Methods of Seed Testing

 Floating in water. Fr example in rice, before the rice grains are sown in the field, farmers
usually submerge the seeds in a container of water to test the seeds. All floating seeds are
thrown away for they are empty and are not going to germinate. This method is also true
to vegetable seeds.

 Breaking the seed coat. This method is practiced to seeds that have hard seed coat.

 Winnowing. If you winnow, all the seeds that are blown away or carried away by the
wind are empty.

 Germinating the seeds using the following methods:

a. rag doll
b. seed box
c. petri dish/plate

Seed Germination

External conditions required in the germination of seeds

 Viability or vitality. The seed must be viable with a good alive embryo. Immature and
unhealthy seeds produce weak and unhealthy plants.

 Proper amount of moisture. The soil must be moist. Soil must contain sufficient quantity
of moisture necessary for germination. The seed absorbs moisture which cause, all the
parts to soften and swell to burst its covering and allow the embryo to come out. If the
soil is too dry the seed could hardly absorb water to hasten its germination.

 Proper degree of temperature and amount of light.

 Suitability of the soil.

Why do some seeds fail to germinate?

 The seeds are in their dormant stage.

 The seed coat is thick and hard.
 The seeds are immature.
 The seeds have dead embryo.
 The ground is too dry
 The weather is too cold

Special treatment for some seeds in order to germinate

 By cracking the seed coat. If the seed has thick and hard seed coat, crack or file it to allow
water and oxygen to get inside the seed. In cracking the seed, care should be observed so
as not to injure the flesh of the seed which will be the source of infection and rotting that
will cause the seed to decay.

 By heating. If the seed is in a dormant stage, heat it a little. By heating it up, the embryo
becomes active as it starts to grow. Over heating is also dangerous as it will kill the
3
 embryo.

 By better storage facilities. The death of the seed embryo due to faulty storage facilities
may be prevented by the use of better one where seeds are kept up until planting time.

When a seed begins to germinate, the root is the first part to grow. It becomes well
established before the other parts of the embryo emerge above the surface of the soil so that
the seedlings may not be easily dislodged from its position and the parts which are soon to be
exposed to the drying influence of the sun and wind and may continually be supplied with
water from the soil. The seed must be covered with fine soil more or less as thick as the seed
itself.

Determining the Percentage of Germination of Seeds

Below are the rules in computing the % of germination of seeds

Rule 1: If you test 100 seeds, the number of seeds germinated equals the percentage germination
of the seeds.

Example: You tested 100 seeds of eggplant using the rag doll method, 85 seeds germinated. The
% of germination of the seeds then is 85%.

Rule 2. If you test less than or more than 100 seeds use the formula below in computing the % of
germination of the seeds.

Example: Mr. X tested 125 seeds of hybrid tomato and 105 germinated. What is the % of
germination of the tomato seeds?

No. of seeds germinated

%germination = _________________________ x 100

No. of seeds tested

105
= x 100
125

10500
= 125

% Germination = 84 %

Rule 3. If you found out that the % of germination of your seeds is below 80, you need to adjust
your seed bulk. Use the formula below in adjusting the seed bulk.

Amount of seeds needed

Adjusted amount of seed = _________________________ x 100

% germination
Example:
4
 You needed 200 seedlings to plant your garden. You found out that your seeds have only
75 % germination. How many seeds will you sow?

Let: X = the number of seeds to sow or your adjusted seeds

200
X = ___________ X 100
75

111
= __________ X 100
75

= 266.6 or 267 seeds

LET US REMEMBER

It is important to select good quality seeds to attain quantity and quality harvest.
Likewise, it is also necessary to test your seeds before planting them to economize time, labor and
expenses.

When seeds fail to germinate, treat them to break their dormancy period and to hasten
seed germination.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED?

A. Filling the blanks. Fill in the blanks by writing a word or group of words to complete the
sentence. Write your answers in your quiz notebook.

1. The fertilized and ripened ovule which may develop into a young plant is
_____________________.

2. ____________refers to the rest period of seeds.

3. The operation involved whether or not the seeds are viable, clean, free from diseases and
mixture refers to ___________________.

4. An immature plant inside the seed which consists of the radicle and the plumule is
________________.

5. In germination, the ________________ is the first one to come out in the seed when
planted in the soil.

B. Modified true or false. Write true if the statement is correct and if it is wrong, change
the underlined word or group of words to make the statement correct.

1. Farmers can plant only seeds purchased from reliable seed stores.

2. Good quality seeds are those that are not viable, clean, true-to-type and free from seed
borne diseases.

5
 3. Seed treatment is performed to determine the viability, cleanliness and the percentage of
germination of the seeds.

4. Seeds fail to germinate if these are immature.

5. To hasten the germination of seeds with thick and hard seed coats, we can perform special
seed treatment like cracking the seed coat.
‘

LET US APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

1. Let us test your mathematical ability. Compute for the germination percentage of the
following.

Mr. Juan Dela Cruz tested 150 seeds of his long purple eggplant and there are 110 seeds
which germinated. What is the % germination of his eggplant seeds? Is there a need for Mr. Dela
Cruz to adjust his seeds to sow? If yes, then compute for the amount of seeds he will sow to
meet the 150 seedlings that he needs in his garden.

2. Get a bulk of seeds from your teacher for you to perform seed selection.

Perform the following:

a. Separate the seeds having the following characteristics:
 Seeds which are plump and mature
 Seeds with holes
 Seeds with cracks
 Insect infested seeds
 Disease infected seeds
 Seeds which are wrinkled and immature

a. Remove foreign materials or matters such as weed seeds, crushed leaves and stems,
small stones, etc. Present your work to your teacher for evaluation.

2. Read and analyze the situation. Then answer the question briefly.
Situation:
You have money to buy certified seeds to plant in your field but here comes a friend
producing seeds willing to give you free seeds enough to plant your field. The seed bulk he is
giving you free is not yet certified. Weed seeds, crushed leaves and stems are still present
there. Which do you prefer and why?

The knowledge you gained from the lesson will lead you to a more challenging task in the
next topic.

Have you ever tried preparing your growing media and sow your seeds here? If not yet, it is high
time for you to know and to do.

RESOURCES

6
 vegetable seeds
seed bed
seed box
polyethylene plastic bags
germinating tray
rag
Petri dish
pail
water

REFERENCES

Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G.; Elementary Agriculture: Saint Mary’s Publishing:

1983.
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G.; Introduction to Tropical Crop Production: First Edition
Saint Mary’s Publishing. 1976.
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G. and Castro, U. D.; Producing Quality Seeds the Easy
Way: Saint Mary’s Publishing: Sta Cruz, Manila. 1977.
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon. D. et.al.; Technology and Home Economics 1 Agricultural
Arts: Abiva Publishing House, Inc.: Quezon City. 1991
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon D. at.al.: Technology and Home Economics 2 Agricultural
Arts: Abiva Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City. 1991
Cheah Kok Kheong, et.al.; Modern Agriculture for Tropical Schools: Oxford
University Press: 1979
Mendiola, N. B.; Principles of Crop Production. United Circulation, Inc.:
Malabon, Rizal. 1959
Resource Manual on Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) in
Vegetables: World Education (INGO) Philippines, Inc.; Laguna,
Philippines: March 2005
Reyes, P. L.; “Lecture Notes on Field Crop Production” GAUF., Victoneta Park,
Malabon, Metro Manila.
Rivera, Aquilino R.; Home and School Vegetable Gardening: Grace Printing,
Inc.: Laoag City. 1988
Ware, George W. and J.P. McCollum; Producing Vegetables Crops: Second
Ed., Interlino Printing Co., Inc.: Quezon City 1975

7
 SELECT QUALITY SEEDS

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ABOUT?

This lesson deals with the selection of quality seeds, ways to

secure quality seeds for planting, purposes and methods
of seed testing, reasons why some seeds fail to germinate,
seed treatment and determining the percentage
germination of the seeds.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

5. secure and select quality seeds ;
6. perform seed testing and seed treatment;
7. determine the percentage of germination of seeds; and
8. recognize the value of seed selection, seed testing and seed
treatment.

LET US STUDY

Let us Define

Seed - a fertilized and ripened ovule which may develop into a plant by
germination.
Seed testing - the operation involved in determining whether or not
seeds are viable, free from diseases, injuries and foreign matters or their
combination.
Germination - the development of the seed into a young plant.
Dormancy - a period in which a plant has no active growth in response
to harsh environmental conditions. It also refers to the rest period of seeds.

Securing Seeds

There are two ways of securing the seeds to be planted:

3. You can buy seeds from seed stores in your town or order from
reliable seed producers in the city.

4. You can also produce your seeds to plant.

Factors to Consider in Securing your Seeds to Plant.

1
  Quality of the product
 Adaptation of seeds to ones locality.

Advantages of Producing your own Seeds

 Supply of seeds for your farm is always made available.

 Higher percentage of germination is assured.
 Improvement of quality and quantity of the produce is possible.

Disadvantages of Producing your Seeds

 Seed growing is an exacting work.

 It competes with the normal work in the nursery.
 It calls for knowledge of the principles of plant breeding.
 It calls for keen observation.
 It requires close application of details.

Farmers are very much aware that the quality of seeds affects the
yield of crops but still many are using low quality seeds. This is because
of the inability of some farmers to secure good quality seeds. Good
quality seeds should possess the following characteristics:

 Damage free –seeds that do not possess cracks, holes and are not
broken
 True- to-type - seeds that carry the desirable characteristics of the
parents
 Viable – seeds that germinate and able to survive until the stored
food in the cotyledon is consumed up to the time it can support
itself by absorbing plant food nutrients from the soil through their
root system
 Free from mixtures – seeds that are free from weed seeds and other
foreign matters.
 Free from seed borne diseases
 Properly developed – The size of seeds depends upon the amount of
food stored in it. It is important that the seeds are large, plump
and well developed. If the seeds are small and wrinkled, they may
not contain enough stored food for their initial growth that is why
crops that grow from poorly developed seeds are stunted during the
early stages of growth and never recover sufficiently to produce
normal plants.

After selecting your seeds, you must also test the viability of your
seeds.

Nearly 50% of the local farmers who engage in small-scale

vegetable growing save their own seeds for next planting season. This can
2
be done provided that the seeds are still viable during the planting
season. To be sure that the seeds are viable, you have to conduct seed
testing and compute for the % germination.

Seed Testing

Purposes of Seed Testing

 Discover whether or not the seed is true to its name, except as to

variety.
 Ascertain whether or not it has been intentionally adulterated.
 Remove the relative proportions of inert material and of foreign
seed.
 Disclose the presence of noxious or other weed seeds.
 Find out the percentage of seed germination
 Find out the amount of seeds needed to plant in a given area.
 Economize labor and expenses in re-planting.
 Obtain a uniform stand of crops.

Methods of Seed Testing

 Floating in water. Fr example in rice, before the rice grains are

sown in the field, farmers usually submerge the seeds in a
container of water to test the seeds. All floating seeds are thrown
away for they are empty and are not going to germinate. This
method is also true to vegetable seeds.

 Breaking the seed coat. This method is practiced to seeds that

have hard seed coat.

 Winnowing. If you winnow, all the seeds that are blown away or
carried away by the wind are empty.

 Germinating the seeds using the following methods:

a. rag doll
b. seed box
c. petri dish/plate

Seed Germination

External conditions required in the germination of seeds

 Viability or vitality. The seed must be viable with a good alive

embryo. Immature and unhealthy seeds produce weak and
unhealthy plants.

 Proper amount of moisture. The soil must be moist. Soil must

contain sufficient quantity of moisture necessary for germination.
The seed absorbs moisture which cause, all the parts to soften and
3
 swell to burst its covering and allow the embryo to come out. If the
soil is too dry the seed could hardly absorb water to hasten its
germination.

 Proper degree of temperature and amount of light.

 Suitability of the soil.

Why do some seeds fail to germinate?

 The seeds are in their dormant stage.

 The seed coat is thick and hard.
 The seeds are immature.
 The seeds have dead embryo.
 The ground is too dry
 The weather is too cold

Special treatment for some seeds in order to germinate

 By cracking the seed coat. If the seed has thick and hard seed coat,
crack or file it to allow water and oxygen to get inside the seed. In
cracking the seed, care should be observed so as not to injure the
flesh of the seed which will be the source of infection and rotting
that will cause the seed to decay.

 By heating. If the seed is in a dormant stage, heat it a little. By

heating it up, the embryo becomes active as it starts to grow. Over
heating is also dangerous as it will kill the embryo.

 By better storage facilities. The death of the seed embryo due to

faulty storage facilities may be prevented by the use of better one
where seeds are kept up until planting time.

When a seed begins to germinate, the root is the first part to grow. It
becomes well established before the other parts of the embryo emerge
above the surface of the soil so that the seedlings may not be easily
dislodged from its position and the parts which are soon to be exposed
to the drying influence of the sun and wind and may continually be
supplied with water from the soil. The seed must be covered with fine
soil more or less as thick as the seed itself.

Determining the Percentage of Germination of Seeds

Below are the rules in computing the % of germination of seeds

4
Rule 1: If you test 100 seeds, the number of seeds germinated equals
the percentage germination of the seeds.

Example: You tested 100 seeds of eggplant using the rag doll method, 85
seeds germinated. The % of germination of the seeds then is 85%.

Rule 2. If you test less than or more than 100 seeds use the formula
below in computing the % of germination of the seeds.

Example: Mr. X tested 125 seeds of hybrid tomato and 105 germinated.
What is the % of germination of the tomato seeds?

No. of seeds germinated

%germination = _________________________
x 100

No. of seeds tested

105
= x 100
125

10500
= 125

% Germination = 84 %

Rule 3. If you found out that the % of germination of your seeds is below
80, you need to adjust your seed bulk. Use the formula below in
adjusting the seed bulk.

Amount of seeds needed

Adjusted amount of seed = _________________________ x 100

% germination
Example:

You needed 200 seedlings to plant your garden. You found out that
your seeds have only 75 % germination. How many seeds will you sow?

Let: X = the number of seeds to sow or your adjusted seeds

200
X = ___________ X 100
75

111
5
 = __________ X 100
75

= 266.6 or 267 seeds

LET US REMEMBER

It is important to select good quality seeds to attain

quantity and quality harvest. Likewise, it is also necessary
to test your seeds before planting them to economize time,
labor and expenses.

When seeds fail to germinate, treat them to break

their dormancy period and to hasten seed germination.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED?

A. Filling the blanks. Fill in the blanks by writing a word or group of words
to complete the sentence. Write your answers in your quiz notebook.

6. The fertilized and ripened ovule which may develop into a young
plant is _____________________.

7. ____________refers to the rest period of seeds.

8. The operation involved whether or not the seeds are viable, clean,
free from diseases and mixture refers to ___________________.

9. An immature plant inside the seed which consists of the radicle

and the plumule is ________________.

10. In germination, the ________________ is the first one to come

out in the seed when planted in the soil.

B. Modified true or false. Write true if the statement is correct and if it is

wrong, change the underlined word or group of words to make the
statement correct.

6. Farmers can plant only seeds purchased from reliable seed stores.

7. Good quality seeds are those that are not viable, clean, true-to-type
and free from seed borne diseases.

6
 8. Seed treatment is performed to determine the viability, cleanliness
and the percentage of germination of the seeds.

9. Seeds fail to germinate if these are immature.

10. To hasten the germination of seeds with thick and hard seed
coats, we can perform special seed treatment like cracking the seed
coat.
‘

LET US APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

3. Let us test your mathematical ability. Compute for the germination

percentage of the following.

Mr. Juan Dela Cruz tested 150 seeds of his long

purple eggplant and there are 110 seeds which
germinated. What is the % germination of his eggplant
seeds? Is there a need for Mr. Dela Cruz to adjust his
seeds to sow? If yes, then compute for the amount of
seeds he will sow to meet the 150 seedlings that he needs
in his garden.

2. Get a bulk of seeds from your teacher for you to perform seed
selection.

Perform the following:

a. Separate the seeds having the following
characteristics:
 Seeds which are plump and mature
 Seeds with holes
 Seeds with cracks
 Insect infested seeds
 Disease infected seeds
 Seeds which are wrinkled and immature

b. Remove foreign materials or matters such as weed seeds,

crushed leaves and stems, small stones, etc. Present your work
to your teacher for evaluation.

4. Read and analyze the situation. Then answer the question briefly.
Situation:
You have money to buy certified seeds to plant in your field but
here comes a friend producing seeds willing to give you free seeds
enough to plant your field. The seed bulk he is giving you free is not
yet certified. Weed seeds, crushed leaves and stems are still present
there. Which do you prefer and why?

7
 The knowledge you gained from the lesson will lead you to a more
challenging task in the next topic.

Have you ever tried preparing your growing media and sow your seeds
here? If not yet, it is high time for you to know and to do.

RESOURCES

vegetable seeds Ware,

seed bed George
seed box W.
polyethylene plastic bags and
germinating tray J.P.
rag McColl
Petri dish um;
pail Produ
water cing
Vegeta
bles
REFERENCES Crops:
Secon
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G.; Elementary Agriculture: Saint d Ed.,
Mary’s Publishing: 1983. Interli
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G.; Introduction to Tropical Crop no
Production: First Edition Saint Mary’s Publishing. Printin
1976. g Co.,
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G. and Castro, U. D.; Producing Inc.:
Quality Seeds the Easy Way: Saint Mary’s Publishing: Quezo
Sta Cruz, Manila. 1977. n City
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon. D. et.al.; Technology and Home 1975
Economics 1 Agricultural Arts: Abiva Publishing
House, Inc.: Quezon City. 1991
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon D. at.al.: Technology and Home
Economics 2 Agricultural Arts: Abiva Publishing
House, Inc: Quezon City. 1991
Cheah Kok Kheong, et.al.; Modern Agriculture for Tropical
Schools: Oxford University Press: 1979
Mendiola, N. B.; Principles of Crop Production. United
Circulation, Inc.: Malabon, Rizal. 1959
Resource Manual on Integrated Production and Pest
Management (IPPM) in Vegetables: World Education
(INGO) Philippines, Inc.; Laguna, Philippines: March
2005
Reyes, P. L.; “Lecture Notes on Field Crop Production”
GAUF., Victoneta Park, Malabon, Metro Manila.
Rivera, Aquilino R.; Home and School Vegetable Gardening:
Grace Printing, Inc.: Laoag City. 1988

8
 PREPARE THE GROWING MEDIA AND SOW SEEDS

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ABOUT?

This lesson covers the components of the growing media for vegetable crops,
sow seeds and soil sterilization.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. gather and mix thoroughly the components of the growing media;
2. give the importance of soil sterilization;
3. sow seeds; and
4. appreciate the value of prevention through cleanliness and sanitation.

LET US STUDY

Let us Define

Soil sterilization - the process of subjecting the soil to heat or chemicals

to kill micro organisms and other bacteria.
Sanitation - an activity that reduces the spread of pathogen inoculums,
such as removal and destruction of infected plant parts, cleaning of tools and field
equipment.
Shed - a roof used to protect seedlings and other plants.
Seed beds - especially prepared plots where seeds are germinated.
Seed box - a box filled with soil or growing media where the seeds are
germinated.

The best soil for general nursery purposes is a friable loam, rich in humus
with a proper percentage of clay. In cases that these are not available, the growing
media can be prepared by thoroughly mixing the following components:

 1 part garden soil

 1 part sieved sand
 1 part compost
 1 part sawdust or rice hull

These soil components are thoroughly mixed together and will be placed in
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seed boxes, plastic bags, seed trays or germinating trays or to the seed beds.

To ensure the safety of seedlings from soil borne diseases, sterilize the
growing media. Sterilized soil safeguards the seedlings from the attack of damping-
off which commonly destroy young seedlings in seed boxes or seed beds.

Methods of Soil Sterilization

1. Burning organic materials on the soil

A common method of soil sterilization is heating up the soil. The high

temperature will cause the death of many micro-organisms, including pathogens
on the top of the soil and insect pests with soil-dwelling stages such as cut worms.

2. Pouring boiling water to the soil

5. Solarization

Solarization as a method of soil sterilization uses the sun to heat the soil.
Solarization can control soil borne diseases, weed seeds and some nematodes
including root knot nematodes.

To solarize soil, the soil is covered with clear polyethylene or plastic sheets.
The best time is during the hot season, where there is plenty of sun. The sun heats
up the soil through the plastic and the plastic sheet keeps the heat inside the soil.
The sheets should be left in the field for 4 weeks.

4. Biofumigation

Soil borne pests and pathogens can be suppressed by chemical compounds

that are released during decomposition of certain crops. This is called
biofumigation. The chemical compounds that kill or suppress pathogens are
principally isothiocyanates. Those crops with biofumigation potentials are used as
rotation crop, a companion or a green manure crop.

5. Chemical treatment

Treat the soil with chemicals like Formaldehyde, 1 tablespoon per 1 gallon of
water. However, the use of chemicals is not environmentally friendly because
chemicals may kill not only destructive micro-organisms but also the beneficial
ones.

Preparing the Seed Beds/Seed Boxes

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 In large scale planting, the vegetable seedlings are raised in outdoor seed
beds instead of seed boxes. In this system, the seedlings maybe raised
economically. The seed bed should be carefully prepared by spading and raking to
pulverize the soil. Improvement may be made by adding the prepared growing
media.

A 1 X 10 square meter seed bed is good enough. It is 5 to 10 cm above the

level of the ground

You are through preparing your growing media. The next activity you will do
is to propagate your plants.

Sowing Seeds

Sowing is the most important operation in crop production. The seed must
be placed at a required depth in a moist soil so as to get optimum condition for its
germination.

Too shallow sowing results in thin germination due to inadequate soil

moisture at topsoil layer. Similarly, if the seeds are sown very deep in the soil, the
young seedlings may not be able to push their shoots above through thick soil
layer. Seed must be sown at proper depth and should be properly covered with soil
so as to get adequate moisture for its germination.

If you are planning to produce seedlings for backyard garden, it is convenient

to sow the seeds in seed boxes, plastic cups, fruit juice containers, small
polyethylene bags or germinating trays.

However, if you intend to plant in commercial scale, it is logical to sow the

seeds in seed beds because one hectare of solanaceous crops requires 52,000 to
68,000 seedlings which need 10 plots measuring 1 X 10 square meters.

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Steps in Sowing Seeds in Seed Boxes and Seed Beds

1. Moisten the soil media.

2. Sow the seeds in rows or broadcast evenly and thinly. Broadcasting is less
satisfactory than sowing the seeds in rows a few centimeters apart unless
pricking is to be done. Broadcasting of seeds, however, is not advisable
because of the following reasons:

 The air circulation between the plants is not sufficient.

 Seedlings dry less quickly, and such a condition is favorable for the
growth of fungi.
 Weeds are harder to control.
 It is hard to produce stocky seedlings because the seeds are not
properly covered with soil.

3. Cover the seeds with thin layer of fine soil sufficient enough to cover the fine
seeds.

4. Press down firmly the whole surface of the seed box or seed bed with a flat
board to ensure compact surface.

5. Water the seed beds/seed boxes using a sprinkler with fine holes or water
hose with fine spray.

LET US REMEMBER

Seed bed preparation and management are the most important factors in
the success of any vegetable planting. The seed bed must be smooth and weed free
because weeds will compete with seedlings for nutrients, water and sunlight. A
smooth clump-free seed bed will guarantee firm contact between the soil and seed,
thus enhancing seed germination.

To prevent soil borne diseases, the soil must be sterilized.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU LEARNED

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Matching type: Match Column A to Column B. Write only the LETTER of your
answer in your test notebook.

COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. seed beds a. any activity that reduces the spread of pathogen
inoculums, such as removal and destruction of
infected plant parts, cleaning of tools and
equipment.
2. growing media b. the process of subjecting the soil to heat and
chemicals to kill micro organisms and other
bacteria.
3. soil sterilization c. prepared garden plots primarily for production of
seedlings.
4. sowing seeds d. compose of equal parts of garden sieved sand,
compost and saw dust or rice hull.
5. sanitation e. the placing and depositing of seeds in a moist soil
for good seed germination.
f. a box filled with soil or growing media where seeds
are germinated.

LET US APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Prepare your seed box measuring 1 X1 square meter and 6 inches deep. Use
any material available. Recycle if it is needed. Place the thoroughly mixed growing
media inside your seed box. After which, sterilize your growing media by pouring
boiling water into it.

If your teacher is around, she/he will observe you perform the activity and
may ask you some questions. If the teacher is out, she/he will ask you questions
later on how you did the activity.
Always remember that the success of growing seedlings depends upon the
growing media. Prepare your growing media by following the proper way and
correct proportions.

RESOURCES
saw dust
rice hull
garden soil
sieved sand
shovel
wheelbarrow
seed box
polyethylene plastic bags
seed bed

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REFERENCES

Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G.; Elementary Agriculture: Saint Mary’s Publishing: 1983.
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G.; Introduction to Tropical Crop Production: First Edition
Saint Mary’s Publishing. 1976.
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon G. and Castro, U. D.; Producing Quality Seeds the Easy Way:
Saint Mary’s Publishing: Sta Cruz, Manila. 1977.
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon. D. et.al.; Technology and Home Economics 1 Agricultural
Arts: Abiva Publishing House, Inc.: Quezon City. 1991
Asuncion, Jr. Ramon D. at.al.: Technology and Home Economics 2 Agricultural
Arts: Abiva Publishing House, Inc: Quezon City. 1991
Cheah Kok Kheong, et.al.; Modern Agriculture for Tropical Schools: Oxford
University Press: 1979
Mendiola, N. B.; Principles of Crop Production. United Circulation, Inc.: Malabon,
Rizal. 1959
Resource Manual on Integrated Production and Pest Management (IPPM) in
Vegetables: World Education (INGO) Philippines, Inc.; Laguna, Philippines:
March 2005
Reyes, P. L.; “Lecture Notes on Field Crop Production” GAUF., Victoneta Park,
Malabon, Metro Manila.
Rivera, Aquilino R.; Home and School Vegetable Gardening: Grace Printing, Inc.:
Laoag City. 1988
Ware, George W. and J.P. McCollum; Producing Vegetables Crops: Second Ed.,
Interlino Printing Co., Inc.: Quezon City 1975

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