1
CROP SCIENCE 1105
                      Practices of Crop Production
Exercise No. 1
Site Selection for Crops
Name: Kristine Joy M. Espinoza Section:2-1
PROCEDURE:
1. Evaluate your farm/backyard garden by filling up the second column of Table
1a (Site evaluation sheet) using information obtained through steps 2-4 below.
2. Get the climatic data from the website of PAGASA weather station in your
locality. Summarize the climatic data and write these in the appropriate box
under the column Site Characteristic.
3. Get the data online for soil physical properties. If the data is not available
online, you will do the “Feel and Roll” method to determine the soil texture in
your area. Write these in the appropriate box under the column Site
Characteristic.
4. Based on observation and research, briefly describe the site as to topography,
accessibility, socio-economic condition, and facilities, and other amenities. Write
your description in the appropriate box under the column Site Characteristic.
RESULTS/OBSERVATIONS
Table 1a. Site evaluation sheet
 Location: Zone 6, Brgy. Abar 2nd, San Jose City, Nueva Eija
 Previous Crops: Palay
 Existing Crops: Onions
                                                                 Assessment/
         Factor                   Site Description
                                                               Recommendation
 A. Climate
  1. rainfall               Light/heavy rain                   Seldom light rainfall
                                                               is good(knowing that
                                                               it is a dry season
                                                               crops), But heavy
                                                               rain can damage the
                                                               onion crops.
                                                                                   2
 2. temperature             33°C                               The onions are best
                                                               suited in not
                                                               extremely hot or cold
                                                               temperature, for the
                                                               good maturation and
                                                               growth. (suitable)
 3. relative humidity       67-80%                             65-70% is an ideal
                                                               relative humidity of
                                                               onion(suitable)
 4. light                   41.38 illumination                 During bulb
                                                               formation, onions
                                                               need full sun at least
                                                               13-16hrs(suitable)
 5. other climatic
    factors (specify)
B. Soil
 1. texture                 Sandy loam/Loam/sandy when         Sandy loam is ideal
                            I used “feel and roll” method      type of soil for
                                                               onions. In
                                                               determining what
                                                               kind of method in
                                                               your area, you can
                                                               do “feel and roll”
                                                               method, and also
                                                               forming a ball
                                                               method(suitable)
 2. other soil factors      In a good enough moisture          Not too much and
    (specify)               condition                          not too less moisture
                                                               is needed in onions
C. Topography               The site is a form of land         Free from trees,
                            which is nearly flat to slightly   weeds. (suitable)
                            slopping
D. Accessibility
 1. good roads              The road towards the site is       It is also important
                            smoothly good                      to have a good road
                                                               toward the site, for
                                                               less hassle in doing
                                                               field operation
 2. nearness to market      About 3 km                         Average distance
                                                               from the market
E. Socio-economic
 1. availability of labor   Field operation such Land          The good enough
                            preparation, planting,             number of laborer
                                                                                 3
                           harvesting which are done by       depends on the
                           the enough number of               measurement of the
                           laborers.                          area is also
                                                              important in doing
                                                              field operation
 2. presence of other      There’s a nearby agriculture       It is convenient
    crop establishments    establishment in our area (De      when there’s a
                           vera’s Agri supplies)              nearby crop
                                                              establishment,
                                                              because you can
                                                              easily buy what is
                                                              necessary to your
                                                              crops.
 3. availability of        There’s an abar 2nd farmers        Assistance in farming
    technical assistance   cooperative, our barangay held     is very helpful. From
                           a training program and             seminars and
                           seminars for farmers. Subsidy,     programs, you can
                           free fertilizers from              gain additional
                           Department of Agriculture          learnings on how to
                                                              farm better to have a
                                                              good crops.
 4. peace and order        250 pesos minimum wage per         Uniformity, standard
                           head as the “tampa”/wage of        and different rules
                           the laborer with free merienda     must be followed
F. Facilities and other
   amenities
 1. sources of irrigation Our area is not irrigated, so       If not irrigated,
    water                 we’re using deep well as the        having a deep well
                          source of water.                    that is source of
                                                              water is essential as
                                                              part of big
                                                              requirement.
 2. sources of             The nearby Agri establishment      Having a consistent
    seeds/planting         (De vera’s Agri supplies) is our   supplier where you
    materials              suppliers of seed/planting         have already tested
                           materials                          the goodness of their
                                                              product offer is a
                                                              good thing
 3. fertilizer and         Bought from De vera’s Agri         Having a near
    chemical supply        supplies and also there’s a free   fertilizer and
                           fertilizer receive from            chemical supplier is a
                           Department of Agriculture          convenience,
                                                              because you can
                                                              easily buy what you
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                                                              need for crops.
  4. storage facilities    For the storage of equipment       It is good if you
                           there’s a small room beside the    maintain your
                           farm,                              equipments properly
                           For the crops, we’re just          store near in your
                           contracting storage facility in    site. Because the
                           Bongabon City, Nueva Ecija,        workers can easily
                           because we don’t have facility     search for it.
                           here.
  5. means of              The laborers are easily to         The perks of being
     communication         reach out because they’re also     near of the laborer in
                           citizen in our barangay (face to   your site is you can
                           face) They also have cell          easily communicate
                           phone to call on.
  6. others (specify)      For the storage of the crops,      If you don’t have
                           we’re just contracting storage     good storage area
                           facility in Bongabon City,         for your crops,
                           Nueva Ecija, because we don’t      there’s a storage-
                           have facility here.                facilities you can
                                                              contract with
w
1. Research on the soil and climatic requirements of the assigned crop plant and
   write the information in Table 1b (Soil and climatic requirements of the
   assigned crop). Use local references except when these are not available.
   Write the references used in the space provided in Table 1b.
2. Each of you will be assigned one of the crops listed below.
    a. Ampalaya                h. Cassava                 o. Onion
    b. Anthurium               i. Cauliflower             p. Sugarcane
    c. Banana                  j. Chrysanthemum           q. Sweet pea
    d. Bell pepper             k. Durian                  r. Sayote
    e. Cabbage                  l. Garlic                 s. Taro
    f. Cacao                   m. Mango                   t. Tobacco
    g. Carrot                   n. Mungbean               u. Ubi
3. Based on the information in Table 1a and Table 1b, state whether the crop
   plant assigned to you is suited to the area or not. Explain your conclusion. If
   there is a need for modifications or improvements in the area, state them.
   Write this on the space (Conclusion and Recommendation) provided
   below Table 1b.
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Table 1b. Soil and climatic requirements of the assigned crop
Common name of crop: __Carrot__________________________
Scientific name of crop: ______Daucus carota var. sativus_
                 A. Climatic requirements of the assigned crop
                                       Relative                           Others
       Rainfall        Temperature                    Light
                                      humidity                          (specify)
Light rain because Night            95-100%       6-8 hours           It is a full-
heavy rain can       temperatures                 direct              sun plant.
wash away the        of 55 degrees                sunlight            But it also
soil from carrot     Fahrenheit,                                      requires
roots                Day                                              ample
(minimum of 1inch temperatures                                        amount of
water per week)      of 75 degrees                                    water from
                     Fahrenheit are                                   rainfall or
                     ideal                                            waterdrops
                   B. Soil requirements of the assigned crop
                                         Organic                       Others
     Texture               pH                          Fertility
                                          matter                     (specify)
                     6.2-6.8bsoil pH It requires        Crop       Proper soil-
 Loose, sandy soil                   plenty of        rotation      one high in
                                     natural          helps to        organic
                                     fertilizer rich maintain soil matter that
                                     in potassium.    fertility.   is loose and
                                     (Greensand is                 well drained
                                     organic soil                   is a key to
                                     that is ideal)                     good
                                                                      growth
             C. Other (non-soil and non-climatic) requirements
 -The idea pattern spacing in planting carrots should be 1.5 to 2 inches within a
                                       row.
-Disease management in carrot production is also necessary to produce high
yields of high-quality carrots.
-avoidance in pest/insects that can destroy or damage the crops
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Conclusion and Recommendation:
       By doing this activity, I learned that determining the site description,
especially the climate and soil characteristics are essential in cropping/planting.
It has also something to do in deciding what kind of crops you will cultivate. In
short, the kind of area location is a big factor in planting. Because crops may be
suitable/not suitable in a particular site description (climate, soil, topography,
accessibility….). Because in each crop, there’s a climatic, and soil requirements
that should be acquired for the ideal crops to harvest. Just for example the
carrots, It is not suitable in our site because this is cool season crops, as we can
notice the most plantation of carrots located in high area like in Benguet, Nueva
Vizcaya and other places where it is suitable.
     As an Agribusiness student, I recommend to every famers and to everyone
who wants to do planting, that it is really important to become well-informed and
knowledgeable about the crop growing requirements and selecting a good site
for their crops. Attending to seminars and other program is a good idea, to gain
more information that will help in planting. Having adequate knowledge is a key
factor to attain a desirable quality of the chosen crops you want to cultivate.
References
Agustin, M. B. and J. G. Canare Jr. 2006. Site Selection. An article written for the
       lecture in Crop Science 105. Department of Crop Science, College of
       Agriculture, CLSU, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Bareja, B.G. 2011.The Major Factors to Consider in Crop selection. Retrieved on
       April 10, 2012 from www.cropsreview.com
Bautista, O.K. et al. 1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture. SEAMEO
       SEARCA and UPLB College of Agriculture, College, Laguna.
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Canare, J.G. Site Characterization for Crop Production. Powerpoint presentation.
      College of Agriculture, CLSU, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija
Coronel, R.E. 1986. Promising Fruits of the Philippines.       UPLB College of
      Agriculture, College, Laguna.
Deuter, Peter and Jerry Lovatt. 2007. Matching crop requirements with the
      production environment. Retrieved on 26 March 2009 from
      http//www2.dpi.qld.gov.au.
      /horticulture/5181.html.
The Philippines Recommends for (various crops). These are available in the
     Filipiniana Section of the CLSU library.
The Technical Committee. Environmental Adaptation of Crops. PCARRD and the
      Soil Management Support Services, Soil Conservation Service, United
      States Department of Agriculture, 1986. Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.
      PCARRD Book Series No. 37.