TLE 7- MATATAG CURRICULUM (2ND QTR) CROP CARE & MAINTENANCE, HARVESTING & POST-HARVESTING PRACTICES

Summary

This lesson covers essential aspects of crop care, maintenance, and harvesting. It highlights agricultural practices such as site selection, land preparation, crop selection, planting, and transplanting. The importance of maintaining soil quality, controlling pests, and irrigation is emphasized, alongside the various types of crops like food, cash, fiber, and ornamental crops. Key topics include different methods of irrigation, fertilization, and weed control, along with post-harvest practices such as storage, grading, and packaging. The lesson concludes with a quiz to test learners' understanding of agricultural practices.

Takeaways

• 😀 Site selection is crucial for successful crop farming, considering factors like sunlight, warmth, and wind protection.
• 😀 Thorough land preparation enhances soil structure, conserves moisture, and controls weeds, leading to better crop yields.
• 😀 Choosing the right crop is important, with two main categories of seed varieties: traditional and improved.
• 😀 Proper planting techniques, including timing, quality of seeds, and soil preparation, are essential for crop success.
• 😀 Transplanting involves relocating young plants, ensuring proper root care, and positioning them correctly in the soil.
• 😀 Crop care and maintenance, including regular cultivation, irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, are key to healthy crops.
• 😀 Different crop types include food crops, cash crops, forage crops, fiber crops, oil crops, ornamental crops, and industrial crops.
• 😀 Factors like water, soil, temperature, sunlight, and seed selection influence crop production and growth.
• 😀 Weeds reduce crop yields and increase production costs, so methods like manual weeding, mechanical cultivation, and herbicide application are necessary.
• 😀 Harvesting, post-harvest practices, and proper storage techniques are vital for preserving crop quality and ensuring market readiness.

Q & A

What is the importance of site selection in crop production?

Site selection is crucial for optimal sunlight, warmth, and protection from the wind. It is preferable to choose North-easterly slopes, but care must be taken due to their susceptibility to erosion.

Why is thorough land preparation important before planting crops?

Thorough land preparation ensures proper growth of crops by providing the best soil conditions. It also conserves soil moisture, controls weed growth, and promotes soil aeration.

What are the two categories of seed varieties mentioned in the lesson?

The two categories of seed varieties are traditional and improved.

How does transplanting differ from regular planting?

Transplanting involves relocating a young plant from one place to another, ensuring careful root examination and soil placement. Regular planting places seeds directly into the soil for growth.

What are the types of crops classified under food crops?

Food crops are classified as field crops (e.g., wheat, rice, corn) and root crops (e.g., carrot, potato, peanut).

What factors influence crop production?

The variables that influence crop production include water, soil, wind, temperature, sunlight, seed selection, and crop care and maintenance.

What is the difference between annual, biennial, and perennial crops?

Annual crops complete their life cycle in one year. Biennial crops take two years to complete their life cycle. Perennial crops live for more than two years and can produce crops year after year.

Why is weed control essential in crop production?

Weed control is essential because weeds can reduce crop yield, increase production costs, and promote the spread of pests and diseases.

What are the common methods of irrigation used in crop production?

The common methods of irrigation include manual irrigation, drip irrigation, and sprinkler irrigation.

What are the key considerations when storing harvested produce?

Key considerations for storing harvested produce include preventing mechanical, insect, and disease injuries, ensuring crops are mature, and controlling environmental factors like moisture loss, flavor changes, and decay.