FI

ELDCROPPRODUCTI
ON
Afi
eldcr
opisanypl
antt
hati
sgr
owni
nalargefiel
d,usual
l
yrai
n-f
edandi
ncl
udesf
ood
andnon-
foodcr
ops.
1.
3.3.
1.1

Cl
assi
fi
cat
ionoff
iel
dcr
ops

Cl
assi
fi
cat
ionoff
iel
dcr
op Exampl
esofcr
opsundert
hecl
ass
1. Cer
eal
crops  Maize
 Theyproducegr
ainsandar
eri
chi
ncar
bohy
drat
es.  Sor
ghum
 Wheat
 Mil
l
et
 Ri
ce

 Beans
2. Legumescrops  Groundnut
s(Manoko)
 Theybearthei
rseedsinpodsandareri
chinpr
otei
ns  Jugobeans
 Theirroot
sdevel
opnodulesthatst
oreNi
tr
ogenthat  Cowpeas
canbelef
tint
hesoil
.  Mungbeans( Let
lhodi
)
 Bambaragroundnuts(Di
tl
oo)

3. Fr
uitcr
ops  Watermelon(Magapu)
 Thepar teat
enhassomeseedsi
nsi
de.  Pumpkins(Maphutshe)
 Melons(Makatane)
 Squashes(Makgomane)

4. Rootcr
ops  Sweetpotat
o(Di
potat
a)
 Thepar teat
engr
owsunder
ground  Yam
 Cassava
 Potat
oes(Makwel
e)

5. Oi
lcr
ops  Groundnut
s
 Theyar
eusedf
ormaki
ngcooki
ngoi
l
.  Sunfl
ower
 Soyabeans
 Castor

6. Pl
ant
ati
oncrops  Sugarcane
 Theyareusual
l
ygr
ownf
orf
urt
herpr
ocessi
ng.  Rubber
 Coconut
 Cott
on
 Tobacco

7. Bev
eragecr
ops  Coff
ee
 Theyareusedt
omakedr
inks  Tea
 Cocoa
 Watermel
on
 gi
nger

8. Foddercrops  Maize
 Ar egrownmainl
yforf
eedi
ngl
i
vest
ock.  Sorghum
 Lucerne
 Cowpeas

1
 1.
3.3.
1.2

VARI
ETI
ESOFFI
ELDCROPS

Cr
ops Var
iet
ies/culti
vars
Mai
ze  Kgal agadi ear
lypear
l
 Pot cher st
roonPearl
,
 SR42
Sor
ghum  Segaol ane,
 Mmabai tse,
 Mahube,
 Phof u
Cowpeas  Bl ackey e,
 Tswana,
 Rhenost erand
 ER7
Gr
oundnut
s  Sel l
ie,
 GC8- 13,
 S46and
 I CGS- 31
Mi
l
let  Ser ere,
 Bont leand
 Legakwe
sunf
lower  Russi anno.4

1.
3.3.
1.3

SOI
LANDCLI
MATI
CCONDI
TIONSNEEDEDFORGROWTHOFFI
ELDCROPS

Fi
eldcr
op Soi
lconditi
onsneeded Cl
i
mat
icconditi
onsneeded
Maize(
Zeamay
s)  Gr owsbestinf
erti
l
e,deep,well  Sunnyweat her
aerat
edandwelldrai
nedsoil
ssuch conditi
onsneeded
asloam  Rainfal
lof400mm t o
 Aci dtoneut
ral
pHmostsui tabl
e 900mm r equiredduri
ng
thegrowingseason
 Dryweat herrequir
ed
beforeharvesting
Sorghum  Sandyl
oam r equi
red  Hotweat herconditi
ons
(Sorghum bi
col
or)  Welldr
ainedandf er
ti
le  Rainfal
lofatleast
 pHof5.5t o8.5 300mm
 Canbeeasi lydamaged
byfrost
Mi
l
let  Li
ghtsandyl
oam soil
needed  Cansur vi
vedr y
 Deep,wel
ldr
ainedandaerat
ed conditi
ons
 pHof5.0and7.0  Growswel lunderhot

2
 temperatur
es
 300mm r ai
nfallis
enough
 Needsmor ewat er
duri
ngf l
owering
Sunf
lower  Gooddrai
nagesoi
lssuchast
he  500mm ofr ainfall
sandyl
oam i
srequi
red needed
 pHof6.5to8.
5  Enoughwat eris
requi
reddur i
ng
fl
owering
 Toomuchr ainfal
lleads
torot
tingofseedheads
 Growswel lunderwar m
temperatur
es
Gr
oundnut(
Archi
s  Sandytosandyl oam soi
lsrequir
ed  Growswel lunderwar m
hy
pogea)  Addit
ionoff erti
l
iser
swi t
h tohottemper atures
phosphor usisneeded  Needsr ai
nfallofatleast
 pH5.8t o6. 2(sl
ight
lyaci
dsoi l
s) 500mm pery ear
 Deep,wel ldrai
nedandaer atedsoil
s
Cowpeas(Vi
gna  Welldrainedsandyl oam andclay  Growswellinwar m dry
ungui
cul
ata) l
oam soi l
s areas
 pHof5. 5-7.5isneeded  Rainf
all
ofatleast
 Noneedt oaddNi tr
ogen 300mm inthegr owing
season
 Hotanddrycondi ti
ons
neededfortheripening
ofcowpeas

1.
3.3.
1.4

TYPEOFMANUREORFERTI
LISERREQUI
REDFORNORMALGROWTHOFFI
LEDCROPS

 Mostoft hecropswil
lbenefitfr
om additi
onofcompostandkr aalmanur eas
thesedonotonl yaddnutr
ientsbuttheyalsoimprov et
hesoilstructure.
 Ferti
l
iser
ssuchasur ea,l
imestoneammoni um nit
rate(
L.A.N)
,super phosphat
e
and2:3:2(22)areusual
lyaddedt othesoildependingonthenut ri
entneedsof
theplant
s.
 Thereisnoneedt oaddnitrogenfer
til
izestothesoilwhengrowi nglegumecops
e.gbeans,cowpeasetc
1.3.
3.1.5-
1.3.
3.1.
6

CALCULATI
NGANDMEASURI
NGTHEAMOUNTOFFERTI
LISERTOAPPLYTOACROP
FI
ELD

Amountoff
ert
il
iz
erneeded=Rat
eoff
ert
il
izerappl
i
cat
ionXsi
zeofthef
iel
d
(Kg) (
Kg/ha) (
ha)

3
Ift
hefert
il
izerappl
icat
ionrat
eofsuperphosphat
eforsor
ghum i
s200kg/
ha:
howmuch
superphosphateisneededforaf
i dof1000m2?Showy
el ourwor
ki 1ha=10000m2)
ng(

MEASURINGFERTI LISERTOADDTOTHESOI L
 Af tercalcul
ati
nghowmuchfer
ti
li
zeri
sneeded,
thenyouneedt omeasuret
he
correctamount
 Rememberi ft
oomuchort
oolit
tl
efer
ti
li
zeri
saddedcropswillnotgr
owaswe
expectthem to.
 Ascal ecanbeusedtowei
ghtheamountoffer
ti
li
zerespeci
all
yinsmall
amount
s.

1.
3.3.
1.7

APPLI
CATI
ONOFFERTI
LIZERUSI
NGAPPROPRI
ATEMETHODS

i
. Broadcast
ing–i swhenfer
til
i
zeri
sspreadont
hesur
faceoft
hesoi
lbyhandor
usingmachines.Thefer
ti
li
zerist
henmixedwi
tht
hesoil
duri
ngcul
ti
vat
ion.

i
i
. Fol
iarappli
cati
on-i
tistheappl
icat
ionofsolubl
efer
ti
lizer
sonthel
eavesofplant
s.
Thesolublefer
ti
li
zeri
ssprayedont hel
eaveswhichthenabsor
bthenutr
ient
s
thr
oughtinyporescall
edthestomata.

i
i
i. Fer
ti
gat
ion-dissol
vi
ngf
ert
il
izer
sinwat
erandappl
i
edt
othepl
ant
sroot
sby
meansofir
rigati
on.

i
v. Bandappl
i
cat
ion–i
nvol
vespl
aci
ngf
ert
il
izer
sinbandsorst
ri
psnextt
opl
ant
sor
seeds.

1.
3.3.
1.8

4
  Grainsoffertil
izershouldnotlandonpl antl
eav es
 Waterafterappl yi
ngt hefert
il
izer.
 Donotbr oadcastf erti
li
zeronwi ndydaysasthef ertil
i
zermaybebl ownaway
.
 Donotov erdosecr opswi thferti
li
zersasthi
scanki l
lplant
s.
 Uset hecorrectorappr opri
atemet hodstoappl ytheferti
li
zerneeded
 Donoteatordr i
nknorsmokewhi l
ehandli
ngf ert
il
izersunti
lafterwashi
ngwi
th
pl
ent yofwat erandsoap.
 Determinethenut r
ientsl
ackingint hesoi
lbeforeaddi ngfert
il
izers.

SEEDTREATMENT
Thisi
st heappli
cati
onofchemi cal
stoseedsbefor
esowi ngt
opr
otectthem f
rom soi
l
bornediseasesandpests.Iti
salsocal
ledseedcoati
ng/seeddr
essing
OR
Treat
mentofaseedcanal sobedescri
bedasweakeni ngorr
emovalofseedcoatto
encouragegerminati
on.

1.3.
3.1.
9
Reasonsf
ort r
eatingseedsbeforeplanti
ng
 Protecti
onagainstpestanddi seases
 Protecti
ngseedsf r
om pathogens
 Kil
li
ngpat hogensthatarealr
eadyi ntheseeds
 Toimpr ovethegerminati
onofseedsandseedl ingemer
gence

1.
3.3.
1.10

5
 METHODSOFTREATI
NGSEEDSf
orst
orage

1.Tradi
ti
onalmethod:i
nvol
vesusi
ngwoodorcowdungashtotreatt
heseeds.The
ashwill
preventi
nsect
ssuchasweevi
lsf
rom eat
ingt
heseeds

Descr
ipt
ionofhowseedsar
etr
eat
edusi
ngt
radi
ti
onal
met
hod

I
. Decidehowmuchseedsy ouwouldli
ket otreatandputthoseina
contai
ner
II
. Coll
ectwoodorcowdungash.I fnotav ai
lable,makefi
reusingwoodor
drycowdungf rom whi
chtocoll
ectash.
I
II
. Putenoughwoodorcowdungashi nthecont ai
nerwit
hseeds
I
V. Mixthewoodashorcowdungashwi t
ht heseedst hor
oughly
V. Stor
et heseedsinasafeandsecureplace.

2.Modernmethod:
inv
olvesusi
ngchemical
stot
reatandprot
ectseedsagai
nstany
i
nsect
sthat caneatordamagethem.E.
g.Malat
hion1%,Capt
abandPhostoxin.

Descr
ipt
ionofhowy ouwouldt r
eatseedsusingMal at
hion1%
I. Deci dehowmuchseedsy ouwouldliket
ot reatandputtheseinacont
ainerwi
th
alid
I
I. AddMal athi
on1%t otheseedsinthecontaineratt
her at
eof90gper100kgof
seeds
II
I. Cl osethecontai
nerti
ghtl
yandshakeunt i
ltheseedsar ecoveredwi
tht
he
chemical
I
V. Youcant henremovetheseedsandst or
et hem safel
yforl eruse.
at

1.
3.3.
1.11

Pr
ecaut
ionst
obet
akenwhenhandl
i
ngt
reat
edseeds.
 Nevertoucht r
eatedseedswi thbarehands,al
waysuseglov
es.
 Donotdr i
nk,smokeoreatwhi lehandli
ngtr
eatedseeds.
 Washy ourhandsaf terhandl
ingtreat
edseeds
 Donotuset reatedseedsasf ood.
 Keeptreatedseedsawayf r
om childr
en.
 Weargloveswheny ouhandleseeds
 Readthesaf et
ypr ecauti
onsont heseedpacket

Waysoft
reat
ingseedst
opr
omot
eger
minat
ionort
reat
ingseedsf
or
dor
mancy

I
. Soaki
ng–iti
swhenseedsareputi
nei
therwar
m orcol
dwat
erf
orabout
24hourst
osoft
ent
heseedcoat
.

I
I. Remov aloftheseedcoat– t
heseedcoatisgent
lyr
emov
edwi
thout
di
stur
bingtheembry
oofaseedbef
oresowi
ng.

6
 I
II
. Boi
l
ing–seedsareboi
ledforsomef ewmi
nut
est
osof
tent
heseedcoat
.
Car
eshoul
dbetakennottocookthem.

I
V. Aci
dscar
if
icat
ion–i
tist
heuseofaci
dtocor
rodeawayt
heseedcoat
.

V. Scrat
chi
ng–i ti
smakingofdeepscrat
chesont
heseedcoatbyusi
nga
roughobj
ectt
oweakentheseedcoat
.

CROPMANAGEMENTPRACTI
CES
 Weeding
 Thi
nning
 Fer
til
i
zing
 Pestanddiseasecont
rol
 Wateri
ng
 Soi
lculti
vat
ion
 Thi
nning

1.
3.3.
2.2-
1.3.
3.2.
3

PESTSAFFECTI
NGFI
ELDCROPSANDHOW THEYARECONTROLLED

Pest Damagecaused Control

Stal
kbor
ers I
tboresit
swayint
othestem of Destroyingplantremains
maizeorsor
ghum damaging Practi
cingcropr otat
ion
ELDPESTS

t
heplants Usinginsecti
cidessuchas
endosulfan
Armour
edcri
cket Theybite&chewl eavesand Usingcar bar
ylandcy permethr
in
(Cor
ncri
cket
) grai
nsofplant Buil
ding50cm t renchesaroundthe
FI

fi
eld
Handpi cking
Aphi
ds Sucksapf r
om plantti
ssuesand Plant
ingr esi
stantculti
var
s
cantransmitdi
seases Usinginsecti
cidessuchas
endosulfan
Bol
l
wor
m Feedsonseedsandf l
owersof Pr acti
cingcropr otat
ion
sorghum andmai ze Usingcar bar
yl

7
 Quel
eabi
rds Eatsor
ghum andmi
l
letgr
ains Scari
ngthem away
Destroy
ingnestsar
oundthefi
eld
Harvesti
ngsorghum andmi
ll
et
earl
i
er
Useofscarecrows

l
ocust
s Eatl
eav
esandseedsofcr
ops Spray
ingwithchemi
cal
s
I
tsmal l
areashandpi
cki
ngi
s
possi
ble

DI
SEASESAFFECTI
NGCROPSANDHOW THEYARECONTROLLED
Di
sease cause sy
mpt
oms cont
rol
Mai
zer
ust f
ungus Reddi
shspot
sorpat
chesonpl
ant Plantr esi stantcul t
ivar s
l
eaves Dest roy ingcr opr emai nsaf ter
har vest i
ng
Pract i
ci ngcr opr otation
Leafspot f
ungus Darkbrownspot
sonl
eav
es Ear lyplant i
ng
Leavesfal
lof
f Cropr ot ati
on
Spr ayingpl ant swi t
hDi thane
M45
Bacter
ial bact
eri
a Smallci
rcul
arwatersoakedspots Usi ngcl eant reatedseeds
bl
ight appearontheundersi
deofleaves Cropr ot ati
on
Plant i
ngr esistantv arieties
Maize v
irus Whi
tet
oyel
l
owst
reaksdev
elopon Usi ngi nsect i
cidest ocont rol
st
reakvi
rus l
eav
es hopper s
Plant i
ngr esistantcul tiv
ar s
Pract i
ceear l
yplant i
ng
Pract i
ci ngcr opr otation
Powder
y f
ungus Whit
epat
chesandgreeni
shpowder Avoi dov erwat ering
mil
dew l
ikegr
owt
hsappearontheleav
es Plant i
ngr esistantcul tiv
ar s
Remov inganddest roying
i
nf ectedpl ants

1.
3.3.
2.4

PRECATI
ONSTAKENI
NTOACCOUNTWHENHANDLI
NGFARM CHEMI
CALS

 Keepchemi calsoutofr eachofchil

dr en
 Keepchemi calsintheircorr
ectcont ainers
 Wearpr otectiveclothi
ng
 Foll
owi nstructi
onsonhowt ousechemi cals.donoteatdrinkwhenusi
ng
chemi cals
 Rinsewi thcleanwat erifyoucomei ntocont actwi
t hchemical
s
 Nev erpourleftoverschemi cal
sintor ivers,
sur f
acewat ersour
ces
 Donothar vestandeatcr opsthathav ebeenspr ayedwithchemical
sunti
l14
daysaf tert
heywer esprayed.
 Spraychemi cal
sdownwi ndonadaywhent heyarenotmuchwi nd.

8
 1.
3.3.
2.5

EFFECTSOFPESTI
CIDESORCHEMI
CALSONTHEENVI
RONMENT

 Pest
ici
deskillal
li
nsects,includi
ngbenefi
cial
ones
 Chemicalsupsettheecologicalbal
ance
 Chemicalfumespolluteair
 Chemicalfumespollutewat ersour
cesandundergr
oundwat
er
 Resi
stantstr
ainsdevelops
 Chemicalsentert
hef oodchai nandki
ll
otherspeci
es

1.
3.3.
2.6

ENVI
RONMENTALLYFRI
ENDLYPESTANDDI
SEASECONTROLMETHODS

a)Cul
turalmethods: Thisistheuseofcr opmanagementpr act
icestocontr
olpest
s.
 Cr opr otation
 Ear l
ypl anting
 Remov alofweeds
 Dest roy i
ngcr opresiduesbef oreplantinganewcrop
 Deepcul ti
vati
ont oexposepesteggs
b)Bi
ologicalmet hod
 Thi sist heuseofot herorganismst ocontrolpest
s.i
.e.useofcat
sfor
rodents, useladybirdtocontrol aphids.
 Theuseofdi seaseresist
antv ariet
ies

c) Mechanicalmet hods: thisinv olvestheuseofphy si

cal waystocont r
ol pest
se.g
 Useoft renchest ocont r
olcorncr i
ckets
 Useoft raps
 Pi cki
nginsect sbyhandandcr ushi
ngt hem

d)Quaranti
ne&l egislati
onmet hod
 Pl antsorcr opspr oduct smov ementi srestr
ict
edf rom oneareat o
anot her
 Somei mpor t
edf oodandpl antmat er
ialsmayi ntroducepestsintothe
count ryhencet heyar equarantinedandt estedtomakesur etheyaref r
ee
from pest s&di seases.
e) Useoforganicpest i
cides: homemadespr aysmadef rom garli
c,chi
li
esoroni ons
maybeusedt ocont rol pest sbecausei nsectsar er
epelledbyt hei
rstrongsmel l
.
e.
g.Chil
i
esusedt ocont rol elephantsinChober egi
on

1.
3.3.
2.7

METHODSOFPESTI
CIDEAPPLI
CATI
ONUSI
NGCHEMI
CALS

USI
NGAKNAPSACKSPRAYER

9
  Makesur etomi xthecorrectconcent r
ati
on
 Closethecapont hetankt i
ght l
yandshaket het
ankvigorousl
y
 Plantthesprayerawayfrom y oursel
fandpumpi tt
obuilduppr essure
 Shaket hetankeverynowandt hentokeepmi xi
ngthecontent
 Whent henozzlebecomesbl ocked,removethenozzl
ecov erandt henpumpt
wo
orthreetimestoremov ethebl ockage

1.
3.3.
2.8

CHEMI
CALSCOMMONLYUSEDTOCONTROLPESTSANDDI
SEASES

Chemi
cal
susedt ocontr
ol pest
saf
fect
ing Chemi
cal
susedt ocontroldi
seasesaf
fect
ing
cr
ops cr
ops
 Cutworm bai
t  DithaneM45
 Kopthi
on( Malat
hion)  Brav o720
 Actel
li
csuper  Vir
ikop
 Phostoxi
n  Copperoxy chl
ori
de
 Endosulf
un  Car bof
uran
 Carboryl
 Cypermethri
n
 Doom

1.
3.3.
2.8

METHODSOFHARVESTI
NGOFFI
ELDCROPS

1.Useofhande.
g.usi
nghandtool
ssuchaskni
ves,
sickl
es,
pruni
ngshearet
cto
cutofft
hemat
ureedibl
epar
tofthepl
ant
.Orhandpicki
ngorup-r
ooti
ngmatur
e
crops

 UseofMachi
nese.
g.Suchascombi
nehar
vest
ert
ocutof
fthemat
ureedi
ble
par
toft
heplant

METHODS ADVANTAGES DI
SADVANTAGES

10
Byhand  Onlysi
mpletools,ifany
,areneeded  I
tisl
abouri
ntensi
ve
 Noexpensiveequipmentneeded  I
tist
ir
ing
 Nomuchski llisneeded  I
tist
imeconsuming
 I
tcanbeusedonsmal l
fiel
dsorplot
s
 Promotesselecti
veharvest
ing

Mechani
cal  Requi
resl
essl
abour  Requiresuseofmachi nery
 Theworkcanbedonei
nmuchl
ess  Specialski
llsareneededtooperate
ti
me machi ner
y
 Machi nesaretoobigtobeusedonsmall
fi
eldsorplot
 Machi nescannotharvestsel
ecti
vel
y.
 Cropqual i
tyisaff
ectednegati
vel
y

MARKERTI
NGOFFI
ELDCROPS

MARKETING-I
tisapr ocessinvol
vingsell
i
ngproduceandthei
rtransport
ati
ontowhere
theywi
l
lbesold.Agr
icult
uralproductscanbesoldto:
thepubli
c,marketi
ngboardseg
BAMB,market
ingormanuf acturi
ngorprocessi
ngcompanies.E.
g.Mi l
li
ngcompanies

1.
3.3.
2.10

DETERMI
NINGTHEMARKERTPRI
CESFORLEGUMEANDCEREALCROPS

Thepr
iceatwhichonesel lshisorhercr opsi sinfluencedbyanumberoff actors:
 Inputcostse.g.Labourcost s,ferti
li
zercost ,pesti
cidecostet c
 Thequal i
tyofthecr ops: goodqual itygrai
nwi l
lfet
chmor ethanpoorones.
 Howmuchoft hecr opi sav ail
ablei nthemar ket
: I
fthereisashor tsuppl yofri
ce,
forinst
ance,itspr i
cewi llgoup.
 Thedemandoft hecr op:Whenmanypeopl ewantt obuysor ghum, forinst
ance,
thechancesar et hatitspr i
cewi llgoupi fthesuppl yisl ow.
 Thecostoft ranspor ti
ngandst oringt hepr oducebef oresel
lingit
: Thef uel
,spare
par t
s,maint
enancecost s, andst oragef acil
iti
escostmoneyandar ebuilti
ntothe
price.
 Thef orminwhi cht heyar emar ket ed:Ifprocessed, cropsbecomemor e
expensivethanift heyar enot .

1.
3.3.
2.11-
1.3.
3.2.
13

CROPSTORAGEPESTSANDTHEDAMAGETHEYCAUSE&METHODSUSEDTOTREAT
ORPROTECTSTOREDSEEDSFROM PESTDAMAGE

STORAGEPESTS:
thesear
epest
sthatat
tackst
oredgr
ainsi
nsi
det
hest
orer
oom,
war
e
houseet
c

11
 Pest Damagecaused Contr
olmeasures
Weevil  Eat
sinsidepartofgr
ains Dusti
ngwithi
nsecti
cidesorash
 Lowertheproducequali
tybymaki
ng befor
estor
age
hol
es Keepstor
agestr
ucturesclean
STORAGE

r
ats  Theyeatthegr
ains Useoftrapsandcats
 Theyspoilt
heproducewi
tht
hei
r Useofchemi cal
PESTS

feaces,
uri
neandhair Useofratsormi ceguar
dson
st
oragestructur
es
Mot
h  Bor
ehol
esongr
ains Chemi
cal
treat
ment

12