Ederlie R.

Angeles 2018-10891 B1L

Laboratory Exercise No. 2

Land Preparation and Field Practices for Lowland and Upland Crops

2. Study Questions:

a) Why is sub-soiling needed in hard pans?

Sub-soiling helps in the provision of soil aeration and improved

drainage. The technique reduces (if not eliminate) the factors that causes hard
pan soils such as topsoil erosion, standing water and flood. It breaks water
infiltration and enables deep root penetration of minerals.

b) Show that triangular system has 15% more plants than a square system
using the same distance of planting by computing the number of plants in
each system.
Let:
Planting distance (S) = 6m x 6m
Area (A) = 2500 square meters

Using square system,

𝐴 2500 𝑚2
𝑁𝑃 = 2 = = 69.44
𝑆 (6𝑚)2

Using triangular system,

𝐴 2500 𝑚2
𝑁𝑃 = = = 80.19
𝑆 2 × 0.866 (6𝑚)2 × 0.866

𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒
(𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 − 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡)
= × 100%
𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡
= 15.48% ≈ 15%
c) Why should we add well decayed organic matter and basal fertilizer to the
soil before transplanting seedlings or grafted plants of perennial crop species?

Soil is the basis for plant growth. Thus, the addition of decayed organic
matter and basal fertilizer to the prior to transplanting of seedlings or grafted
plants will help in the provision of adequate soil nutrients that are needed by
the plants to survive.

d) What are the different adaptive tillage operations? Characterize each.

Tillage is normally classified as primary or secondary tillage. Primary

tillage produces rough surface finish. This can be immediately after the crop
harvest or at the beginning of the next wet season. Primary tillage includes
plowing. In plowing, soil compactions are broken into soil clogs and the soil
loosens ita structure. It also helps in burying the plant waste, controlling
erosion, weeds and pests.

On the other hand, secondary tillage is any working completed after

primary tillage and is undertaken for reducing clod size, weed control,
incorporation of fertilizers, puddling and leveling soil surface. Harrowing and
furrowing are secondary tillage operations. In harrowing, clogs are broken for
a good and fine soil structure. It removes weeds and used to cover seeds after
sowing. Meanwhile, furrowing is used for making deep, wide furrows with
regular spacing across the planting site. It is used to create planting spots.

e) Differentiate between minimum and zero tillage.

Minimum tillage is a tillage method that does not turn the soil over, not
change the structure using ploughs. It requires least amount possible of
cultivation or soil disturbance in preparing a suitable seedbed. On the other
hand, zero tillage requires no plowing and no harrowing. It is a way of growing
crops or pasture from year to year without disturbing the soil through tillage.
3.1 My Planting Rice Experience

As part of the Laboratory Exercise No. 2 which is the Land Preparation and
Field Practices for Lowland and Upland Crops, we were tasked to do a
demonstration of raising seedlings using the dapog seedbed method last February 4,
2019.

Our class went to a rice screen house of the Institute of Crop Science where
we met several field technicians. One of them demonstrated us the preparation of
dapog seedlings. I have learned from the demonstration that seeds are to be soaked
first for 12-24 hours before the incubation which is 24-36 hours for the roots to
emerge. After the incubation are the preparation of the seedbed and the sowing of
the pre-germinated seeds. We had a hands-on experience in doing the steps to be
conducted when the seedlings are ready.

We used the straight row method in transplanting the dapog seedlings. Prior
to the transplant, the field technicians already created straight horizontal and
vertical lines in the site using a wooden marker. The lines form small squares which
served as our guide for proper spacing of planting. The seedlings are to be placed
into the corners of the square.

Before planting, the technician told us that only five to seven seedlings are to
be planted in each space which I found difficult since the seedlings are small and it is
quite hard and time-consuming to count. Nonetheless, as I go on with the activity, I
got used to it.

During planting, I made sure that the seedlings are inserted in such a way
that a quarter of the body is under the soil. The technician specifically told us that
the seedlings should neither be placed too shallow nor too deep for the seedlings to
grow. We were also told that after we finish planting one row of seedlings, we have
to move backward to make sure that we do not step on seedlings that are already
planted.
 My planting experience was fun. I was glad that we are able to experience
such activity. I had this satisfying and fulfilling feeling when I learned that I was the
first student to finish. My father, which is also an agriculturist, taught me once and
let me experience the sabog method when I was a little just for fun. Comparing the
two, this was a lot more difficult.

The activity made me experience the portrayal of the song Magtanim Ay Di

Biro because it truly is! My legs hurt a little after the activity even though we only
planted for few minutes. The experience made me realize the hardships our farmers
have to endure just to feed the population. This inspired me to study harder to use
my engineering skills in the field of agriculture in the near future.

3.2. Different Growth Stages of Lowland Rice

There are three main phases in the growth and development of rice: the
vegetative phase, the reproductive phase, and the maturity phase.

The first stage in the vegetative phase is the germination. There are two
types of seedlings that can be used: first, the dapog seedlings which are ready to be
transplanted at the age of nine to fourteen (9-14) days old; second, the wet bed
seedlings or punla which are twenty to twenty-five (20-25) days old.

The advantages of dapog seedlings include the absence of transplanting

shock because its roots are not intact with the soil since it is is not directly seeded
and the lack of additional labor cost. However, since the seedlings are still very
young and weak, they can be easily eaten by golden snail. Conversely, wet bed
seedlings are older than dapog, thus, they are stronger and can no longer be eaten
by snails. They require additional labor cost since these seedlings are directly
seeded and needs to be uprooted before transplanting.

The next stage is tillering. In this stage, new shoots develop at the base of the
rice plant which makes the plant look bulkier. This occurs when the rice plant is
thirty-five to forty (35-40) days old. Majority of the farm operations like breeding,
fertilizer application, and the replanting of plants that died or are eaten by golden
snail are done in this stage.
 After the vegetative phase, vegetative phase in the development of rice
occurs. The first stage in this phase is the panicle initiation. The stems of the rice
plant gets longer in specific areas and its leaves broaden just before it enters the
reproductive phase. In panicle initiation stage, several young leaf parts of the rice
change into early reproductive parts. Spot weeding is done in this stage to get rid of
the weeds that emerged. Addition of fertilizer can be done up until the panicle
initiation stage. For example, when the rice plant appears to be yellowish, it
indicates deficiency of nitrogen.

Booting stage comes next after panicle initiation. This is where the
emergence or coming out of the panicle (where the grains develop) from the flag
leaf sheath occurs. In this stage, the site where the rice plants are planted will be
restricted unless spraying pesticides and insecticides are to be done since it is when
insects and pests are most attracted to the plants.

When the last leaf has already appeared from the plant, flowers will be the
next to emerge. This is the flowering stage which signals the start of maturity phase.
Here, rice anthers stick out, shed pollen and fertilization occurs. This is the most
critical stage in the growth and development of rice plant thus requires strong
supervision from the grower. This stage greatly influences the yield of production.
For example, the presence of strong winds as well as birds during this stage will
greatly affect fertilization since rice self-pollinates.

After flowering is the milking stage. In this stage, the panicles are already
bent which means that the grains are filled. It is called milking stage because the
grains are very soft and have a watery consistency. Rice bugs love milky grains thus,
spraying is recommended until this stage.

Milky grains turn into a soft mass and later, into a hard mass (hard dough). In
hard dough stage, the grains are still not matured enough but it can be used in the
making of Pinipig delicacy (glutinous rice, not ordinary rice).

When eighty to 80-85% of the grains are already yellowish, fully developed
and hard, the rice plant is ready for harvest. This is the maturity stage. Proper
timing for harvesting is important.