
Crop Establishment
‘Crop Establishment’ incorporates the fundamentals of plant biology, plant physiology, soils, nutrition, safety and environmental protection measures into the practical activities involved in preparing land, selecting and preparing planting materials, planting and caring for young crops.
The text emphasizes climate resilient new technologies and agricultural best practices appropriate to tropical regions. It provides numerous original illustrations and photographs, step-by-step instructions, review questions and suggested readings to retain interest and support self-directed learning. Practical exercises geared toward competency assessments for Levels 1 and 2 vocational agriculture qualifications are provided in 2 separate workbooks, namely: Workbook 4.1 - Prepare Land for Planting; and Workbook 4.2 - Plant a Crop by Hand.
- preface
- SECTION 1 – UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE
- 1.1 THE PLANT KINGDOM
- 1.2 PLANT CLASSIFICATIONS
- 1.3 PLANT PARTS AND FUNCTIONS
- 1.4 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
- 1.5 PLANT NUTRIENTS
- 1.6 PESTS AND DISEASES
- 1.7 TILLAGE SYSTEMS
- 1.8 HEALTH AND SAFETY
- 1.9 RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS
- REVIEW QUESTIONS
- SECTION 2 – PLANTING MATERIALS
- 2.1 SEEDS
- 2.2 – Seedlings
- 2.3 VEGETATIVE PLANTING MATERIALS
- REVIEW QUESTIONS
- SECTION 3 – LAND PREPARATION
- 3.1 PRE-OPERATIONS PROCEDURES
- 3.2 MANUAL SITE CLEARANCE
- 3.3 TILLAGE
- 3.4 SEEDBED PREPARATION
- 3.5 SOIL AMENDMENTS
- REVIEW QUESTIONS
- SECTION 4 - PLANTING
- 4.1 CHOICE OF CROP
- 4.2 FIELD LAYOUT
- 4.3 DIRECT SEEDING
- 4.4 TRANSPLANTING
- 4.5 POST-PLANTING CARE
- REVIEW QUESTIONS
- SECTION 5 - ENVIRONMENTAL MAINTENANCE
- 5.1 EROSION CONTROL MEASURES
- 5.2 RAINWATER HARVESTING
- 5.3 COMPOSTING
- 5.4 FIELD SANITATION
- REVIEW QUESTIONS
- APPENDICES
- REFERENCES
- KEY WORDS
- ABOUT THE AUTHOR