Common Field practices in Agriculture

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 Field practices 

Field practices are routine or operations performed in the agricultural field to enhance proper growth and optimise yields of the various crops grown in a piece of land.  These operations are done at the best time so that the crops benefit from the environment without any adverse effects. 
There are several Field practices and routines carried out in the fields. These includes: 
Crop rotation, mulching, thinning, Gapping, roguing,pruning, plant training, earthing up,weed control etc.

(A) Crop rotation 

Crop rotation is the growing of different types of crops or crops of different families on the same piece of land in an orderly sequence. This practice of growing crops in an orderly sequence is made possible by sub divinding the land into plots. Different crops are grown in these plots in a particular season and rotated or grown in the next plot in the next season. This practice is carried out especially in annual crops where crops are grown and get mature and harvested within a year.

Reasons for carrying out Crop rotation

Crop rotation has many benefits and the following are reasons or importance for carrying out this practice. 

.Control of Pests 

Some Pests are specific to certain crops. Such Pests tend to attack crops of the same family if the crops are grown for many seasons in a given piece of land successively. To control these Pests, the crops should be alternated with crops from different families. This will help to cut off or stop the life cycle of these pests and therefore minimising Pests build up. 

.control of Crop diseases

Like Pests, some diseases are also specific to various crops. These diseases will always attack crops of the same family when grown in succession. To control the build up of these diseases the crops are alternated with crops from different families. 

.Control of soil Erosion 

Soil erosion is the carrying away of top soil. To minimise or control soil Erosion, crops that are planted in a row like maize are alternated with cover crops such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins etc. The cover crops tend to hold the soil firmly and prevent soil Erosion from taking place. 

. control of weeds 

Some weeds are specific to various family crops . For example monocot seeds are specific to some weeds and dicot seeds are also specific to certain weeds. Again weeds like witch weeds are specific to grass family crops. To control these weeds, grass family Crops are alternated by planting non-grass crops for a period of time. 

. Improvement of soil fertility 

Some crops are rich in specific nutrients. For example leguminous crops planted in a given piece of land help in improving soil fertility by providing nitrogen through the help of Nitrogen fixing bacteria such as Rhizobia bacteria. These leguminous crops should be included in the rotation programme. 

. Improvement of soil structure 

During the Crop rotation programme, it is advisable to include some crops such as grass family to hold the soil firmly. This will not disturb the soil and the roots of the grass will bind the soil particles together thus improving the structure. 
Soil structure allows air to circulate in the soil. The soil is well aerated if it has large pores. Soil structure also influences the water holding capacityof a soil.

. Proper utilisation of Nutrients 

Some crops such as maize requires high amounts of Nitrogen but low potassium. Other crops such as cassava require high amounts of potassium but little Nitrogen. Crop rotation is therefore done to provide proper or maximum utilisation of Nutrients by growing different crops. 
On the other hand deep rooted crops absorb Nutrients from deep layers of the soil compared to shallow rooted Crop that absorb Nutrients just below the soil surface. Alternation of such crops will ensure that nutrients from different layers are well utilized. 

Factors to consider when designing a Crop rotation programme 

. soil fertility 

Leguminous Crop should be included to improve soil fertility. 

. Soil structure 

The soil becomes loose when is used continuously. A grass ley should be included or allowed for a certain period of time to improve soil structure .

. Weed control 

Crops that are not easy to Weed should be alternated with those that are easily weeded. On the other hand crops which are associated with certain weeds should be alternated with those that are not. 

. Root depth 

Deep rooted crops should be alternated with shallow rooted Crops. 

. Pests and diseases control 

Crops from the same family should not follow one another in the rotation programme because they are attracted by the Same Pests and diseases. 

. Crop nutrients requirements 

A newly opened land should be planted with crops which require high amounts of nutrients because it is fertile.

(B) Mulching 

It is the placement of materials such as dry grass or banana leaves on the ground next to the growing Crop. Polythene sheets are also used. It should be noted that these materials not to come into contact with the base of the crops as they may encourage Pests attack. 
The importance or advantages of mulching is to reduce the rate of evaporation as it conserve soil moisture. Mulching also controls weeds by not allowing germination of weeds. It also moderate soil temperature and reduces the speed of run off water thus control soil Erosion. 
The organic materials are decomposed by micro-organisms and result into humus that improve soil structure and water holding capacity. 

(C) Thinning 

This is the removal of excess Seedlings planted in a hole. Many Seedlings in a hole may compete for nutrients, space,light and moisture. Excess and weak Seedlings should be uprooted and leave the healthy ones to grow. It should be noted that uprooting of excess and weak Seedlings should be done when the soil is wet to avoid destruction of roots of the remaining Seedlings. Thinning is also done to obtain proper or optimum plant population in a given piece of land. 

(D) Gapping 

Gapping is the replacement of seeds or Seedlings where they fail to germinate or grow due to poor viability or attack by Pests. 
This practice should be done soon after the Crop has started growing to prevent excessive shading of the newly planted Seedlings. 

(E) Roguing 

Roguing is the removal or uprooting and destroying of infected plants. Infections can be  from diseases or Pests attack . Roguing is done to prevent the spread of Pests and diseases from the attacked plants to a healthy ones. The destruction can be done through burning of the uprooted plants. 

(F) pruning 

Pruning is the removal of extra or unwanted parts of a plant. These unwanted parts of plants include those attacked by Pests and diseases, broken branches, excess vegetation etc. 

Why pruning is necessary 

  • To remove the diseased and unwanted parts of a plant such as branches, leaves, stems etc.
  • To control overbearing of crops . This allows or ensures uniform bearing of crops in all seasons or years
  • To maintain the proper shape of the plants 
  • To facilitate picking during harvesting 
  • To allow easy penetration of sprays
  • Pruning controls Pests and diseases from spreading .

(G) Plant Training 

It is the practice of allowing the plants to grow in a desired direction and shape. Plant training can be done through staking,propping or trelishing. 

Staking is the process of supporting plants that have weak stemswith the help of a sticks and strings . The crops that are Staked include tomatoes, garden pease etc. 

Propping is the practice of providing support to tall varieties such as bananas. It is done by fixing  forked stakes to support heavy branches. 

Trelishing is done by providing wires or strings held by poles to support crops with vines such as passion fruits. 

(H) Earthing up

This practice is done to crops that require tuber formation, drainage,tillering (production of suckers or tillers) etc. It is the placement of soil inform of a heap around the base of the plant. It is done during the first weeding and care must be taken not to injure the roots of the plants. 

(I) weed control 

Weeding is the removal of unwanted plants grown in a piece of land. Weeds compete nutrients, space and light with the wanted crops in the field. Weeds also spread Pests and diseases to Crops. Weed control should be done as early as possible. 






 


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