AGRICULTURE

3. Plant the seedlings one at a time, depending upon the required distance.4. Press the soil around the roots gently.5. Water the seedlings on the soil surface with a gentle stream of water to settle the soil around the roots.6. Water the plants four times a day to prevent drying up during the first tree days. Reduce watering if the young plants can withstand their new environment or the roots have grown and absorbed water from the soil. Transplanting is done late in the afternoon or early in the morning but wateringtechnique as suggested above must be followed if plants are exposed directly to sunlight,particularly in large-scale production. In small-scale production, a shade per plant can beprovided. Did you follow the same steps? Very good! Happy planting!Activity 5 Analyze each picture and write the task being performed.1. 2.3. 4. 14

Self-check: Fill in the chart below with the steps in transplanting vegetables. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. You have now reached the end of this module. Congratulations! Did you enjoystudying this module? Very Good! LET’S SUMMARIZE In direct planting, seeds are planted directly in the field. Indirect planting is sowing the seeds first in seedbeds or seedboxes before transplanting to the field. Seeds directly planted in the field are usually big such as upo, patola, amaplaya, and squash. Small seeds are planted indirectly like the mustard, pechay, onion and spinach. Raising seedlings is usually done by preparing a seedbed or seedbox. Soil medium is composed of sand, compost and soil is prepared. When sterilized, seeds are sown. Mist watering is advisable particularly on small seeds. It is best to observe proper distance, depth and rate of planting seeds and seedlings, for plants to grow well and attain maximum growth. Pechay and mustard are the most common leafy vegetables growing in the country, while tomatoes and eggplants are the most popular fruit vegetables. These plants are first sown on seedbeds or in seedboxes before transplanted to their designated place. POSTTEST Choose the correct answer to each item below. Write the letter of the item of yourchoice on the blank before the number. 15

_____1. Growing plants in a permanent place is a. direct planting b. indirect planting c. pricking d. thinning_____2. Indirect planting is planting seeds in a. a seedbox or seedbed b. its permanent cite c. the nursery farm d. the forest_____3. The following groups of seeds are indirectly planted, except one a. cabbage and pechay b. onion and cauliflower c. cucumber and corn d. pepper and celery_____4. Which of the following seeds is directly planted? a. tomatoes b. okra c. pepper d. eggplant_____5. Pricking is the process of transplanting seedlings from a. one seedbox to another b. seedbox to its permanent place c. nursery to open field d. open field to nursery_____6. Microorganisms are best destroyed through a. fumigation b. fertilization c. sterilization d. cultivation_____7. Refers to the thickness of the sown seeds in a row. a. depth of planting b. rate of planting c. season of planting d. distance of planting_____8. A distance of 30-50 cm between plants is best for a. okra b. squash c. eggplant d. pechay 16

_____9. A dibble is a tool used in a. sowing seeds b. transplanting seedlings c. detecting dormancy d. germinating seeds_____10. Which of the following is indirectly planted? a. celery b. cucumber c. katuray d. melon ANSWER KEYPretest1. a2. b3. a4. c5. b6. d7. c8. b9. a10. bLesson 1: Self-check In direct planting, seeds are planted directly in a designated place where they growuntil harvested. Corn and beans are planted directly on the field. Plants with large seedsare grown by direct planting. In direct planting, seeds are first sown in a seedbox or seedbed. As soon as theseedlings have grown three or more true leaves, they are ready for transplanting. This isusually done to plants with tiny seeds like pechay and mustard.Lesson 2: Self-check6 1. pechay 6 6. sweet pepper4 2. corn 6 7. tomato4 3. squash 4 8. carrot6 4. onion 4 9. okra6 5. cabbage 4 10. upo 17

Lesson 3: Self-check1. 72. 63. 34. 15. 26. 47. 5Lesson 4: Self-checkCrops Rate of Seedling Depth of Seedling Distance of Planting between HillsSweet corn 8,500 ½Eggplant 75 1 60-90Lettuce 90 ¼ 40-50Green onion 85 ½ 25-30Okra 2, 870 2.5 8-20 30-50Lesson 5: Self-check1. Water the seedbox.2. Hold the seedling to lift the small plant out from the germinating area.3. Plant the seedlings one at a time.4. Press the soil around the roots gently.5. Water the seedlings on the soil surface.6. Water the plants four times a day to prevent drying up during the first three days.Posttest1. a2. a3. c4. b5. a6. c7. b8. a9. b10. a 18

PROJECT EASE Effective and Affordable Secondary EducationTECHNOLOGY AND LIVELIHOOD EDUCATION Agriculture and Fishery Arts 1

MODULE 4 BUREAU OF SECONDARY EDUCATION Department of Education DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue Pasig City Plant Crop Production First Year Module 4 Pure Water Pure Delight What this module is about Are you enjoying your lessons? Do you enjoy working on the different activities in eachmodule? You are truly fortunate to have these challenging learning experiences. After learning how to grow plants, this time you will be exposed to experiences relatingto healthy plants glowing with life in the morning sunlight. Plants grow healthy whenproperly watered. Yes, one of the most vital elements in crop production, is water. Most plants can adapt to environmental conditions which are not that ideal but withoutwater, they wither and die. 2

What to learn from this module This module dwells on water without which both man and plants will die. After studyingthis module, see how well you can do these:1. explain the role of water to plant growth; and2. discuss the different ways of watering plants. PRETEST Write only the letter of the correct answer on your paper.1. Which of the following activities of plants relates to the availability of water? a. growth of flowers b. seed development c. growth of plant leaves d. all of the above2. Following are instances when plants need water, except one. a. after sowing the seed b. after planting the seed c. when they bear flowers d. after transplanting3. Shallow rooted vegetables such as pechay and cabbage need much water because a. their bodies are composed of water b. they are deeply rooted compared to other vegetables c. their leaf respiration is very high d. they bear fruits more than other plants4. The supply of water done through small channels or furrows. a. surface irrigation b. watering in hose c. sprinkler irrigation d. drip irrigation5. Drip or trickle irrigation refers to the supply of water through small openings a. emitters b. nozzle c. water cans d. hose 3

Lesson 1 The Role of Water in Plant Growth You may recall from the module, “Grow a Glorious Plant”, that in order to survive theheat of the sun, seedlings need water four times a day particularly when newly transplanted.Do you know why? It is due to much water loss which might wilt the seedlings. The roots ofplants must be capable of absorbing enough water to keep the plants alive. Imagine yourself as a plant. What do yourflowers, fruits and leaves need in order to survive?What do you need to keep healthy? Can your rootsabsorb nutrients from the soil without water? One of the most important factors in successfulgardening is water. If watering systems are poor,plant growth is stunted and plants may wilt or die.Hence, plants must be watered regularly andthoroughly. Now you might ask, when is the right time to water plants? Study the pictures on thenext page to know when to water plants.Watering is needed... a. after sowing the seeds.b. after planting the seeds. c. after transferring seedlings from one seedbox to another by pricking.d. after transplanting. e. everytime the soil dries up. 4

How will you know that the soil is dry? Look at the following illustrations. Can you analyze what the three pictures are trying to say? 1. Which of the illustrations show that soil needs watering? 2. Why? Infrequently watered plants like tomatoes and eggplant need thorough watering,because they are deeply rooted. Shallow rooted plants are frequently watered. Pechay,mustard, and celery must be watered twice a day, because their roots are near the surfaceof the earth. Hence, water evaporates fast. Their bodies are also succulent. Time should also be considered when watering plants. It is best to water plants in themorning. Never water plants late in the afternoon when the sun is no longer shining. Themoist environment at night invites plant diseases. Now, let us check if you really understood what you read. Work on the activitiesbelow.Activity 1 Observe the pictures below then answer the questions that follow. A B1. Which of the plants needs more water?5

2. Why?Activity 2 Below are vegetable plants growing in your garden. Identify which vegetables needfrequent watering and which ones do not. Write your answers in the box below. pechay mustard tomatoes eggplant okra kangkong pepper onion malunggay cabbage celery katurayFrequently Watered Infrequently Watered1. 1.2. 2.3. 3.4. 4.5. 5.6. 6. Self-Check: Write the missing words on the blank to complete the sentence. 1. One of the most important factors in growing plants is _____. 2. Watering of vegetables depends on the _____of the plant. 3. The best time to water plants in the _____. 4. It is not advisable to water plants _____in the afternoon. 5. Eggplant is an example of vegetable that is _____watered. Did you get all the answers right? If you did, excellent! If not, you can go over thelesson again. Lesson 2 Different Ways of Watering Plants 6

Now that you already know the role of water in plant growth, let us move on to howplants can be supplied with water. In this lesson, you will learn the different ways ofwatering plants from backyard and school to large-scale plant crop production. What am I going to do with my vegetable plants? Imagine that you have a vegetable garden and it relies mainly on rain. However, fora long period of time, still, there’s no rain. What do you think will happen to your vegetablecrops? Surely, your crops will wilt and eventually die if still not watered. Hence, you will findways of bringing water to your plants. How can this be done? It can be done through water irrigation. Irrigation refers tothe supply of water to a farm when rainfall is not sufficient enough. Water is conducted for long distances through open ditches or irrigation canals until itreaches the land to be irrigated. Water supply may come from rivers, mountain streams,natural and artificial lakes and reservoirs of stored water. Water irrigation is used on vegetable through the following ways or methods:1. Surface or furrow irrigation Photo by David Frazier Encarta 2000 This is done by running water through small channels or furrows. Water moves down or across the slope of the field. It sips into the bottom and sides of the furrows to provide the desired wetting. This is applicable only for row crops in fields with uniform slopes. 7

2. Sprinkler irrigation Photo by Bill Grange Encarta 2000 Artificial rain is generated through special devices such as perforated sprinkler lines, rotating sprinklers, or micro sprinklers. The water source is usually a river, a shallow well or tap water. This method is labor intensive and the water source must be near the farm. However, in non-mechanized farming, this is done by using watering cans. The cansare attached to a perforated nozzle capable of delivering water fast enough without causingdamage to the plants. Nozzles are easily attached from the can to remove debris, particularly when watersources are rivers and canals. In some mechanized farms, a rotating sprinkler is used. It is popular in orchards andlarge nurseries. It consists of a head with one or more nozzle which is rotated by the actionof the water passing through, and which waters the circular portion of the field around thesprinkler. This method is capable of furnishing water at relatively slow rate, while usingrelatively large nozzles.3. Drip-irrigation This is also known as trickle irrigation. The technique refers to the thorough application of water to the soil through small openings or emitters, which are designed to discharge water at the rate of 1-8 liters per hour. The emitters are close to the plant, wetting only these areas and leaving the rest of the field dry. Unlike sprinkle irrigation and flooding which wet the entire field.4. Sub-irrigation This is the least common method of irrigation because of its high initial cost and the limited land suitable for its use. This is usually done on peat soil. Water is supplied by an underground system and reaches the plant by capillary movement. The drip irrigation system can be installed underground to serve as sub-irrigation system. 8

After the discussion on the different methods of watering plants, were you able toidentify those applied in your own school or home garden? Now let us find out how much you have learned from this lesson. Answer the self-check exercise below. Self-check: Identify the following:_____1. It refers to the supply of water to a farm where there is no sufficient rainfall._____2. Water is allowed to flow along plant beds._____3. Water is supplied to plants using watering cans._____4. Also known as trickle irrigation._____5. It is a material attached at the end of a watering can to remove debris. Congratulations! You have already finished this challenging module. Isn’t itexciting? I hope this helped you gain a lot of knowledge. LET’S SUMMARIZE Plants need watering after sowing the seeds; after planting the seeds; after transferring the seedlings from the seedbox to another by pricking; and after transplanting. It is advisable to water plants in the morning. Irrigation is the supply of water to a farm when rainfall is not sufficient. Surface irrigation is done by running water through small channels or furrows. Drip-irrigation is the thorough application of water to the soil through small openings or emitters. POSTTEST Choose the correct answer by encircling its letter.1. Growth development in plants is closely related to a. air b. water c. compost d. farmer2. In which plant stage is water much needed? a. fruit development b. flowering c. harvesting d. transplanting 9

3. Which of the following groups of vegetables need more water daily? a. pechay and cabbage b. tomato and eggplant c. pepper and ube d. okra and beans4. Surface irrigation is done through a. small channels or furrows b. the use of water cans c. a hose d. sprinkler5. Use of watering cans with nozzles to water plants. a. drip irrigation b. surface irrigation c. sprinkler irrigation d. furrow irrigation ANSWER KEY Infrequently Watered 1. eggplantPretest 2. pepper1. d 3. okra2. c 4. tomatoes3. a 5. malungay4. a 6. katuray5. aActivity 2Frequently Watered1. pechay2. cabbage3. mustard4. celery5. kangkong6. onionLesson 1: Self-check1. water2. root3. morning4. late5. infrequentlyLesson 2: Self-check 10

1. irrigation2. furrow or surface irrigation3. sprinkler irrigation4. drip irrigation5. nozzlePosttest1. b2. d3. a4. b5. c 11

PROJECT EASE Effective and Affordable Secondary EducationTECHNOLOGY AND LIVELIHOOD EDUCATION Agriculture and Fishery Arts 1

MODULE 5 BUREAU OF SECONDARY EDUCATION Department of Education DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue Pasig City Plant Crop Production First Year Module 5 Help! My World is Getting Smaller What this module is about Let no stones be left unturned for an eager learner like you whose behavior is soundand interesting. Welcome to your next module, dear student. Imagine yourself a plant growing in the garden with the luxuries of morning sunlight,fresh morning breeze, water and an abundance of soil nutrients. What else can you askfor? However, one morning, you were surprised. Almost all the luxuries you were enjoyingare gone because of the weeds the have grown beside you. 2

Weeds prevent plant growth and development. Weeds grow fast and the easiest wayto remove it is through proper weeding and cultivation. This module focuses on weeds and how these affect plant growth. It describescultivation and its advantages to plant crop production. What to learn from this module Working on this module requires you to be able to: 1. identify types of weeds; 2. explain the advantages of weeding and cultivation; 3. describe the proper ways of weeding and cultivating plants; 4. explain the value of weeding and cultivation to the growth of plants; and 5. identify different garden tools used in weeding and cultivation. PRETESTDirections: Encircle the letter of the correct answer. 1. Weeds that reproduce only through seeds and complete their life span in one season. a. annual b. biennial c. perennial d. terrestrial 2. Which of the following weeds is biennial? a. cogon b. makahiya c. olasiman d. mutha 3. Perennial weeds are those that live for a. one season b. two seasons c. 6 months d. two years or more 4. Following are the advantages of weeding the garden, except one a. photosynthesis is enhanced b. breeding places for pests and diseases are destroyed c. water and soil nutrients are utilized by crops d. microorganisms in the soil are utilized 3

5. The following are farm practices that are easy to perform when weeding is done regularly, except a: watering b. fertilizing c. cultivating d. harvesting 6. The process of loosening the soil at the base of the plant is known as a. cultivating b. fertilizing c. aerating d. transplanting 7. This tool is used to cut and uproot weeds. a. bolo b. cultivator c. spading fork d. trowel 8. This is a method of controlling weeds in common in backyard gardening. a. manual b. mechanical c. chemical d. mulching 9. The mechanical method of controlling weeds is most common in a. home backyard gardening b. school gardening c. big plant crop production d. small-scale farming10. Which of the following materials is best for mulching? a. clear plastic b. black polyethylene plastic c. ipil-ipil leaves d. dry grass or weeds Lesson 1 4

Types of Weeds There are unfamiliar plants in the garden which grow anywhere even when not plantedintentionally. They are called weeds. Weeds are unwanted plants that grow out of place andeconomically of no use. To enhance your knowledge of weeds, visit your garden, then locate and identify them.Weeds are also plants which outgrow the plants in the garden. They are classifiedaccording to life span.Types of Weeds 1. Annuals - these are weeds that reproduce only through seeds and complete their life span in one season. Examples are wild mustard, wild spinach, olasiman, pigweed and crab grass.Wild spinach Crab grass Wild mustard2. Biennials - these weeds live for two seasons to complete their life span. They produce seeds during the second season of their growth and die. Examples are wild eggplant, goatsbeard, mutha and wild carrots.Wild carrot goatsbeard3. Perennial- these are weeds that live longer than two years. It takes them two or more seasons to reproduce seeds, grow roots and underground stems. As the plant produces seeds, its underground root system spreads, too. Examples are talahib, cogon, touch me not, quack grass and morning glory. 5

Were you able to identify the weeds that grow in the garden through the illustrationsand descriptions given in this module? Find out to what extent.Activity 1 Classify the weeds in Table 1 as annual, biennial or perennial. Write your answers inTable II.Table I talahib olasiman mutha wild carrots cogon goatsbeard touch me not wild mustard crab grass pigweedTable II Biennial Perennial Annual a. a. b. b. a. c. c. b. d. d. c. d. How well did you make it? Good! Review the items you missed, if any. Self-check: Write True if the statement is true, and False, if the statement is not true._____1. Weeds are plants that grow where they are not needed._____2. Weeds are plants classified as to life span._____3. Annual weeds are those that live for two seasons._____4. Cogon and talahib are examples of perennial weeds._____5. Mutha and wild carrots are the most common biennial weeds. 6

Lesson 2 Advantages of Weeding and Cultivation After knowing the types of weeds that are common in gardens and farms, your nextlesson focuses on methods of controlling weeds and why they should be destroyed. What is weeding? Weeding is removing or eradicating unnecessary plants in thegarden. Following are the advantages of weeding in crop production. 1. Photosynthesis in plants will not be disturbed. If the weeds grow taller or bigger than your plant crop, the process of making food in the latter is affected. Growth of the plants is hampered. 2. Water and nutrients in the soil are used only by the plant crops. 3. Weeding plants regularly destroys the breeding places of insects and pests. 4. It saves time, money and effort. 5. It facilitates garden practices such as fertilizing, cultivating, and harvesting, among others. 6. It improves the quality of crops, particularly, rice. Another important task in the care of plants is cultivation. Cultivation is loosening thesoil around the base of the plant. This practice is beneficial to crops because it promotessoil aeration and stimulates plant growth. It also helps eradicate weeds because of rootdisturbance. To see how much you have learned from the preceding topic, work on the next activity.Activity 2 Analyze the pictures below then answer questions that follow. 7

ABQuestions: 1. Which of the picture shows that plants grow bigger and healthier? Why? 2. Which picture shows greater possibility of insect infestation? Why? 3. Which picture shows that water and soil nutrients are being utilized by the plant crops? Why?Self-check:Encircle the letter of the correct answer.1. Which of the following processes is directly affected when weeds are taller and leaves are wider than those of vegetable plants?a. absorption c. plasmolysisb. photosynthesis d. transpiration2. What is in the soil that weeds compete with plants?a. composts c. microorganismsb. fertilizers d. nutrients3. How do the insect pests use the weeds around the plants?a. as a resting area c. as a metamorphosis areab. as a feeding area d. as a breeding area4. Which of the following is saved when the garden is weeded regularly?a. money c. effortb. materials d. a and c5. Below are the advantages of the cultivating plants, excepta. soil aeration c. soil fertilizationb. weed eradication d. root development Lesson 3Methods of Weeding and Cultivating Plants 8

After learning the advantages of weeding and cultivation, your next task is to learn thevarious ways of weeding and cultivating plants. Here are some efficient methods of controlling weeds in the garden: 1. Manual Method. Quite common in small farms, weeds are picked or uprooted using bare hands. Although very effective, it is time consuming.2. Mechanical Method. Faster than hand pulling, weeds are removed through machines or tools. This method is used in large-scale planting.3. Chemical Method. Chemicals known as herbicides are used to destroy weeds, but do not harm vegetables or farm crops. The method is applicable when labor is expensive and not readily available.4. Solarization Method. This is a technique used in controlling weeds when starting a garden and when weeding is a serious problem. Hence, a newly prepared plot is covered with clear plastic and is then exposed to the sun for 10-15 days.5. Mulching. This method uses loose organic materials such as rice straw, banana leaves, coconut leaves, or black polyethylene plastic to cover the soil around the plant or between rows to protect or improve the area. This method prevents the growth of weeds because they do not get direct sunlight needed for photosynthesis. As previously discussed in the last lesson, cultivation is a practice in crop productionthat helps promote the growth and development of roots. There are two ways of cultivating plants, as follows: 1. Off-barring - cultivates the soil away from the rows of plants. 2. Hilling-up - draws the soil towards the base of the plants. If these practices are done at the proper time, weeds growing within the rows can becontrolled. To be effective however, this must be done when the soil is not too wet. Now that you have learned the methods of controlling weeds and cultivation, are youready to try these in your own garden? Let us check on the knowledge you gained from the discussion through the activitybelow.Activity 3 Mang Anding and Mang Rufing are two plant growers. They have certain problemswith the plants they grow. Read their conversation below:Good morning, Anding. Good day to you, Rufing. IYour crops seem to be noticed that too. That’s mygrowing healthy, but I saw problem now. The area issome weeds growing with quite big and there are noyour plants. laborers for hire in our place. Everyone is busy on their own farm. 9

Answer these questions: 1. What method of weed control is suited for Mang Anding’s farm? 2. Why? 3. What do you advise to Mang Anding? 4. Justify your suggestions. Self-check: Identify what the following statements are about._______ 1. A method of eradicating weeds, using tools or machine._______ 2. A method of controlling weeds common in small farms._______ 3. Use of herbicides to destroy weeds._______ 4. Use of loose organic materials or black polyethylene plastic to control weeds. 10

_______ 5. A technique of cultivation in which soil is drawn towards the base of the plant. You must have gained much knowledge in this module. Keep in mind that weedsgrow between plants and compete with crops which adversely affect both the quality andquantity of the harvest. Many farmers experience losses due to the problem of weeds, because it does notonly interfere with plant growth, but also clog irrigation and drainage canals. Lesson 4 Garden Tools Used in Weeding and Cultivating You are now familiar with the methods of weeding and cultivation. Now, let us take timeto learn tools used in gardening. As a guide, use the proper tools for purposes of thepracticum. The following are examples of weeding and cultivating tools:Trowel Pick-mattock Spading fork Rake Hoe Spade1. Bolo – this is used to cut and uproot weeds.2. Warren hoe – this is an ideal tool for weeding and shallow cultivation. 11

3. Cultivator - designed for breaking up soil crusts and cultivating and uprooting rootstock. 4. Spading fork - a tool used to weed and cultivate the soil around the base of bigger plants. 5. Spade – this is used to weed and cultivate plants and to dig trenches. It is easy to pulverize soil using a spade. 6. Hand fork - a cultivating and weeding tool for backyard and school gardening. 7. Trowel – this is like a hand fork and is used to cultivate and weed small garden plants. There are other tools and materials used in cultivating and weeding plant crops. Yourcreativity will help if the garden tools are not available. However, ease in gardening depends much on the use of the right tools for gardenwork. The right tools make work more productive. Let us now find out if you learned fromthis lesson well.Activity 4 Identify the tools in the picture. Were you able to make it? Very good, if you did. If not, review the items you missedand do them all over again. Self-check: Match Column B with Column A. Write only the letter of the correct answer on yourpaper. Column A Column B a. trowel1. Tools used for cutting and uprooting weeds. b. pick-mattock2. Used to break soil crusts, c. bolo to cultivate and to uproot weeds. d. spading fork3. Used to weed and cultivate plants and dig trenches. e. cultivator f. spade4. A tool for weeding and cultivating small gardens.5. A cultivating tool used at the base of plants. 12

LET’S SUMMARIZE Annuals, biennials and perennials are the types of weeds. Weeds are unwanted plants that outgrow plants in the garden. Weeding is removing or eradicating unnecessary plants in the garden. Cultivation is loosening the soil around the base of the plant. Mulching is a method of weeding that uses loose organic materials such rice straw, banana leaves and coconut leaves. POSTTESTDirections: Write only the letter of the best answer in your notebook. 1. Annual weeds are those, the life span of which lasts for a. one season b. two seasons c. 8 months d. 3 years 2. Type of weeds that complete their life span in two seasons. a. annual b. biennial c. perennial d. terrestrial 3. Following are examples of annual weeds, except a. wild mustard b. olasiman c. cogon d. crab grass 4. Which of the following statements is an advantage of weeding? a. Seeds sown germinate fast. b. The breeding places of insect pests and diseases are destroyed. c. Growth of the embryo in seeds is hastened. d. The flowering of vegetables is faster. 5. Regular weeding facilitates farm practices a. easily b. comfortably c. in an attainable way d. in a difficult situation 13

6. Plant cultivation is a method of loosening the soil which promotes a. flower development c. fruit development. b. root growth d. chlorophyll in leaves7. A bolo is a tool used to a. cut and uproot weeds b. till the soil c. fertilize plants d. remove humps in the garden8. The manual method of controlling weeds is usually done in that place. a. backyard garden b. large-scale farm c. big plant crop production d. rice production9. Mechanical method of eliminating weeds uses farm tools such as a. bolo and trowel b. hoe and tractor c. rake and spade d. spading fork and pick-mattock10. Black polyethylene plastic is a material commonly used in a. transplanting b. fertilizing c. mulching d. sowing. ANSWER KEYPretest 1. a 2. d 3. d 4. d 5. a 6. a 7. a 8. a 9. c 10. b 14

Activity 1 Biennial Perennial Annual a. mutha a. talahib b. wild carrots b. cogon a. olasiman c. goatsbeard c. touch me not b. wild mustard c. pigweed d. crab grassLesson 1: Self-check 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. TrueLesson 2: Self-check 1. b 2. d 3. d 4. d 5. cLesson 3: Self-check 1. Mechanical 2. Manual 3. Chemical 4. Mulching 5. Hilling-upLesson 4: Self-Check 1. c 2. e 3. f 4. a 5. dPosttest 1. a 2. b 15

3. c4. b5. a6. b7. a8. a9. b10. c 16

PROJECT EASE Effective and Affordable Secondary EducationTECHNOLOGY AND LIVELIHOOD EDUCATION Agriculture and Fishery Arts 1

MODULE 6 BUREAU OF SECONDARY EDUCATION Department of Education DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue Pasig City Plant Crop Production First Year Module 6 A Little Bit is Good, Enough is Better What this module is about Are you enjoying your lessons in plant production? Fine! Your positive attitude willlikely bring you a lot of good in life. Do you know that all plants get a great number of mineral nutrients from the soil? Thisis why the soil should be enriched with nutrients. Do you know what makes the soil deficientin mineral elements? This is due to the continuing use of the land which uses up anddepletes the nutrients in the soil. To restore the fertility of the soil, some things have to bedone. 2

Have you heard the saying, “a little bit is good, enough is better?” This is very truewhen it comes to applying fertilizers. Fertilizers enrich the soil to help in the growth anddevelopment of plants. Hence, to maintain the nutrients in the soil, fertilizing is needed. What to learn from this module In this module, you will learn much about fertilizers. After going through the module,you should be able to: 1. explain the value of fertilizers; 2. differentiate organic from inorganic fertilizers; 3. give examples of organic and inorganic fertilizers; 4. identify elements found in the fertilizers; and 5. discuss the functions of the three major fertilizer elements.PRETESTI. Match Column A with Column B. Write only the letter of your answer in your notebook for checking.1. Any material mixed with the a. Inorganic fertilizers Compostsoil to promote plant growth. Compost pit Complete2. Fertilizers from animal b. Organic fertilizers Liquidand plant waste residues. Fertilizers Manure3. Chemically manufactured fertilizers. c. Green manure Granular form4. Animal excreta usedas fertilizers. d.5. Use of plants as source oforganic matter. e.6. A product of decomposed plantparts, kitchen and garden refuse. f.7. Composting process that rotsthe underground materials. g.8. Inorganic fertilizers which containthree major elements. h.9. A popular type of fertilizer whichgets results fast. i.10. Very common and widely usedcommercial fertilizer. j. k. Basket compostingII. Give the three major elements which plants need. 3

Lesson 1 Types, Examples, and Value of Fertilizers In the last module, you learned that weeds are consumers of soil nutrients. Hence, if agarden or farm has plenty of weeds, fertilizers should be applied to the soil before planting.When plants are already growing, fertilizers may be applied as supplement.What are fertilizers Fertilizers are substances applied to the soil to enhance the growth of plants. A plant grower like you, who wants to grow plants of good quality as well as high yieldshould know the value of plant nutrition. If your site used to be a forested area, and it has been turned into a vegetable farm,fertilizers are not necessary. Soil nutrients are still in place. However, if the area has beenfrequently used for several planting seasons, fertilizer application is necessary. What is the value of fertilizer to plants? The following statements will tell you: 1. It increases the yield of crops; 2. It improves soil condition. Clayey soil turns porous when mixed with organic fertilizers; 3. It balances the acidity extent of the soil. Bone meal, pulverized eggshell, clamshells, oyster shells or any form of agricultural lime can help neutralize the soil; 4. It helps plants produce flowers, fruits and shoots. 5. It helps develop storage roots in root crops. You can add more benefits which fertilizers give to plants when you visit your garden.You will be eager to apply your knowledge of fertilizer use. There are two types of fertilizers. These are organic and inorganic fertilizers. a. Organic fertilizers which are derived from decaying plant and animal products such as blood meal, bone meal, manure, plant parts and leftovers. b. Inorganic fertilizers which are chemically manufactured, using raw materials such as natural gas and phosphate rock, which are more concentrated compared to organic fertilizers. Now, let us see if you can tell the difference between inorganic and organic fertilizers. 4

Activity 1 Differentiate inorganic fertilizer from organic fertilizer through the raw materials theycontain. ORGANIC INORGANICa. a.b. b.c. c.d. d. How well did you get it? Good! If not, go over the missed item and try again. After knowing the two types of fertilizers, you will now identify examples of each type.A. Organic Fertilizers1. Animal Manure - These refer to the waste matter of animals such as chicken dung, horse manure, cow manure, carabao manure, hog manure, and bat manure or guano. These manures are dried or decomposed before they are used as fertilizers. This type of fertilizers contains less nutrients and is slow in reaction but it improves the texture of the soil.2. Green manure - Plants are sources of organic matter. When plants are in the flowering stage, they are plowed under to mix them with the soil for purpose of decomposition before used in planting crops. Examples of plants used as green manure are monggo, peanut , and soybean.3. Compost - This is a product made up of decomposed plant parts and kitchen and garden refuse piled or buried in a pit and left to decay for a period of time. Following are the methods of composting: a. Compost pit - composting by digging a pit for keeping compost materials underground. b. Compost heap - a compost pile. c. Basket composting - composting home garbage and garden and farm wastes in baskets half buried in garden plots.B. Inorganic FertilizersThis type of fertilizers consists of the following:1. Complete fertilizers - commercial fertilizers which contain the major elements needed by plants. These elements are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.2. Incomplete fertilizers - inorganic fertilizers which lack one or two major elements. Some inorganic fertilizers release nutrients fast, others slowly over a period of time.Hence, these two types of fertilizers are known as slow-release and fast-release fertilizers. 5

Inorganic fertilizers are available in different forms. a. Liquid - This type of fertilizer is popular because of ease application and fast response. b. Soluble powder - These are fertilizers in powder form which can be dissolved easily in water and applied as liquid fertilizers. c. Granular form - It is the most common and widely used fertilizer. The nutrients are compressed into beads. Slow release fertilizers are in this form. After knowing the types of fertilizers, let us now find out how much you have learned.Activity 2 Write examples of organic and inorganic fertilizers. A. Organic fertilizers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. B. Inorganic fertilizers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Self-check: Identify what each of the following statements is describing.__________1. Materials which when added to the soil, promote plant growth.__________2. Fertilizers derived from animal manure.__________3. Chemically manufactured fertilizers.__________4. A product of decomposition from the garden, plants and kitchen refuse.__________5. Composting method that is done by digging a pit and allowing materials to rot in it.__________6. The method of decomposition by forming a pile of compost materials and allowing them to rot for a certain period of time.__________7. Composting home garbage in baskets half-buried in the garden plots.__________8. Commercial fertilizers containing the three major elements. 6

__________9. Inorganic fertilizers that contain one or two major elements.__________10.An inorganic fertilizer, that is popular because of ease of application and quick response or result. Lesson 2 Elements of Fertilizers and their Functions After knowing the different types of fertilizers and their examples, your next lessonfocuses on elements found in these fertilizers. Since plant nutrients are mineral elements mostly found in soil, it is important to knowwhat these elements are and how they relate to plant growth. Plants need sixteen (16) nutrient elements. Thirteen of which come direct from the soilas mineral elements. These elements are not all needed by all plants, but are found to beessential. These essential elements may be required in small quantities or amounts. Mineral elements needed by plants in large amounts are called macroelements. Theseare nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) sulfur, calcium and magnesium.Microelements are boron, copper, chlorine, manganese, molybdenum, zinc and iron. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are obtained from carbon dioxide and water. They arenot mineral nutrients. .Macroelements and their effects on Plants 1. Nitrogen - plants grow vigorously. They are deep green, particularly the shoots and leaves. However, excessive use prolongs the growth period and delays crop maturity. 2. Phosphorus - this element enhances flowering, fruiting, root development and disease resistance. 3. Potassium - it is needed in starch formation, the movement of sugar in the plant, the formation of chlorophyll, the growth of flower and fruit coloring. You may wonder why commercial fertilizers are labeled with three groups of numbersseparated by hyphens. These standard numbers refer to the percentage of a particularnutrient in the fertilizer. Example is 15-10-20. The first number always refers to the percentage of nitrogen (N); the second, to thepercentage of phosphorus (P) in chemical form called phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5); and thethird number refers to the percentage of potassium (K) in chemical form called potash (K2O).This fertilizer sample label shows the representation of macro-elements in fertilizers. Now, work on the activity below to check your comprehension of the lesson presented. 7

Activity 3 Collect a sample label of fertilizer from magazines and newspapers. Then, identifythe macroelements found on the labels of fertilizers. Self-check: Enumerate the following:1. The first three macro or major elements2. At least 7 microelements Lesson 3 Methods of Fertilizer Application After learning the mineral elements in fertilizers, I am pretty sure you gained a lot ofknowledge on mineral elements as nutrients needed for plant growth and development. Your next lesson focuses on how fertilizers are to be applied in plants. Remember, as human beings, you need to see a physician to know what medicineyour body needs before taking it. Taking medicine without any prescription is not advisable.The same is true with plants. You need to know what mineral elements are needed,considering their physical appearance before applying fertilizers. The pechay plant forexample, is stunted in growth and its leaf petiole is violet in color. This shows that it needsnitrogenous fertilizer. Have you ever experienced applying fertilizer? Read further and find out how it isdone.Fertilizer Application There are many ways of applying inorganic fertilizer on your plants, as follows: Side dressing 8

1. Top dressing - The fertilizer is applied on growing crops. It should reach the roots through rainfall or irrigation.2. Side dressing - This is surface fertilizer application used on rows of plants such as corn or vegetable crops. The fertilizer is applied along one side or on both sides of the row over the root area of the plants. The fertilizer should be at a distance from the base of the plant because it can cause burning by contact. Application should be done before cultivation in order to cover the fertilizer with soil.3. Broadcasting - the fertilizer is scattered uniformly and mixed with the soil before planting. This is done manually or through mechanical spreaders.4. Foliar spray - the fertilizer is diluted in water and sprayed over the foilage/leaves of the growing plants. Plants absorb nutrients in small quantities through the leaves and stem.5. Drill method- another effective technique of applying fertilizers which is done by drilling holes in the root zone of a tree. The holes are then filled with the granular fertilizer, following the recommended rate, and then covered with soil. You have just learned how to apply fertilizers in various ways. Let us now see howmuch you have learned in this lesson.Self-check: Match Column B with Column A. Write only the letter of the correct answer on yournotebook.Column A Column B1. A method of fertilizer application a. Side dressing which applies fertilizers over growing b. Broadcasting plants. c. Drill method2. Surface application of fertilizers on d. Perforated hose rows of plants. 9 e. Top dressing3. Applying fertilizer by diluting it with f. Foliar water and spraying over growing plants.4. A hole is formed and then filled with granular fertilizer based on the recommended rate.5. Throwing the fertilizer uniformly or incorporating this with soil before planting.

LET’S SUMMARIZE Importance of fertilizers 1. It helps increase the yield of farm crops. 2. It improves soil condition. 3. It balances the acidity value of the soil. 4. It helps plants produce flowers, fruits and shoots. 5. It helps develop storage roots in root crops. There are two types of fertilizers. These are the organic and inorganic fertilizers. Organic fertilizer are derived from decaying plant and animal products such as bone meal, blood meal, manure, plant parts leftovers. Inorganic fertilizer are chemically manufactured using raw materials such as natural gas, phosphate rock, which are more concentrated compared to organic fertilizers. Macroelements found in fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, calcium, and magnesium. Microelements found in fertilizers are boron, copper, chlorine, manganese, molybdenum, zinc and iron. Methods of applying fertilizers are as follows: 1. Top dressing 2. Side dressing 3. Broadcasting 4. Foliar spray 5. Drill hole POSTTEST I. Encircle the letter of the correct answer. 1. A material that is added to the soil to promote plant growth. a. chemical b. composting c. fertilizer d. inorganic 10

2. Fertilizers derived from animals and plants. a. liquid b. organic c. manure d. compost3. Chemically produced fertilizers. a. inorganic b. organic c. natural d. compost4. Animal excreta used as fertilizers. a. liquid b. green manure c. manure d. granules5. The practice of fertilizing in which legumes are used. a. foliar b. drill hole c. green manure d. basket composting6. A material not needed in composting. a. manure b. weeds c. kitchen refuse d. Styrofoam7. The process of composting underground where materials rot. a. pit b. heap c. basket d. biological8. It is not a macroelement. a. Nitrogen b. Phosphorus c. Potassium d. Manganese9. Which of these fertilizers is popular due to ease of its application and quick response? a. granules b. liquid c. powder 11

d. slow release 10. The most common and popularly used commercial fertilizer? a. fast release b. compost c. organic d. granulesII. Enumerate the three major elements in fertilizers needed by plants. 1. 2. 3. ANSWER KEY InorganicPretest 12I.1. g2. e3. a4. h5. i6. b7. c8. d9. f10. jII.1. nitrogen2. phosphorus3. potassiumActivity 1 Organic Inorganic

a. Manure a. chemicals b. bone meal b. concentrated c. plant parts c. natural gas d. blood meal d. phosphate rock e. kitchen waste B. InorganicActivity 2 1. Complete 2. Incomplete A. Organic 3. Liquid 4. Granular 1. Manure 5. Powder 2. Compost 3. Green Manure 4. Basket Compost 5. GuanoLesson 1: Self-check1. Fertilizer2. Manure3. Inorganic4. Compost5. Compost pit6. Compost heap7. Basket composting8. Complete9. Incomplete10. LiquidLesson 2: Self-checkI.1. Nitrogen2. Phosphorous3. PotassiumII.1. Boron2. Zinc3. Manganese4. Molybdenum5. Copper6. Chlorine7. IronLesson 3: Self-check1. e 13

2. a3. f4. c5. bPosttestI.1. c2. b3. a4. c5. c6. d7. a8. d9. b10. dII.1. Nitrogen2. Phosphorus3. Potassium 14

PROJECT EASE Effective and Affordable Secondary EducationTECHNOLOGY AND LIVELIHOOD EDUCATION Agriculture and Fishery Arts 1

MODULE 7 BUREAU OF SECONDARY EDUCATION Department of Education DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue Pasig City Plant Crop Production First Year Module 7 Watch Out for Little Creatures! What this module is about Congratulations, dear student! This is your last module in plant production. Did youenjoy learning your modules in this unit? Were you able to learn a lot? I’m counting on youto do your best always! This module focuses on the little creatures that infest plants. Loss in crop productionis not only due to the problem of weeds but to the presence of insect pests, too. Growth ofplants can be affected if attacked by insect pests. Wide infestation is a problem to mostplant grower. This is why this module dwells on crop protection. 2

Insect pests are carriers of plant diseases. If they are not controlled, crop yield willdiminish. Hence, observe insect pests in your garden and control them before it’s too late. What to learn from this module In this module, you will know the different insect pests and the diseases common inplant production and how these are controlled. This module enables you to: 1. identify common plant pests and diseases; 2. explain how pests and diseases are classified; 3. discuss pest infestation; 4. identify and describe signs and symptoms of common plant diseases; and 5. explain how common plant pests and diseases are controlled. PRETESTDirections: Encircle the letter of the correct answer. 1. It is an insect pest that metamorphoses from nymph to a winged adult. a. aphid b. caterpillar c. scale insect d. borer 2. Which of the following insect pests is a larva of moths or butterflies? a. bugs b. hoppers c. cutworms d. beetles 3. It is a disease sometimes called seed rot. a. spot b. mildew c. mosaic d. damping-off 4. This is a disease caused by molds or tiny plants that do not control chlorophyll. a. bacteria b. fungus c. nematodes d. virus 5. This disease usually attacks pepper and turns its leaves dark brown with lesions. a. anthracnose b. bacterial spot 3

c. mosaic d. scab 6. It is a disease that curls the leaves of the plants and turns it in yellowish color. a. mosaic b. scab c. spot d. wilt 7. These are chewing insects, except one. a. borer b. cutworm c. flies d. potato weevil 8. Which of the following insects is not a sucking pest? a. aphid b. hopper c. squash bug d. scale insect 9. Bacteria are single-celled organisms not capable of manufacturing their own a. food b. carbohydrates c. chlorophyll d. elements 10. The use of living organisms such as spiders and praying mantis in controlling insect pests is known as a. mechanical method b. biological method c. chemical method d. cultural method Lesson 1 Common Plant Pests and Diseases Hello, dear student! In the previous module, you learned that weeds are breedingplaces of insect pests, which are carriers of plant diseases. Let us now find out how insectpests relate to diseases.Common Plant Pest 4