CROP PRODUCTION
ANNUAL FIELD CROPS PRODUCTION
Meaning of field crops: Non-horticultural grown for economic importance.
Categories:
a) Cereals: These are crops bearing seeds which are called grains-They include; paddy, maize, millet, wheat, sorghum.
b) Legumes: These includes: Kidney beans, soya beans, cow peas, pigeon peas
c) Root crops: Cassava, round potatoes, sweet potatoes.
d) Oil crops: Ground nuts, sunflower, simsim.
e) Fibre crops: Cotton, sisal.
f) Medicinal crops: Tobacco.
g) Beverage crops: Coffee, tea.
h) Spice crops: Cloves and ginger.
Roles:
1) Food supply
2) Supply of industrial raw material
3) Sources of employment
4) Foreign exchange
5) Improving living standard-Health wise, Clothing, Economic wise.
A. PRODUCTION OF CEREAL CROP
MAIZE
Scientific name: Lea maize
Origin: Mexico Family: Graminae
Characteristics
Height depends on the variety but 1.2m-2.5m
Fibrous root system and parallel leaves, wind pollinated.
Both male and female parts are on the female (male is same plant). NB: Upper part (male) Tussels lower part (female) –sill (cob)
Variety:
i. Hybrid varieties
a. Single cross
A*B} e.g. H511, H611, H612
A B}
b. Three way cross
AXB}
ABXC}
e.g. H632, H603
ABC}
c. Double cross
AXB CXD
AB CD
ABCD
ii. Open pollinated varieties (composites)
ECOLOGY
Altitude: 0-2400m a.s.l
Temperature: grows in wide range of temperature but hybrids in low temp while composites in high temp
Rainfall: Well distributed amount of rainfall 850-1500mm is preferred.
Soil: Well drained fertile soil of PH 5-7 is ideal.
FIELD HUSBANDRY
Land preparation
Bush cleaning, ploughing and harrowing creating moderate fine soil
Planting: Early and timely planting is essential because of avoiding diseases and pests.
o Use of nitrogen flush with depth of planting 2.5-5cm deep.
Spacing: Different between varieties, soil fertility and rainfall availability
Generally 90cmX30cm- normal/ optimum conditions, 75cmX25cm-highly fertilizer soils
o Two seeds/ hole, seed rate 20-25 kg/hector
Fertilizer application: Depends on soil analysis recommendation but generally.
At planting- organic manure, in organic manure, phosphate 40-60kg p202/h hectors
After weeding- Top dressing of nitrogenous fertilizer is done 75-100kg of SA/hect. Done by hand or machine.
Weeding: Proper and timely weeding is necessary to reduce weed plant competition are reduce risks of pests.
o Good weeding should be when the plant is at 4-5 leaf stage at knee height.
o Weeding can be done manually, mechanically or chemically using 2-4D and Altrazine2.5-5 litre/ hect fore past emergence broad leaf killer and paraquant, gramoxine, cesaprim, round up as non – selective pre emergence.
Pest control
Maize stalk borer- Buseula fueca
Damage symptoms: Caterpillar feeds on young tender leaves and stalk resulting into dead heart symptoms, windowing of leaves and stunted growth with poor seed setting
Control
Early planting
Timely weeding
Burning of crop residues
Chemicals e.g. thiodan dust or spray after 1st weeding
Maize leaf hopper- Licadulina ubla
Symptoms
They stuck the leaves causing maize streak diseases
Yellow parallel lines along1 the leaves are seen impairing chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
Control
early planting
Use of resistant varieties e.g. Kito and Kamani.
American boll worm: Heliothis amigera Symptoms
Caterpillar’s boreholes in the cobs causing rusting and destructing of seed/ kernels.
Control
Early planting
Burning crop residues
Use of chemicals e.g. Thiodan
Cut worms: Agaratus spp
Symptoms
Damage seedlings as they emergence
Control
Chemical spray e.g. Thiodan or Aldrin 40
Army worms: Spodoptera execipta
Damage
They eat the whole plant.
Control: Use of chemicals e.g. Sumithion, EC spray, thiodan spray.
Aphids: Rhaprolosiphure maydis
Symptoms
They are greensh/ brownish insects feed by sucking the plant under nearth the leaves.
Control
o Insecticide spray
DISEASES CONTROL
i. Maize leaf streak: Viral diseases caused by virus transmitted by leaf hopper.
Symptoms
o Yellow/ White along the leaf veins, chlorophyll are destroyed and started growth.
Control
o Early planting
o Use of resistant varieties
o Uprooting affected plants
o Crop rotation
ii. Maize leaf rust: Fungal disease caused by Puccina sorghum
Control
o Use of resistant varieties varieties e.g. IMVI, Staha, Katumani .
o Early planting.
HARVESTING
o When the crop has reached 18%-25% moisture content it is for harvesting.
o This can be detected when the cob harvesting farming black colour near the leaf strength
o The harvested cob maize is further dried in well prepared cribs.
o Shelling is later done when at 11%-12% moisture seed dressing is then done before storage using such chemicals e.g. Actelic.
MARKETING: Is done through local markets.
RICE
Scientific name: Oryza sativa
Origin: India (Indo -China)
Distribution in Tanzania
Mbeya – Mbarali, Kyela
Morogoro – Dakawa, Ifakara,
Kilombero Coast – Ruvu, Bagamoyo, Rufiji
Kilimanjaro – Lower Moshi Irrigation
Shinyanga/ Tabora – Maronga Irrigation
Varieties: Afaa Mwanza- Kilomber, Sindano
Types
i. Indica characteristics
o Long and weak
o Drought resistant
o Low tillering capacity
o Have strong arma
o Grains are long and narrow
o High amylase content which result to be less glutamic
ii. Japanica characteristics
o Short and steady stems
o Short and broad grains
o High tillering ability
o Low amylase content resulting to be more glutamic
ECOLOGY
Altitude: 1200m a.s.t
Temperature: Require high temperature and prolonged sunshine 20-30c.
Rainfall: its hydrophytes hence require 3-4 months of well distributed 800mm rainfall. FIELD HUSBANDRY
Land preparation
Usually done at the end of wet season to allow decomposition of straws
For irrigated rise the field should be level to allow easy nglish-swahili/distribution” target=”_blank”>distribution of water.
The field should be free from weeds. Planting
Direct planting either broadcasting or dibbling, Transplanting: Use of nursery propagation.
Advantages of using Nursery
Lower seed rate used.
Better spacing control.
Better weed control.
Better management of initial stages.
Shortens the field period of which the plant will remain. Disadvantages
Require high labour during transplanting.
Require a lot of water and clearing during transplanting
Spacing
During transplanting 18-20cm between two rows and 10-15cm within the rows
Water management for irrigated rice: Irrigation channel should be kept clean.
o Low water level should be maintained soon after germination in the ready weeds increased as crops get high
o When herbicides and fertilizer are applied, periodic drainage is important to be done.
1st planting/ transplanting
2nd at tilling
3rd at mode elongation
4th booking/ provide formation
Fertilizer application: 60-120kg of nitrogenous fertilizer/ hect should be applied on the above periods
Phosphorus 45-60kgs P2 05 /hect of ISP, DSP, NPK
Weeding
Types of weeds
o Bam yard grass- Echinocina corona
o Guinea fowl grass- Proltbrolia spp
o Wild rice- Oryza bathii, Oryza porictata
o Nut grass- Cyperus rotundus
Control
o Manual uprooting
o Herbicides e.g. Beragram 4l/ hact
o Use of weed free seeds
o Use of clean planting material
o Crop rotation
o Cleaning of irrigation channels
Diseases control
Ride Blast: Fungal diseases caused by Pycularia Oryzae
Symptoms: Formation of spindle shaped lesion on leaves and broken neck symptoms in panides
Control
o Use of resistant varieties
Spray fungicides
Cultural practices e.g. uprooting infected plants.
Seed treatment before planting using organ chlorine compound.
Pest control
i. Army worms
ii. White eyed shoot fly- Dropsith thoracia
Damage: Feed on the centre of the stalk
Control: Chemical sprays e.g. Diazon, sumithion, Malathion, rogor.
iii. Maize cob worm: Maesasmia trupesalies.
Damage: Roll the leaves
Control: Insecticides sprays e.g. Durbane dethane
iv. Stalk borers: Buseda fusca
v. Queleaquelea: Searing, quelea box chemical.
Harvesting
o Done when crop is fully matured and leaves have partially through hand or machine. WHEAT
Scientific name: Triticum durum
Distribution in Tanzania: Arusha and Mbeya
Varieties:
Variety breeding depends on the following factors
o High yielding
o Early maturing
o Diseases resistance
o Straw strength
o Baking quality
ECOLOGY
Altitude: Wheel prefers high altitude areas of elevation 1500-2000m a.s./
Rainfall: Well distributed of about 900-1500mm
Temperature: Cold weather is highly preferred.
Soils: Well drained and fertile soil.
FIELD HUSBANDRY
LAND PREPARATION
o Clearing and burning of previous season crop residues and straws.
o Preparation of moderately fine tilth.
PLANTING
o Done by broadcasting or drilling and seed covering must be ensured. Done during onset of rains
o Seed rate of 1020 kg/ hect
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
Is done by broadcasting or during land preparation by, mixing the soil with1 organic. Inorganic fertilizer 200kg/hect of (AN) applied at planting and at tillering.
NB: Most of sourthen parts of Tanzania soils are deficient in Cu and Ma, Hence fertilizer rich in Mn and Cu are essential. Cu: 20-40kg/ hect of Cu SO4 at 5years interval and Mn: 35-40 kg/ hect of Mn SO4 during planting.
WEEDING: Can be done manually by hand hoe or uprooting OR Chemically use of MCPA=1.5-3l/hect (post- emergence) and S10MP: 3l/ hact (pre-emergence)
DISEASES CONTROL
i. Leaf rust- Puccinia app
ii. Leaf butches- Septeria spp
Symptoms
o Brown / yellow patches on leaves
o Grey- Brown colour spots in plants leading to premature death.
Control
o Use of resistant varieties
o Crop rotation
o Avoid dose season.
iii. Leaf blight- Helminth trichoistoma(fungi)
Symptoms
o Development of brownish lesions. Control
o Use of resistant varieties.
Yield: 2-3 tonnes/ hacts under good management
FINGER MILLET
Scientific name: Elensine cororana
Origin: East Africa
Varieties: Early millet (14-15 weeks to mature), Late millet (16-24 weeks to mature)
Characteristics
It can be stored for a long time than any other cereal crop.
Cannot be penetrated by storage pests due to small size of seeds
Can dry quickly
ECOLOGY
Altitude: 900-2400m a.s.l Rainfall: 900m per annum. Temperature: 18c-27c
Soils: Well drained fertile soil
FIELD HUSBANDRY
LAND PREPARATION
Weed free and fine seed bed is required
PLANTING
Should be done in the onset of rains
Is done by drilling and thinned to a spacing of 5cm within the row.
Drill rows should be spaced 25cm
WEEDING
Is done together during thinning when the plant is 7cm long
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
20-25kg/hect of Nitrogen fertilizer
20kg/hect of phosphate fertilizer
DISEASES CONTROL
Leaf spot: Cerceporta phacimaculani(fungi) Damage: Formation of sports on leaves
Control: Use of resistance varieties e.g. Serere 107, serere 2A-9
PEST CONTROL
Birds, grasshopper, locust
HARVESTING
o When heads get ripe by cutting the further dried in a cob and then threshed, winnowed and stored for selling
YIELD: 250-1100KG
SORGHUM
Scientific name: Sorghum vulgare
Origin: Africa, mainly found in Tanzania in Dodoma and Shinyanga Distribution: Well suited in scarcity rainfall areas e.g. Dodoma and Shinyanga
ECOLOGY
o Altitude: 900-2500m a.s.l
o Rainfall: 300-500mm per annum
o Temperature: 22c-29c
o Soil: can be grown in wide range os soil even poor soils.
CHARACTERISTICS: Which make sorghum to survive in low moisture?
o Morphologically, sorghum reduces leaf area by folding leaves.
o Have got extensive root system and have got checked growth.
Varieties
Serena: resistant to birds, diseases and seeds.
Dubbibora: Adopted to high rainfall areas and colour is light red.
Tegemeo and Lulu: White grains