FIELD HUSBANDRY
LAND PREPARATION: Medium- fine seedbed is required
PLANTING: Onset of rain
Seeds rate : 5-7kg/hect, 2-3 se/hole
SPACING: 60CMx15cm
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
40-60kg/hect of nitrogenous fertilizer
25-40kg/hect of phosphorus fertilizer
Usually the amount depend on the soil fertility
WEEDING
Can be done by use of hand hoes or herbicides
The most dangerous weed is with weed (striga spp)
Witch weed: purple- flowering striga- striga haemonthica, Red-flowering striga- satriga asiation
CHARACTERISTICS
o Parasitic weed
o Its host is a sorghum plant
o Produce a lot of seed which can survive in the soil for more than 20days.
EFFECTS
o Sorghum plant produces a chemical substance called EXUDATE which stimulates germination of striga seeds.
o After germination, striga roots attach themselves on host through vascular bundles suck food material.
Control: Cultural method: Uprooting before flowering
o Mulching which suppress the growth of striga
o Irrigation as excess suppress the growth of striga
o Use of resistant varieties e.g. Serena, puto
o Crop rotation
o Planting trap crop e.g. ground nuts and cotton.
Chemical method: Use of sythentic stimulants which contain striga e.g. Ethylene C2H2 which when mixed with soil stimulates germination of used then die.
o Use of herbicides like (2-4I) Amine, MCPA (Pre- emergence)
PEST CONTROL
i. Sorghum shoots fly-Anterigona saciata
Damage: Sucking the cell sap of leaves causing drying of the plants
Control: Insecticides sprays e.g. Durban, Dethane
Others:
i. Stalk bore: Buseola fusia, bird’s e.g. Quelea quelea, wild pegion
Control: Scaring them away
o Planting resistant varieties e.g. Serena because they have bitter test, loose penides hence no support varieties with long glumes.
Diseases control
i. Leaf blight
ii. Leaf rust
iii. Black suit (Asali diseases): Sphacelia sorghum
Damage: Formation of hard dark grains replacing the grains
Harvesting
o This is done by cutting the head/ penicles
o Threshing by biting with the sticks or stumping by tractor wheels
o Winnowing is then done and drying to 10% moisture control content
Yield: 1000-2500kg/ hect depending on variety.
B. PRODUCTION OF LEGUME CROPS
Are plants which produce pods which contain high seeds?
COMMON/ KIDNEY BEANS
Scientific name: Phaselous vulgories
Origin: South and central Africa
Characteristics: Are used in the growth habit as related to vegetative and reproductive phases
a) Determinate growth habit: This is bush or dwarf type of growing none creeping.
o It has two phases i.e. vegetative and flowering phases, they stop together.
b) In determinate growth phases: This is fully climbing/ creeping habit.
o It has two phases but when flowers start the vegetative phase continues to grow.
c) Semi-determinate growth habit: This is a semi- climbing habit of growth.
Varieties
Canadian Wonder Bean (WCB).
Sumbawanga A and B
Selian Wonder Bean (SWB).
SUA 90, SUA 87
Kabaniwa
Maasai red
Lyamungo
ECOLOGY
Altitude: 900m-1200m a.s.l
Rainfall: 300-600mm at first weeks of growing stage.
Soils: Requires medium heavy looms, slightly acidic Ph 5.5-7.
FIELD HUSBANDRY
Land preparation: The land should be weed free either flat or rose.
Planting: Is either by hand or machine at depth of 2.5-5cm.
o Seed rate: For small varieties-50kg/hect, for large varieties e.g. Lyamungo 85 is 80kg/hect.
Spacing: 50cmx10cm
NB: When intercropping spacing should be increased.
Weeding: Timely weeding is done 40days after germination.
Fertilizer application: Since bean plants have symbiotic relation with Rhyzobium bacteria then 20-30kgs of NPK/hect can be applied during planting or 15-20 ton of farmyard manure can be mixed with soil during preparation of land.
Pest control
i. Stem maggot: Ophionia spensellela
Symptoms: It bores through the leaf blade or petiole and moves down to the stem. Up to the ground level and starts to destroy the stem tissues and cause down to the stem base. Roots will not die.
Control
Early planting.
Use of chemicals e.g. sumithion, Malathion
Sees dressing by Aldrin
ii. Bean aphids: Aphids fabal
Damage: Sucking plant sap transmitting bean enosaic virus.
Control: Chemical sprays e.g. Sumithian.
iii. Maruea: Maruea testuralis
Damage: They cause destruction of seeds in the pods.
Control: Application of insecticides during flowers period e.g. Durban, dethane.
iv. American boll worm: Heliothis amigera
Damage: Destroy seeds in the pods.
Control: Chemical sprays e. g. Sumithion, malathion.
Diseases control
1) Bean rust: Fungal disease by Uromyces upendiculate
Symptoms: Development of small whitish round spots surrounded by narrow yellow bands causing premature defloat.
Control
o Crop rotation
o Destruction of plant residues
o Use of resistant varieties e.g. CWB, SWB
2) Bean Anthracnose: Fungal diseases by Collentricum Lindemethianum
Symptoms: Dark brown sunken lesions on the leaves, stems and pods.
Control
o Use of disease free seeds.
o Use of disease free seeds.
o Crop rotation
3) Paternal blight: fungal disease by Pseudonomus spp
Symptoms: Water soaked lesions which dry up and become brown and finally defoliation.
Control
Use of resistant varieties.
Use of diseases free seeds.
Crop rotation.
4) Angular leaf spot: Fungal diseases by coryne bacteria spp
Symptoms: Sudden wilting of the plant
Control: As above
5) Bacterial wilt: Fungal disease by phasecisapopsin griseola
Symptoms: Formation of spots within the vein and pods which are brownish.
Control: As above
6) Bean mosaic virus
Control
o Use of resistant varieties.
o Crop rotation
o Use of disease free seeds.
o Destruction of crop remains.
Harvesting: Done by either hand picking from the field or uprooting the heaping and later biting by sticks, winnowing and drying.
Yield: 670-2500kg/hectre.
SOYA BEANS
Scientific name: Glycine max
Origin: South East Africa
Distribution: Northern and Sourthen regions and some parts of Morogoro
Description: Soya bean is an annual crop which is good source of carbohydrates, proteins and oil. Uses: Human feed, oil source, livestock feed (soya bean cake)
Limitation: Need prolonged cooking, have bitter test, have poor digestibility
Varieties: Human series e.g. 11/H 137, 3H/1 and BOSSIER.
ECOLOGY
Altitude: 900-2000m a.s.l
Rainfall: 500-900mm per annum.
Temperature: 18c-30c optimum
Soils: PH 6-6.5
FIELD HUSBANDRY
Land preparation: Same as common beans.
Planting: The planting operation should be timed such that the crop receives enough moisture for growing stage and mature at drying stage.
Spacing: 60cmx10cm-hand planting, 75cmx10cm-mechanics of planting.
Fertilizer application: 20-30kg/ hact of nitrogenous fertilizer, 20-60kg/ hact of phosphatic fertilizer during planting.
Weeding: Careful weeding is needed within the first 5 weeks.
Pest control
i. Leaf spots: Fungal disease caused by Cepharia Kikichii
Symptoms: Formation of spots causing defoliatin.
Control: Use of resistant varieties, Destruction of crop residues.
ii. Soya bean mosquic virus
Symptoms and Control: As common beans
Harvesting: Ready for harvesting after 80-125days by picking or uprooting and later biting by stick.
Yield: 500-1200 kg/ hect
C. PRODUCTION OF ROOT CROPS
CASSAVA
Scientific name: Manilot esculentum
Origin: S. America
Description:
o It is a drought resistant crop.
o It has got high biological efficiency for crop production.
o Little labour is required during production.
o Cultivation and processing is easy.
o It is capable of remaining in the soil for a long time
Disadvantages
o It has got low nutritive value it contains 0.7-2.7% protein, 62%H2O, 32%-35% Carbohydrate.
o It is poisonous under certain conditions, as the tuber contains cynogenic glucoside of which under improper preparation it changes to linamarian which is toxic.
o Produce low yields at more than 1900m above sea level.
Varieties:
Amani series, UMS (Ukinguru Mahihot Selection)
Bitter varieties: Liongo, -Ukerewe, -Njema, -Binti Moshi, – Dododa, -Binti Simba
Sweet varieties: Msitu Zanzibar -Kigoma -Sukari
ECOLOGY
Altitude: Less than 1500 a.s.l
Rainfall: 500-700mm per annum.
Soil: Deep free from stones, not very fertile PH 5-8.
FIELD HUSBANDRY
Land preparation: It is done by ploughing and harrowing, seed beds can be flat or ridges.
Planting materials: Stem cutting are used for propagation.
o Seeds are used only in case for breeding.
o Cutting should be 30-45 long taken at the centre of the stem and 2.5-4cm thick.
o Cutting should be taken from plants of at least 10months old and disease free.
Time: Enough moisture should be available during planting.
o Common way of planting is at slanting angle of about 45c and nodes jointing up.
Fertilizer application: Application of phosphatic fertilizer stimulates roots and starch accumulation.
Weeding: Should be done in the early stages.
o Early thing up is done during weeding.
Pest control
i. Tobacco whitefly: Bemiccia tobacco
Effect: the nymph sucks up the cell sap and transmitting cassava mosaic virus disease.
ii. Cassava white: Mononychellus spp
Damage: They feed on young leaves during dry season.
iii. Cassava mealy bug: Phenacocus manihot
Control
Plant quarantine
Use of resistant varieties
Destruction of the affected plant
Biological control
Diseases control
1) Cassava Mosaic: Viral disease
Symptoms: Crumpling and Evisting of the leaves which show yellow patches i.e. molting of leaves.
o Stunted growth
o Reduced yield
Control: Use of resistant
Varieties
o Use of clean plating materials
o Destruction of affected plants
2) Cassava bacterial wilt: Xerthronomus manihot
Symptoms: Small angular, water soaked lesions on the leaves
o Orange yellow fluid comes from leaf petals
o Defoliation
Control: Use of resistant
Varieties
Destroy affected plants.
Harvesting
o Sweet varieties mature 8-9 months.
o Bitter varieties mature between 12-18 months.
o Harvesting is done by uprooting the whole plant or by piece, meal for domestic consumption.
Yield: 10-25tones/hect
SWEET POTATOES
Scientific name: Ipomea batatus
Characteristics
o It is a root crop
o It is a drought resistant crop
ECOLOGY
o Altitude: 0-2400 a.s.l
o Rain fall: 750mm and above
o Temperature: Warm and cool climate are suitable for its production
o Soils: Can be grown in a wide range of soils. Varieties: SPN/01, SPP/41, SPS/44
Planting varieties: Potato rims (strips) of 30-45cm long
NB: If planted is high, proteins soils, it will result to large watery tubers called TUMBOS FIELD
HUSBANDRY
Land preparation: Mound or ridges should prepared for planting
Planting: A pial piece of vines are used as cuttings.
The pieces are planted at an angle with1/2-3/2 of the length buried.
Spacing: 90-25 between ridges/rows, 30-60 between vines.
Fertilizer: Farm yard manure is the only manure found to give support, response.
Pest control
i. Potato weevil: Sxlas spp
Damage: Bitterness on the crops caused by larvae causing discoloration of the crop.
Control: Crop rotation
Chemical spray e.g. malathian
Diseases control
Virus B and whitelfly –transmitted virus
Symptoms: Stunted growth, excessive branching of the plant and tubers have hard sports. Control: Planting improved varieties
Harvesting:
o Digging by hard hoe to uproot the tubers
o In case of poor storage, few are harvesting at a time.
o It can go from 4-6 months ready to harvest.
Yield: 25-80 tons/hect
D. PRODUCTION OF OIL CROPS
GROUND NUTS
Scientific name: Arachs hypogeal
Family: Leguminaceae
Characteristics: Leguminous crop which sets pods underground which can be eaten row or cooked. Seeds can be crushed to the processed to produce edible oil residues can be used as
Livestock concentrates feed. Seeds contain 40% oil and 30% erud protein.
Varieties:
ii. Virgin runner types which have large seeds e.g. Asirya Mwitura.
iii. Spanish-Valencia erect types which have smaller seeds e.g. Bukene Bold.
Runner types mature longer 5months while erect type is early maturity 3months.
ECOLOGY
o Altitude: low- medium altitude.
o Rainfall: Minimum rainfall of 300-500mm
o Temperature: Warm temperature
o Soils: Well drained loose sandy soils rich in la as heavy clay soil hinder pod formation and harvesting is difficult.
FIELD HUSBANDRY
Planting: Areas with high sand soils ridges or mounds should be used to help conserve moisture.
Spacing: 50-60cmx10cm (erect type) 60cmx15cm (runner type)
Fertilizer: ISP 200kg/hect is applied along the row at planting time, FYM can be applied during1 land preparation.
Weeding: Within 2-6 weeks after planting groundnuts should be kept free from weeds.
Pest control
i. Leaf caters e.g. Beetles and Caterpillars
ii. Leaf suckers e.g. Aphids and Thrips
Control: Spraying of insecticides e.g. Dursban, Dimethoate, Endosulphan. Symptoms: Defoliation usually near maturity.
• Disease control
1) Leaf1 spot: Fungal disease by Cereospara vachidieda
2) Ground nut fast: Fungal disease by Uromyces spp
Symptoms: Brown spots on the leaves.
Control: Sprays dithane M4S
• Harvesting
o The crop is ready for harvest when the leaves turn yellow and Fail off.
o The whole plant is dug out and pods are removed by hand and sun dried.
o The crop should be stored as whole pods so as to resist insect attack.
SUN FLOWER
Scientific name: Helianthus annuus
Characteristics: Is grown for its seeds which contain 25-50% oil.
• Sunflower seed cake is a livestock feed.
Varieties: There are a number of varieties distinguished by their colour
Black or white, grey stripes or dark stripes
Most common area is record black, Jupiter white
ECOLOGY
o Altitudes: grows well in coastal areas up to 2600m a.s.l
o Rainfall: 750mm is more ideal but dry weather is needed during maturity
FIELD HUSBANDRY
o Land preparation: fine tilth should be prepared
o Planting: Planted by hand or machine at spacing of 75cmx10cm or 75cmx30cm
o Fertilizers: Phosphatic fertilizer of FYM is applied during land preparation.
o Weeding: Is necessary during early stages but when plants reach 90cm of height weeding is not necessary as they suppress weeds.
o Pest control
i. Birds
ii. American boll worm
Damage: They destroy/ damage seeds
Control: Scare them away
o Apply suitable insecticides e.g. Endosulphan.
• Disease control
These include:
1) Leaf spots
2) Leaf rust
3) . White blister
4) Stem rot
5) Root rot
Control: Destruction of control residues
o Crop rotation
• Harvesting
Cut the plant when the disc florest turns brown and the back of the head turn yellow.
Dry the heads in the sun, thresh the seed by beating the heads using stucks
E. PRODUCTION OF FIBRE CROPS
COTTON
Scientific name: Gossypium horsutum
Characteristics
• Cotton fruits are called bolts which produce fibre called LINI as well as they posses seeds.
• Cotton seeds contain edible oil while the cake is rich in protein and is fed to livestock.
Varieties : Most were bred at UKIRIGURU of which most of them called UK or UKA varieties have different names depends on production and length fibres e.g. long varieties and short fibre varieties
ECOLOGY
• Altitude: Below 1400m a.s.l with warm climate.
• Rainfall: Requires 25mm per month 1st and 2nd, 3rd and 4th. After that very little rainfall is required so as to allow cotton lint to mature.
• Soils: Wide range of soils is favourable for cotton production except on for
i. Wide logged soils
ii. Soils which are pH below S
FIELD HUSBANDRY
• Land preparation: Is done by hand, oxen or machine
• Planting: Is done by hand where by 6-10 seeds are planted per hole
• Spacing: Usually depends on area of production in Western Tanzania cotton growing areas 90cmx15cm
• Heavy soil areas: 150cm ridges with two rows spacing at 45cm apart are used within 45cm.
In coastal areas the spacing of 90cmx30cm is used
Thinning: When plants reached 10m tall, uprooting (thinning) of excess of weak 2 seedlings is done leaving seedling on Western zone and 1 seedling in coastal zone. It is done at the time of first weeding.
Weeding: Is done either by hand or use of chemical herbicides e.g. OR Is done at thinning stage and later separated as seen in nursery
Fertilizers:
o A large quantity of FYM can be applied to the soil during land preparation if available.
o 125 kg/ hect of SSP (Single super phosphate) during planting can be applied.
o 6weeks after planting top dressing of SA/CAN fertilizers at 12kg/ hect can be applied.
o Usually after first weeding1 and thinning.
Pest control
Those affecting cotton bolls: American, pink and red bolls worms, Cotton strainers, Aphids, seed bugs. Those affecting roots: Root knot nematode, mites.
Others: False cooling moth, Caridea, Jassida, Cygns
Control:
Insecticides at least 6 times e.g. endosulphan, sumithion, thiodan etc starting 2 weeks after planting.
Destruction of crop residues right after harvesting by uprooting and burning (destruction/ control of boll worms)
Disease control
1) Bacterial blight: After leaves, stems or bolls showing water patches water which later on turn brown and dry up.
Control: Destruction of crop residues.
Seed dressing by copper fungicides.
2) Fusarium wilt: Stunted growth is experienced, leaves become yellow and develop brown patches between the veins.
Control: Plant resistant varieties e.g. UK series
3) Venticulum wilt: Fungal diseases resembling above in symptoms and control.
Harvesting: Is done by hand picking
NOTE:-Do not break the twigs or leaves and mix with the lint.
Do not pick lint in wet weather.
After picking sort the lint to remove twigs and leaves or any dirt
F. PRODUCTION OF MEDICINAL CROPS
TOBACCO
Scientific name: Nicotima tubacum
Characteristics
o 1.2-2.4m depending on varieties
o 18-30 leaves per plant depending on variety
o 10,000 seeds gram contain 1-8%nicotine.
o Life span is 4-41/2months. Types
o Flu cured tobacco
o Fire cured tobacco
o Sun dried
o Nicotine tobacco
ECOLOGY
o Altitude: Medium altitude 100-1500m a.s.l
o Temperature: Warm temperature of 27c.
o Rainfall: Well distributed 38mm for 16weeks after transplanting.
o Soil: Sand soil with ph5.5-6.5(well drained)
o Distribution: Flue cured- Kesi (Kutsang 5-1), white gold, NC95 and fire cured-Heavy Western
FIELD HUSBANDRY
Tobacco is propagated by seeds, but the seeds are so minute that direct sowing isn’t possible
Nursery preparations:
o Selection of nursery site
o Well protected from wind
o Near a source of water
o Well drained soil
Preparation
o Preparation of seed beds (raised) with 1.2×2.3m measurement.
o Seed bed sterilization is done by burning the seed and injection (fumigation) using EDB (Ethyl Dibromicte) or MB
o After 21days the seed bed is watered and NPK is mixed with1 soil (using a rake) 2.5kg/ bed of N6P18K6.
o Sowing is done by mixing seeds with water and watering along the surface using the cane which must have a rose.
o Seeds will drop together with water through the rose.
o Sprinkle sterilized sand to over the seeds and then special well proned mulch and is removed after germination.
o Nursery site should be fenced.
Hardening off: After 4weeks, 5 seedlings are pruned so as to facilitate strong stems and reduce growth speed.
o Frequency of watering is reduced to once per day so as to harden the seedlings adopt field condition after transplanting
Transplanting: Well prepared ridges are used spaced 1m apart.
o Seed beds are watered before uprooting the seedling.
Time: Usually it is recommended to transplant a few days 1-2 weeks before the onset of rainfall
Spacing
o Holes made 54-59cm apart are used (flue cured) 1.06×1.06m- 0.9×0.9m
o Water mixed with chemicals (e.g. Aldrin) is put in each hole so as to protect seedlings from soil and micro organism e.g. nematodes, earthworms etc
o Uprooted seedlings are then transplanted.
Weeding: Tobacco is attacked by many insect and diseases thus weeding (timely and clean) is highly required
Fertilizer: Compound fertilizers are applied within a week of transplanting NPK or top dressing of nitrogen fertilizer according to the recommendation to be done. *130-200kg/hact of phosphatic fertilizer.
Topping: Is the removal of flowers as soon as they are seen at least 5 plants have started flowering.
o This ennglish-swahili/courage” target=”_blank”>courages formation of bigger and heavy leaves.
NB: This operation stimulates SUCKERS which have to remove i.e. desuckering.
Pest control
i. Nematodes
ii. Termites
iii. Crickets iv)Cutworms
iv. Ants
v. Whiteflies
Most of them affect seedlings in the nursery.
Control
i. Proper seedling sterilization and fumigation to control nematodes
ii. Crop rotation to control nematodes
iii. Malathion sprays to control white flies.
iv. Other any insects can be controlled by Aldrin and Dieldrin in nusery bed during sowing
Disease control
1) Damping off: Fungal disease symptomized by shivering of seedling shoots just above soil surface.
Control: Use of copper fungicides.
2) Frog eye: Fungal disease symptomized by development of spots which are pale centre surrounded by a dark margin.
Control
o Early planting
o Little application of N fertilizer
o Removal of affected leaves
o Copper fungicides in nursery
3) Brown spots: Fungal disease symptomized by development of circular brown spots on leaves.
Control
Early planting
Removal of affected leaves
4) Anthracnose: Fungal disease symptomized by water saked patches which later turn brown or white with dark margins.
Control: Fungicides sprays e.g. Zinet, Macozeb, Thiram.
5) Leaf curt: Viral diseases characterized by thick leaf veins which then harden and curl.
Control: Destruction of crop residues after harvest.
6) Mosaic virus: Viral disease showing yellow matter
Control
Observe nursery cleanliness.
Avoid smoking in nursery
7) Bossette: Viral diseases characterized by started growth with small leaves
Control
o Kill aphids in nursery using insecticides.
o Destroy crop residues.
Harvesting
o Fire cured tobacco: harvest when leaf tips and edges turn down ward with leaf blade become yellowish scattered.
o Flue cured tobacco: harvest when leaves become lighter in colour and midribus become white.
NB: Ripening of leaves starts at the base of the plant upwards.
o Curing: this is oxidation of chlorophyll breaking down starches and sugar in leaves. It is done in special structures called BARNS.
o Flue curing: consists of fine plane and pipe leading at the base of the barn called flue of which when heated transmit up the metal pipe which dries up the leaves.
Procedures:
i. Filling in the leaves in barn, after tying the leaf petides on sticks using strings from the top to the bottom of barn.
ii. Yellowing: by lighting the fire and spreading wet sticks to create humidity after closing all barns vents 32-38c.
iii. Fixing and drying by openings the vents and increase temp to 49c for 24hrs and raise further to 30c-79c for drying of midrib after closing the vents.
iv. Cooling by opening all vents to allow air to soften the leaves.
Fire curing process
i. Filling leaves in the fire curing barn
ii. Make a fire place in a pit on barn floor
iii. Yellow the leaves by hanging the leaves in the barn without any firs for 4-7 days
iv. Light the fire and keep it on for 3-6 days a week.
NB: Ensure that the fine gives a lot of smoke but little heat.