Crop Production - Lecture 2

Flashcards covering key concepts from Lecture 2 on Crop Production, including cropping patterns, cropping systems, patterns, cropping practices, integrated farming, organic and agroforestry concepts, growing media, fertilisers, application methods, nutrient deficiency, pesticides, disease management, and common diseases.

What is cropping pattern?

An arrangement of crops in a particular land area.

What are the objectives of designing a cropping pattern?

Efficient utilization of orchard space and resources; maximum solar radiation interception for fruit quality and yield; minimize competition between trees by proper spacing; compatibility with management practices.

Describe the square cropping pattern.

Plants are at right angles to each other; every unit of four plants forms a square; easy to layout in the field.

Describe the triangular cropping pattern.

Trees are planted like the square system, but alternate rows (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) are midway between the 1st, 3rd, 5th rows, providing more open space for intercrops.

Describe the hexagonal cropping pattern.

Trees are planted at the corners of equilateral triangles; six trees form a hexagon with a tree at the center; accommodates about 15% more trees than the square system, but is harder to layout and intercrop.

Describe the rectangular cropping pattern.

Plot is divided into rectangles; trees are planted at the four corners of rectangles in straight rows; intercultural operations can be done in two directions.

What is a cropping system?

Agriculture crops are planted and managed in one or a combination of systems: mono-cropping, mixed cropping, rotational/relay cropping, cash cropping.

What is mono-cropping?

A single crop species is planted in an area at a time; crops are managed until harvest and then re-planted.

What short-term crops are typical for mono-cropping?

Paddy, maize, peanut, soybean, or tapioca planted as sole crops and harvested in 3–6 months before replanting.

What crops are commonly grown under plantation-scale mono-cropping?

Perennial crops such as rubber, oil palm, cocoa, or coffee planted on a large scale and managed as a sole crop.

What is the lifespan of mono-crops in plantation systems?

maintained for 25–30 years or until economic yields decline, then felled and re-planted with same or new clones/varieties.

What is mixed cropping?

Two or more crop species are planted in an area at a time or season, arranged in alternate rows or orchard-style, can include perennial and annual species.

Give examples of mixed cropping.

Maize with hill/dry-land paddy; peanut inter-row with tapioca; different fruit species plus spices and vegetables; coconut with fruit trees plus wet paddy.

What is rotational/relay cropping?

One crop is planted in a season and a different crop is planted in the next season; normally short-term crops; practiced by smallholders.

What is the sequence of rotation in the example sequence?

1st cycle: Maize; 2nd cycle: Groundnut; 3rd cycle: Vegetables (Okra/Chilies); 4th cycle: Tapioca; includes a legume as green manure and uses crops with different root depths.

What are the advantages of crop rotation?

Reduces pest and disease outbreaks; weed suppression; enables nutrients from different soil depths to be utilized by successive crops.

What is crop rotation in Paddy fields (wet paddy)?

Wet paddy planted in the rainy season; off-season crops (tobacco, roselle, long bean, chilies) planted in dry periods; cattle may graze in off-season.

What is cash cropping?

Short-term crops planted between rows of a main perennial crop to provide quick income; typically harvests in 3–5 months; usually only during first 2–3 years after main crop is planted.

What is the purpose of cash cropping for farmers and the country?

Provides quick cash income for smallholders and can contribute to exports; helps offset vegetable prices.

Which crops are commonly used as main crops in cash cropping?

Perennial crops such as oil palm, rubber, coconut, cocoa, and fruit crops.

Which crops are commonly grown as cash crops between main crops?

Maize, pineapple, groundnut, banana, ginger, and vegetables like okra, chili, long bean.

What is integrated farming?

A system where crop species, animals/poultry, and fish rearing are combined for more sustainable agriculture; may include processing, mushrooms, agro-tourism, etc.

What is agroforestry?

Inter-planting industrial crops, food crops, fruit trees, and forest species; livestock may be included; practices vary by farmer.

What crops and components are used in agro-forestry?

Fruit trees (salak, durian, mangosteen, jackfruit, etc.); landscape plants (palms, ixora, heliconia); livestock (goats, sheep, dairy/beef cattle); freshwater fish (tilapia, carps).

What is growing media?

A substance through which roots grow; can be native soil or artificial media such as peat moss, coco peat, or compost.

Name examples of growing media.

Coco peat, Perlite, Peat moss, Sand.

What is coco peat?

Derived from coconut husks; improves drainage in soil.

What is perlite?

Expanded volcanic glass; highly porous; absorbs water.

What is peat moss?

Partially decomposed plant material from bogs; forms slowly.

What is sand as growing media?

Granular material that promotes proper airflow in soil.

What is fertiliser?

Any organic or inorganic material added to soil to supply one or more essential nutrients for plant growth.

What is straight fertiliser?

A fertiliser that provides a single nutrient (e.g., urea, rock phosphate, ammonia, ammonium sulfate, muriate of potash).

What is mixed fertiliser?

A fertiliser containing more than one straight fertiliser, supplying more than one nutrient.

What is compound fertiliser?

A fertiliser containing multiple nutrients in each granule; allows uniform micronutrient distribution; more expensive.

What are the main fertiliser application methods?

Broadcasting (top dressing, basal); Placement (plough sole, deep placement); Foliar application; Injection into soil; Fertigation; Aerial application.

What is top dressing?

Spreading fertiliser on closely sown standing crops; avoid direct contact with leaves and avoid heavy rain to prevent leaching.

What is basal application?

Fertiliser spread over soil at sowing or planting.

What is plough sole placement?

Fertiliser placed at the bottom of the plough furrow during ploughing; each furrow is covered by the next.

What is deep placement?

Briquettes placed 7–10 cm deep near the root zone within about 7 days after transplanting; releases nitrogen gradually.

What is fertigation?

Distribution of water-soluble fertilisers through an irrigation system.

What is foliar application?

Application of fertiliser by spraying directly onto leaves.

What is injection into soil?

Placing liquid or gaseous fertiliser below the soil near plant roots.

What is aerial application?

Spraying crops with crop protection products from an aircraft.

What nutrients are commonly deficient in plants and what are their roles?

Nitrogen (N) supports foliage growth; Phosphorus (P) supports strong roots; Potassium (K) supports growth, fruit size, color, and taste.

What is a pesticide?

Any substance intended to prevent, destroy, repel or mitigate pests; contains an active ingredient, inert ingredient, and possible contaminants.

How are pesticides classified by hazard bands and color?

Ia Very toxic (Black); Ib Toxic (Red); II Harmful (Yellow); III Caution (Blue); IV White.

What are the four plant disease management strategies?

Exclusion, Eradication, Protection, Resistance.

Name some common plant diseases cited in the notes.

Blackspot, Powdery Mildew, Canker.