AGRI 32 – Fundamentals of Crop Science II

Week 06 / Oct 2-6, 2023

Laboratory Exercise No. 5

SPECIAL PRACTICES IN CROP PRODUCTION

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After the end of the exercise, you should be able to:

1. describe the different special practices,

2. cite the objectives and purposes of the special practices, and

3. apply these practices to a given crop.

LEARNING CONTENT
There are special production practices that are regularly done but are particularly
applicable only (unique) to specific crop or group of crops. Examples of such practices are described
below. Other examples are found in the list of references.

1. Fruit bagging – a special practice that is regularly done on banana, mango, guava,
macopa, jackfruit, ampalaya, cacao and papaya. It involves enclosing or wrapping the
fruits (either individually or as group) with suitable materials in order to protect the fruits
from possible damage due to insects, diseases, wind, birds and the elements. The
bagging materials and techniques differ among crops.

"File:Mangoes in paper bags.jpg" by "DSCN0031" by Lenny Flank is licensed under CC

Mk2010 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
BY-SA 3.0

Figure 5.1. Mangoes bagged using paper bags (left) and banana bagged using plastic bags
(right)
 Week 06 / March 20- 24, 2023

2. Desuckering – the removal of unnecessary suckers from the base (mat) of banana to
allow better growth of remaining suckers and to regulate the volume and schedule of
production. In commercial banana plantation, for example, only 3 to 4 suckers of varying
ages (3 to 4 months interval) are retained per mat at any one time.

Figure 5.2. Desuckering done in banana using a bolo.

3. Propping – a practice of providing support to branches or stalk which tend to bend due
to heavy load of fruits. This is commonly done on banana stalk with maturing bunch of
fruits to prevent it from toppling over due to strong wind and heavy fruit load. Propping
is also done on fruit crops such as mango, banana and pummelo to prevent branches
(laden with fruits) from breaking and to keep the fruits from touching the ground. A
common propping material for banana is made of two bamboo poles tied near the ends
with rope or wire (thus appear as scissor-like). The neck (base of the bunch) is then
lodged on the ‘V’ shape end of the poles.

"Banana propping" by NSW DPI Schools

program is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Figure 5.3. Propped banana using wooden poles

 Week 06 / March 20- 24, 2023

4. Ratooning – the growing of new crop out of the shoots arising from the previous crop.
This practice saves time and reduces cost of production since land preparation, planting
and planting materials are no longer needed. Ratooning is a common practice in
sugarcane and pineapple but other crops like rice can also be ratooned.

5. Flower induction – now a regular practice in mango and pineapple production as an

effective way of producing fruits even during off-season. The practice also makes
flowering in mango more profuse and more uniform. Various techniques, such as the use
of chemical, modifying the photoperiod, pruning and timing of irrigation are used to
induce the plants to flower. The effectiveness of the practice, however, largely depends
on specific crop. In the case of mango, the commercial practice is to spray 1 to 2 percent
KNO3 on growing point of trees with mature (dark green) leaves.

In pineapple, 240 ppm of ethephon (Ethrel) mixed with 1% urea is used as flower inducer.
About 40 ml of the solution is poured on the growing point of the plant with 36
functional leaves (10-12 months of age).

Figure 5.4. Flowering of lettuce induced by high temperature and long day period.

6. Thinning – the removal of some flowers or fruits to allow the remaining ones to increase
in size. This is done in specific crops where size is an important quality factor. Thinning is
practiced in atis, jackfruit, watermelon, melon, grapes, durian, rose and chrysanthemum.
 Week 06 / March 20- 24, 2023

7. Trellising – a practice of providing support to the plant so that the stem and leaves are
kept from the ground. The practice allows better exposure of leaves to sunlight and
avoids fruits from coming in contact with the soil. Trellising is usually done in viny crops
such as cucumber (Cucumis sativus), gourds [ampalaya (Momordica charantia), patola
(Luffa cylindrica), upo (Lagenaria siceraria), pole sitao (Vigna unguiculata)], yam (Dioscorea
sp.), grapes (Vitis vinifera), and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis). It is also done in some
crops that cannot stand vertically by itself like tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum), vanilla
(Vanilla planifolia) and black pepper (Piper nigrum). The common types of trellis are over-
head (balag), teepee, fence and pole. They are mostly made of non-living materials.
However, live trellising materials are used in the case of black pepper, vanilla and
sometimes in the case of yam and passion fruit.

Figure 5.5. (a) Single pole trellis in dragon fruit, (b) teepee-type trellis in cucumber, (c)
overhead-type trellis in bitter gourd, (d) fence-type trellis in pole sitao, (e) trellis using
Miscanthus for ubi in Batanes, and (f) A-type trellis in tomato.
 Week 06 / March 20- 24, 2023

LEARNING ACTIVITY (Synchronous/Asynchronous)

A. Special production practices for my crops!

1. Visit the crops which you planted in your home garden.

2. Examine which crops or group of crops would require some of the special production
practices discussed above.
3. Determine and take note of the special practice/s that each crop required. You can search
about your crop and see if there are other special practices which should be performed but
are not mentioned above.

4. Prepare the materials that you need to apply the identified special practice/s. Remember to
account for the amount and cost of materials that you will use since these information are
required in later exercises.
5. Apply the identified special practice/s in your crop. It will be better if you can illustrate and/or
take photos while applying these practices.
6. For this week, record the special practices that you applied in your crops and indicate them in
your worksheet. Accomplish the worksheet for this week’s entry in your Home Garden set-up.
7. For each special practice that you applied in crops, remember to indicate the specific
purpose/reason of performing that special practice.
 Week 06 / March 20- 24, 2023

B. Study Questions. Answer the following in your worksheet.

In your leafy vegetable, reflect on how these crops are being grown for seed production.
Discuss in your worksheet the special production practices which are specifically being
applied commercially to these type of crops. Answer the following guide questions:
a. What other group of crops would you think have the similar type of production
wherein the immature organs or the whole plant are being utilized?
b. What specific method is being done to produce the seeds of leafy vegetable?
c. Are there specific chemicals being applied for the leafy vegetables to produce seeds?
If yes, give some examples.
d. How can you consider the methods above as a special production practice?

EXPECTED OUTPUT
Worksheet with a record of special practices done in home garden

Answers to study questions

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Component Maximum Score
Worksheet (weekly journal entry) 30
Answers to study questions 20
Total 50

REFERENCES
Angeles, D. E. 1987. Pineapple flower induction. Dept. of Horticulture. UP Los Baños, College, Laguna

Bautista, O. K. (ed). 1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture. 2nd edition. SEARCA and UPLB.
 Week 06 / March 20- 24, 2023

Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS).2013. Code of Good Agricultural
Practices (GAP) for Banana Production. PNS/BAFPS 129:2013 ICS 67.020

Gomez, D. D. 1980. Technical development in banana production. Anim. Husb. Agric. J. December
issue. 16-18, 21

Institute of Crop Science. 2019. AGRI 32 Fundamentals of Crop Science II Laboratory Manual. College
of Agriculture and Food Science. University of the Philippines Los Baños. College, Laguna

Lawas, N. R., J. S. Lales, L. O. Namuco, I. S. Anunciado and R. C. Mabesa. Undated. Crop production
Technology: Course Guide. UP Open University, College, Laguna. P 255-284

Namuco, L. O. and C. J. Andam. 2000. Mango Production Manual. Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Forestry and Natural resources Research & Development/United National Development Programme.
Los Baños, Laguna. 127 p.

Urbanes, P.O. Jr. 1984. The bagging technique. Anim. Husb. Agric. J. October Issue. 18, 24
 Week 06 / March 20- 24, 2023

Laboratory Exercise No. 5 – Special Production Practices

STUDY QUESTIONS

Name: Section:

Student No. Score:

In your leafy vegetable, reflect on how these crops are being grown for seed production. Discuss
here the special production practices which are specifically being applied commercially to these type
of crops. Use the following guide questions.

1. What other group of crops would you think have the similar type of production wherein
the immature organs or the whole plant are being utilized? (5 pts)

2. What specific method is being done to produce seeds? Describe. (5 pts)

3. Are there specific chemicals being applied for the leafy vegetables to produce seeds? If yes, give
some examples. (5 pts)

4. How can you consider the methods above as a special production practice? (5 pts)