Crop Establishment/Planting Methods
Planting Time
Annuals
Synchronize with climatic Examples - Annuals
patterns to maximize Corn --- downy mildew & weed
productivity problem if planted in May
Rainfall pattern Rice ---
Daylength Best to be planted in January
Temperature & July for high yields in dry &
Program harvesting time wet seasons, respectively
High yields in DS due to high
Convenience of harvesting solar radiation & low pest
operation infestation
Demand for the produce Low yields in WS due to low
Evade pest/disease infestation solar radiation & high risk to
pest infestation
Others
Watermelon --- planted by mid-
November in CL to evade hot
Perennials weather during fruiting & thrips
Planting done at the onset of infestation
rainy season or anytime if Tomato --- planted in cooler
irrigation is available months to synchronize fruiting
Avoid planting at the height of with cool night temperatures
rainy season or very dry months
If Planting Off-Season Crops (Annuals) Consider the following:
Potential of the area --- if such production is feasible
Potential pest & disease infestation
Specific climatic requirement of the crop --- like cool night temperatures for
pollination
Tolerance to drought or waterlogging
Overall production, harvesting & post harvest requirements
Planting Density/Population
Basis for Selecting Appropriate Planting Density
Competition for Sunlight
Optimum LAI --- beyond optimum LAI, shading (competition for sunlight)
occurs. Maintenance respiration to photosynthesis ratio increases
Function of leaf orientation & tillering --- in annuals
Competition for CO2
Theoretically, occurs under close canopy condition & where wind
movement is minimal
Competition for Soil Factors
Movement of nutrients/water by diffusion/mass flow rapidly depletes
water/nutrients (mobile nutrients) in the root zone --- may cause a
temporary stress in high density planted crops (often observed in annuals)
Execution of Cultural Practices
Weeding
Hillingup & off-barring
Harvesting
Others
Other Purposes
Thinned out hills --- for animal consumption
Competition in mono- and multicropping system
Yield is reduced in monocrop or both species in multicrop (mutual inhibition)
Yield is increased in monocrop or both species in multicrop (mutual
cooperation)
Yield is retained in monocrop or yield of one species increased while the
other decreased in multicrop (compensation)
Planting Method in Annuals
Direct Seeding in the Field
Broadcast
Drilled in rows
Hill method in rows
Dibbling on unplowed land
Transplanting
Seedbeds sown in seedbeds or seedboxes then transplanted within 2-4
weeks
Advantages
lesser wastage on valuable seeds
allow more cropping
more controlled growth during seedling growth --- but with initial
transplanting shock in the field
Planting Methods for Lowland Rice
1. Transplanting
Wetbed Method
Pre-germinated seeds sown in seedbeds
50kg per 400m2 --- for 1 hectare
transplanted in the field at 25-30 days after sowing
Dapog Method
seeds sown in concrete pavements
50-60kg per 40m2 --- for 1 hectare
transplanted in the field at 10-14 days after sowing
Drybed Method
In rainfed areas
seeds sown in dry seedbed (1.5m wide)
50kg per 500m2 --- for 1 hectare
transplanted in the field 20-42 days after sowing
Transplanting Distances (Wetbed, Dapog, Drybed)
Square method --- 18-25cm2 at 1-3 seedlings/hill (wetbed & drybed) & 4-6
seedlings/hill (dapog)
Wide row & closer spacing --- 40cm x 5 cm at 1 seedling/hill or 30cm x
15cm at 2 seedlings/hill
Double row method --- alternate 20cm & 40cm row spacing with hills 10cm
apart at 2 seedlings/hill
2. Direct Seeding on Puddled Soil (for lowland rice)
Broadcasting
pre-germinated seeds sown in puddled soil
50-100kg per hectare
usually done during dry season
Drilling
pre-germinated seeds drilled in rows (25-30cm spacing) -
drumseeder
50-100kg seed per hectare
usually done during dry season
Dibbling
pre-germinated seeds dibbled in straight rows
hill spacing at 15-25cm x 15-25cm at 5-8 seeds/hill
50-100kg per hectare
usually done during dry season
3. Dry seeding (submerged after seedling stage)
Planting Methods for Upland Crops (upland rice, corn, legumes)
Drill Method
spacing, seeding rate & seed requirement in attached table
Hill Method
spacing, seeding rate & seed requirement in attached table
Planting Methods for Vegetables
Onion, leek, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, mustard, pechay, Chinese
cabbage, tomato, eggplant, sweet pepper, celery, etc.
1. Raising of Seedlings
Seedbed Method
seedbed is sterilized (burning, fumigation, chemical drip)
row spacing --- 5-7cm
2-3 seeds per 5-7cm row length
Seedbox Method
seeds are sown in seedbox --- dimension = 50 x 33 x 7 cm
seedlings are grown until transplanted or sometimes transferred to
another seedbox or seedbed (pricking) before transplanted to the field
soil --- sand, compost, garden soil --- sterilized before sowing
row spacing --- 7-8cm
2-3 seeds per linear cm
2. Transplanting
pechay & lettuce --- 3 weeks old
cabbage, broccoli --- 4-5 weeks old
tomatoes, pepper, eggplant --- 5-7 weeks old
Pricking
seedling are transferred to another seedbox or seedbed
Blocking & Hardening --- start at 7-10 days before transplanting
cutting soil (5cm x 5 cm) at full depth at 7-10 before seedlings are
transplanted
gradual withdrawal of water
gradual exposure to sunlight
Transplanting
done in the afternoon or cloudy days
pre-planting fertilizer application --- organic or inorganic
Planting System (Fruit & Plantation Crops)
1. Square
2. Quincunx or Diagonal
3. Hexagonal or Triangular
4. Contour system
Basis of Selecting Planting System
1. Species/Variety
2. Use of fillers (monocropping or multiple cropping system)
3. Land topography
4. Degree of farm mechanization
5. Preference of grower
Square System
Most common of planting system
If filler trees are added --- e. g. 1 filler between row and/or 1 filler between
trees in arrow
Computation for number of trees
Np = A/S2
Np = no. of plants
A = area
2
S = square of planting distance
Quincunx or Diagonal System
Makes use of a square with an additional tree in the center
Maximum area utilization during early growing & fruiting years
Fifth tree usually removed hen tree become large --- overcrowding
Mechanized cultural operation --- difficult specially in sloping areas
Computation for number of trees
Np = A/S2 + (L/S – 1) (W/S – 1)
Np = no. of plants
S2 = square of planting distance
A = area
L = length in area
S = planting distance
W = width in area
Hexagonal or Triangular
Trees are planted at equidistant to one another from every direction to form
and equilateral triangle
Greater number of trees per unit area
Planting of filler trees --- not favorable
Computation for number of trees
Np = A/(S2 * 0.866)
A = area
Np = no. of plants
S2 = square of planting distance
