1.3.

3 FIELD CROP PRODUCTION

1.1 Classify Field Crops.

CLASS OF FIELD CROP DESCRIPTION OF THE CLASS EXMAPLES OF CROPS IN THE

CLASS

1. Cereal crops Produce grains whose seeds are a rich Sorghum, maize, oats, barley,
source of starch. Belong to the grass wheat, rice, millet, rye.
family.

2. Root crops Produce a crop that is grown Sweet potatoes, cassava, yams.
underground. The food produce by these
plants is stored in a fleshy root or a
enlarged fleshy stem

3. Legume crops Produce their own nitrogen & are very Peas, beans, Soya beans, jugo
rich sources of protein. Their seeds are beans, cowpeas, groundnuts.
produced in pod.

4. Fruit crops Produce the fruit that we harvest ad eat Pumpkins, cucumbers, water
when ripe. melon, marrows, melon, squash.

5. Fibre crops Their leaves or stems provide very strong Cotton, jute, hemp, sisal
fibres that can be used to weave or make
useful products.

6. Oil crops Their seeds produce oil & often quite rich Sunflower, groundnuts, Soya
in proteins. beans

1.2 States The Varieties Of Field Crops.

A variety or cultivar means the different types of a particular crop.

Crops Class Varieties/cultivars

1. Maize Cereal Kalahari Early Pearl, Potchefstroom Pearl, PNR473, R201,

SR42
2. Sorghum cereal Marupaatse, 65D, Segaolane , 8D, Mmabaitse, BSH1,
Town, Phofu, Mahube
3. Cowpeas Legume Black eye, Tswana, Rhenoster, ER7
4. Groundnuts Legume Sellie,GC8-13,S46, ICG-31
 1.3 Discussion of One Legume Crop and One Cereal Crop.

a) Maize production in Botswana

Recommended varieties of maize include Kalahari Early Pearl, Potchefstroom Pearl,

PNR473, R201, SR42, SC401, SC403 and others.

Soil requirements; deep loam soils, well drained, rich in organic matter with pH
between 5,5 to 7,0 is suitable for maize production.

Climatic conditions; maize is summer crop, very sensitive to frost, so optimum

temperature for its growth is 25 to 30°C. Well distributed rainfall of 600 – 900 mm is
adequate. Moisture availability is critical during flowering stage.

Fertilizer requirements; basal dressing with 200kg/ha super phosphate or 250 kg/ha
single super phosphate is necessary. Top dressing using 50 kg/ha urea of 100 kg/ha
L.A.N is crucial when the seedlings are about knee high.

Depth of planting and spacing of the crops; the depth of planting maize seeds should
be about 40 mm (4 cm). The recommended spacing between rows (inter-row spacing) is
90 -100 cm ad between the plants within a row (intra –row spacing) is 20 – 30 cm.

Maize pests’ damage and control.

Pest Damage Control

Stalk-borer Larvae feed on aerial part of maizeBurn crop residue after harvesting.
stalk Spraying with Malathion, sulfan or
thiodan. Crop rotation and early
planting.
Army worm Defoliates maize plants Timely spraying with endosulfan.
Field pests

Cutworms Feed on stems of maize at ground level Use cutworm bait.

American bollworm Larvae feed on maize seeds Spray with stomach pesticides.
Cricket Feeds on any part of the maize plant Use Carbaryl dust. Hands pick and kill
them. Dig a 50 cm ditch around the
Leaf hopper Suck sap from leaves ad are vectors of field.
maize streak & stripe viruses Spray with bromophos.
respectively.
Maize weevil Eats inside part of the seed/grain Dust with insecticide or wood ash
Storage pests

Fungus Cause mould on grains & rotting. before storage.

Rats & mice Consume grains & contaminate them Keep storage structures clean ad dry.
with their faeces, urine and fur. Use rat traps, cats & rodenticides.
 Common diseases of maize

Disease Cause Symptom Control

Cob rot Fungi Purple patches on the lower part of Crop rotation, remove & burn
the cob. Whitish growth of fungus on all infected crops, dry cobs
the grains. well after harvesting.

Maize streak and Virus White or yellow streaks or stripes o Spray to control leaf hoppers,
stripe the leaves parallel to the leaf plant resistant varieties,
margins. remove and burn infected
crops & plant residues.

Harvesting of maize; maize ca be harvested in two stages. It can be harvested as green

mealies when the seeds are fully formed but still soft. This is done 70 days from the time
of sowing. Dry maize is harvested at about 90 – 120 days from the time of sowing. This is
done when the grains are fully dried out & hard. Harvesting ca be done using hands but
in commercial farms combined harvesters are used.

Storage & marketing of maize; maize cobs can be stored in cribs to dry further. Shelled
grains are stored in metal tanks or silos, bags, bins & grain baskets. Green mealies maize
is sold to individuals in the community or retailers. The shelled grains are sold to BAMB,
milling companies &local businesses. Prices for the green mealies is determined or
influenced by the forces of demand & supply. The price of dry maize is influenced by
force of demand &supply, purchasing power of the consumers & quality of produce.

b) Cowpeas production in Botswana.

Varieties; Black eye, Rhenoster & Tswana.

Soil requirements; cowpeas grows in a wide range of soil with rich sandy loams giving
highest yield. It is tolerant of both acidity and alkalinity, optimum pH being 5,0 ad 6,5.

Climatic requirements; the crop does well under warm temperature through out the
growing season, it requires at least 300 mm of rainfall.

Fertilizer requirements; phosphate & potassium fertilizers may be applied to improve

yields. If necessary, broadcast super phosphate or the seedbed at the rate of 200 kg/ha.

Planting depth & spacing of crops; seeds of cowpeas should be planted at a depth of 5
cm. The inter-row spacing ranges from 45 – 60 cm and intra-row spacing ranges from 20
– 30 cm.
 Common diseases of cowpeas

Disease Cause Control

CAMV (cowpeas aphid-borne mosaic Virus Crop rotation, plant clean seeds, plant
virus) resistant varieties, rogue out infected
plant & destroy them. Spray against
aphids.

Root knot/club rot Nematodes Practice crop rotation, fumigate the soil.

Bacterial blight Bacteria Use clean seeds, plant resistant varieties,

& pick out infected plats & destroy them.

Cowpeas Pests, Damage & Control.

Pest Damage Control

Blossom beetles Feed on flowers Spray with endosulfan

Pod sucking bugs Suck sap from buds, flowers & young pods Spray with endosulfan
Field pests

resulting in deformed pods & seeds and wilting

at the tips.
Bean fly Larvae cause cracked & deformed stems, Early planting, spray with
yellowing, wilting & death of seedlings. bromophos.

Cowpeas beetle Larvae damage inside part of the seed. Pick pods as soon as they are
Storage pests

ready. Clean & apply Malathion to

empty structures, dust or soak
seeds in Malathion before storage
and treat seeds with wood ash
before storage.

Harvesting of cowpeas; pods are ripe when they turn brown. Harvesting starts about 70
days and finish about 120 days after plating. Pods are harvested by hands as they ripen
ad laid out to dry. Dry pods are threshed, seeds cleaned and treated before storage.

Storage & marketing of cowpeas; threshed seeds are stored in bins, bags ad /or sacks.
BAMB is the biggest buyer of cowpeas. Individuals, retailers & food processing industries
also buy cowpeas.
1.4 State The Precautions To Be Taken When Applying Fertilizers.
Fertilizers should not come in direct contact with the seeds, seedlings leaves ad
stems. This is because fertilizers can burn or scorch them.
Apply the fertilizers at the correct rate.
Fertilizer should be lightly buried into the soil.
Use the correct or appropriate method to apply fertilizers.
Do not eat. Smoke or drink while handling fertilizers.

1.5 State The Reasons For Treating Seeds Before Planting.

 To protect the seeds against attack by pests & micro-organisms
 To improve germination & seedling emergence
 Treated seeds grow healthy seedlings and give us good harvest.

1.6 Describe The Different Methods Of Treating Seeds.

i. Traditional methods; the seeds are treated using wood or cow dung ash. The ash
prevents the weevils from eating the seeds whilst in storage.

ii. Modern methods; this involves coating, dusting or soaking seeds in chemicals
that kill pathogens both inside and o the seeds. There are two types of chemicals
that can be used. Namely, Disinfectants kill pathogens in and /or on the seeds so
that a pathogen cannot be transferred into a new plant. Examples include
formaldehyde & Phostoxin, and Protectants which protects the seed so that
pests and pathogens cannot damage the seeds when they have been planted
and are growing. Example includes Captab & Malathion 1%.

1.7 Outline The Precautions When Handling Treated Seeds.

 Wear gloves when handling treated seeds.
 Do not eat, drink or smoke when handling treated seeds.
 Wash your hands thoroughly with water after handling treated seeds with bare
hands.
 Keep the seeds out of reach of children
 Do not wash the seeds and eat them.

1.8 Discuss Methods Used To Control Pests And Diseases Of Crops.

A pest is any living organism which causes damage to crops either in the field or in
storage after harvesting.
A disease is any change from the normal & healthy functioning of plants systems.
Examples of pests
Type of pest Examples

Biting &chewing Grasshopper, locust, caterpillars, cutworms, mice,

birds, crickets, army worm

Piercing & sucking Aphids, leaf hoppers, bagrada bugs, mealy bugs,
pumpkin flies

Boring/tunnelling/mining Stalk borers, cowpea beetle, weevils, grain borers

Examples of diseases

Type of disease Examples

Bacterial Bacterial wilt, blight, soft rot, black rot

Fungal Damping-off, powdery mildew, downey mildew, early

blight, late blight, leaf spot, maize rust

Viral Groundnut rosette virus, maize streak & stripe viruses,

mosaic virus

Pest control methods

o Biological method involves using other organisms such as predators and

parasites to control the pest. For example, ladybird beetles eat aphids; lizards
feed on moths.

o A physical/mechanical method involves crushing, stepping on & squashing

pests, and using traps to kill bigger pests such as mice & rats.

o Chemical method involves using chemicals called pesticides to control pests.

o Cultural method involves using good farming practices such crop rotation, use of
resistant varieties, early or autumn planting, weeding, removal of crop residues
&others.

Disease control methods

  Cultural methods involves the use of good farming practice such as crop
rotation, early planting, correct spacing of crops, using disease free seeds, use of
resistant varieties & others.

 Chemical method involves the use of chemicals such fungicides for fungal
diseases ad bactericides for bacterial diseases.

 Quarantine &legislation involves imposing restrictions on the movement of

plants or crop products from one area to another. The crop materials are
isolated ad held for some time to ascertain that they are free from diseases
and/or pests.

1.9 Outline The Precautions To Be Taken Into Account When Using Pesticides.
 Keep the chemicals locked up, out of reach of children and animals.
 Wear protective clothing such as goggles, respirator, gloves, overall and boots
when working with pesticides.
 Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling pesticides.
 Wash thoroughly after handling or getting in contact with the pesticides.
 Read container labels carefully ad follow the instruction as stipulated.

1.10 Describe The Effects Of Pesticides On The Environment.

 Some pesticides are non-selective and would kill all insects including predators
and pollinating agents.
 They may disrupt natural balances in the ecosystem
 They pollute the soil, water, rivers, wells, and dams thus causing a health hazard
to humans ad animals
 Some pesticides form fumes which pollute the air we breathe.
 Some pesticides have residual effect. That is, the chemical residues remain in the
crop and can be hazardous to humans.
 Pesticides enter the food chain and kill other species, for an example when bird
species eat poisoned mice they also die from the poison.
 Some pesticides are phyto-toxic so cause direct harm to crops.

1.11 Suggest Methods Of Controlling Pest Which Are Environmentally Friendly.

Cultural control method
Biological control method
Mechanical/physical control method

1.12 Describe The Correct Technique Of Using A Sprayer.

A sprayer can be operated as follows:
 Wear the necessary clothing.
 Pour about 1litre of water into the tank.
 Add the correct amount of pesticides to the water and shake the tank vigorously.
 Fill up the tank to the required level.
  Increase the pressure inside the tank & check if the sprayer is working.

Knapsack sprayer

1.13 Examples of Pesticides/Insecticides.

Type of insecticide Examples of insecticides How the insecticide kills

Contact poison; sprayed onto the Malathion, malasol, By direct contact. The insect
body of the insect/pest. dimethoate, dipterex, absorbs it through the skin.
dursban, bexadust

Stomach poison; sprayed onto Malathion, malasol, dipterex, By chewing & swallowing.
the surface of the leaf. Remains dursban, bexadust
on the surface.

Systemic poison; sprayed onto Aspicide, dimethoate, By sucking plant sap

the plant surface and absorbed metasystox
by the plant. It moves to all parts
of the plant.

Fumigant; release of gas/fumes Methyl bromide By breathing (used on soil

into the soil or where crops are borne & storage pests).
stored.