Farm Management Handbook
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FARM MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK SECTION C: CROP PRODUCTION Compiled by S. CHIKOBVU AGRIBUSINESS AND MARKETING Edited By F. Gamu and S. Mangena Agronomy DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL AND EXTENSION SERVICES (AGRITEX) APRIL 2008 CHAPTER 1: FIELD CROPS ............................................................................................ 3 Coffee (Coffee arabica) ....................................................................................................... 3 Cotton ................................................................................................................................ 22 GROUND NUT PRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 26 Sunflower .......................................................................................................................... 27 Bambara Groundnut .......................................................................................................... 29 Cowpea Production ........................................................................................................... 31 Rice ................................................................................................................................... 33 Sorghum production.......................................................................................................... 34 Millet ................................................................................................................................. 38 Finger Millet ..................................................................................................................... 41 Winter Wheat production .................................................................................................. 43 Oats ................................................................................................................................... 48 Maize................................................................................................................................. 53 Soyabean Production ........................................................................................................ 57 Sugar Cane Production ..................................................................................................... 61 Tobacco ............................................................................................................................. 64 Sweet Potato Production ................................................................................................... 87 Horticulture ....................................................................................................................... 89 Planting Calendar for Vegetables ..................................................................................... 89 Carrots (Daucus carota ...................................................................................................... 90 Cabbage............................................................................................................................. 92 Onion Production .............................................................................................................. 96 Tomato Production............................................................................................................ 99 Okra................................................................................................................................. 103 Garlic............................................................................................................................... 105 Strawberry Production .................................................................................................... 107 Pepper Production ........................................................................................................... 110 Tsunga Production .......................................................................................................... 111 Potato Production ............................................................................................................ 113 Green Beans .................................................................................................................... 119 Production of Oyster Mushrooms ................................................................................... 128 Hypericum Production/ Flowers ..................................................................................... 132 Citrus Cultivation ............................................................................................................ 134 Apiculture ....................................................................................................................... 138 CHAPTER 1: FIELD CROPS Coffee (Coffee arabica) Varieties Variety Growth habit characteristics SL28 Normal open growth Drought hardy and yields high quality SL34 Normal open growth Yields good quality coffee and more suitable to high altitude K7 Normal open growth and Less susceptible to several races of leaf rust more vegetative and tolerant to dry conditions caturra Dwarf and more dense and Drought tolerant and produces lower quality vegetative in cooler areas bean. Mundo open growth habit Cross from Mundo Nova. Late maturing and Nova can tolerate drought conditions Catimor Semi dwarf A variety resistant to coffee berry disease. Catuai Semi dwarf Cross from Mundo Nova. Late maturing and Yellow can tolerate drought conditions Other promising varieties include SL9, KE20, KP432, K33, 119/4, 900/10. .Length of season • First crop is obtained 2½ to 3 years after planting. • One can harvest 5 to 6 crops depending on the growth rate. Rejuvenation is needed after first crop cycle of 7 to 8 years. Second cycle may last 6-8 years. • The maximum desirable extension of the crop is up to the 3rd cycle. Stages of growth Plant seed to emergency Up to 6 weeks Emergency to transplanting 6- 8 weeks Nursery growing before transplanting 10- 12 months Field transplanting to first flowering 14 –20 months (for fly crop) Subsequent flowering between September 1 or 2 main flowering plus 1 or 2 minor and November each year flowerings Flowering to ripe cherry 6 to 8 months Period of harvest 2 to 6 months Nursery practices Seed: • Coffee seed is provided by approved seed producers during July to November each year. • Quantity of seed required depends on population required. Aim for 5 000 plants/ha allowing for 20% discard. Site Selection • Warm situation, frost free, sheltered from wind, convenient for supervision and adequate clean water is the best site. Soil • Light textures, fertile and friable. Avoid capping, saline, vlei type soils. Heavier, compacting type soils may require mixing up with up to 50% river sand and manure pH (CaCl2) 4,5 to 5,5) • Choose eelworm free, virgin soil. Potting soil should be screened through a course sleeve. Fertilizer • Compound S (6:17:6) mixed with potting soil at 3kg/m3 soil. • Composted coffee pulp manure at rate of 9%by weight is a good substitute for fertilizer (used in pot filling). Plant containers • Open-end polythene sleeves or containers with closed but perforated bottoms. • Dimensions; lay flat 15-20cm wide and 20cm long (height). Pot filling • Funnel with spout same size as the diameter of the sleeve/pot fitted over the sleeve. • Soil is poured into the sleeve via the funnel. • Output per labour day is 500 – 800. Time of sowing • Normally September to December, in cooler areas it is better to sow earlier in the season (September to October). Nursery construction • Requires wiring, roof two metres high. Cover sides and roof with a thin layer of thatch grass or reeds to provide 50% shade. Leave bottom side open to allow cold air drainage. • Alternative shading of a narrow shade ban about 1m above each bed of pots. Beds of pots dimension 1,5m wide. Seed Treatment • Against Furasium Lateritrium 1g Benomyl 50 WP per 1kg coffee seed. • Treat 1 to 5 kg of seed at a time by shaking in a half filled plastic bag. • Plant directly afterwards. Nursery Management Sowing • Sow 2 to 3 seeds per pot about 5cm apart. Place seed 0,5cm below surface flat side down. Mulch the pots. Watering • Watering every 2 or 3 days until germination. • Watering techniques include handled hose with fine oblong rose head, overhead micro jet pattern, and perforated pipe. Mulching • Place fine fibrous mulch to a depth of 5cm over pots until emergency. • Thin out the mulch and finally remove it when cotyledons emerge. Thinning Done at 12 weeks and leave 2 plants per pot. Shade Commence thinning of root shade 3 to 4 months prior to planting out. Completely remove shade 6 to 8 weeks before planting out. Pest control • Avoid chemicals where ever possible. Disease control Disease Control Fusarium (bark disease) & 200g Captafol 80WP per 100litres water Cercospora (Leaf blotch) drenched at weekly intervals after emergency Leaf rust / Cercospora 300g Copper Oxychloride 50WP /100litres water at 14 to 28days intervals Fertilisation Apply all nutrients only after first pair of leaves appear. Symptom Fertilizer Pale leaves 30g AN in 20litres water drenched on by can and thoroughly watered afterwards to avoid burning Potash deficiency 20g AN + 50g K2SO4 in 20litres of water applied on plants when watered High pH Solubor (20%B) 40g in 20litres of water applied evenly to foliage. Transplanting Spacing between rows • This is determined by variety, irrigation methods layout and machinery used. • Plant populations of 5 000/ha give maximum yield. In