NJFU Laboratory Exercise No.

2
AGRI 32 CD3L

Study Questions

1. Why is sub-soiling needed in soils with hard pans?

Hard pan is a tillage-induced compacted soil layer. It occurs when soils repeatedly being
cultivated at the same depth. This compaction is caused by the weight of the tillage
equipment, such as discs or cultivator shovels (McKenzie, 2010).
Subsoiling is a way of fracturing the hard pan or compacted soil layer without
detrimentally disturbing plant life, topsoil, and surface residue. Subsoiling hard pans is
important since it will reduce soil density and strength, resulting to better root penetration. It
also improves moisture infiltration and retention; as well as allowing better air circulation in
the soil (Kees, 2016).
However, it is best to note that subsoiling works better during drier soil conditions and
that soils with high clay content are very difficult to break up.

2. Show that a triangular system has 15% more plants than a square system using
the same distance of planting by computing the number of plants in each system.
For Square System, the distance between plants within the rows (X) equals the
distance between rows (Y). For Triangular System, the distance between plants within
and between rows equals X, but the distance between rows (Y) equals 0.866X.

Place theoretical values for the Area (A) and Planting Distance (s) as:
A=1000 m2 and s=5 m2
then substitute these values to the given formulas for number of plants in each system.

a. For Triangular System:

0.866=length of thetriangle side
No .of Plants= A /(s ×0.866)
No .of Plants=1000m2 /(5 m2 × 0.866)
No .of Plants=1000m2 /4.33 m2
 No .of Plants=230.9468 plants
No .of Plants ≈ 231 plants
b. For Square System:
No .of Plants= A /s
No .of Plants=1000m 2 / 5 m 2
No .of Plants=200 plants

231 plants – 200 plants=31 plants

(31 plants /200 plants) x 100
¿ 15.5 %
≈ 15 %
In conclusion, there were 15% more plants in the triangular system than the square
system.

3. Why should we add well-decayed organic matter and basal fertilizer to the soil
before transplanting seedlings or grafted plants of perennial crop species?
Perennial crop species does not need a large amount of fertilizer; they have a lower
fertilizer requirement than annual crop species. In fact, perennial may benefit more from
a single fertilizer application just before planting or at the time that new seasonal growth
is expected. With this, Basal application of fertilizer or Basal Fertilizer (which is the
application of fertilizer to the soil before sowing the seeds or planting of seedlings) is
appropriate for perennial crop species (Finneran, 2013).
Other than fertilizer, well-decayed organic matter is also a good provider of season-
long fertility in perennial species (Finneran, 2013).

4. What are the different adaptive tillage operations? Characterize each.

a. Primary Tillage - the first soil tillage after the last harvest. It is normally conducted
when the soil is wet enough to allow plowing and strong enough to give reasonable
levels of traction (International Rice Research Institute, 2007).
i. Deep tillage - Deep ploughing turns out large sized clods, which are baked by
the hot sun when it is done in summer. These clods crumble due to alternate
heating and cooling due to occasional summer showers. This process of
gradual disintegration of clods improves soil structure (Tamil Nadu
Agricultural University, 2009).
ii. Subsoiling - Hard pans may be present in the soil which restrict root growth of
crops. A narrow cut is made in the top soil while the subsoiler shatters hard
 pans. Chisel ploughs are also used to break hard pans present even at 60-70
cm. The effect of subsoiling does not last long (Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, 2009).
iii. Year round tillage - Tillage operations carried out throughout the year. Good
for avoiding weed growth during off season (Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University, 2009).

b. Secondary tillage – anything done on the soil after primary tillage. This is usually
shallower and less aggressive than primary tillage. It also reduces clod size; controls
weed growth; incorporation of fertilizers; and puddling and levelling of soil surface
(International Rice Research Institute, 2007).
i. Layout of Seedbed and Sowing - after the seedbed preparation, the field is
laid out properly for irrigation and sowing or planting seedlings. After the
secondary tillage, these crops are sown without any land treatments. It
includes drilling or side dressing of fertilizers, earthing up and intercultivation.
These operations are crop specific (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, 2009).

5. Differentiate between minimum and zero tillage.

Minimum Tillage involves considerable soil disturbance, though to a much lesser extent
than that associated with conventional tillage. This technique involves reducing cultivation
depth and avoiding the use of the plough. This also reduces soil disturbance by combining
agricultural operations like seeding operations like seeding and fertilizer application (Tamil
Nadu Agricultural University, 2010).

Zero Tillage is an extreme form of minimum tillage. In this agricultural technique,

Primary Tillage is absolutely avoided and secondary tillage is restricted to seedbed
preparation in the row zone only. Advantages include having increased organic matter
retention and water infiltration. It also reduces/eliminates soil erosion Ginigaddara (n.d.).

References:
Finneran, R. (2013). Fertilizing established perennial gardens—feed ‘em and weep.
Michigan State University Extension.
Ginigaddara, G. A. S. (n.d.). Zero Tillage/Minimum Tillage. Retrieved from:
http://www.rjt.ac.lk/agri/agri_onlinematerials/agricultural_systems/Zero%20tillage
%20GAS%20Ginigaddara.pdf
International Rice Research Institute. (2007). Land preparation. Retrieved from:
http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/ericeproduction/I.2_Types_of_tillage.htm
Kees, G. (2016). Using subsoiling to reduce soil compaction. USDA Forest Service
Technology and Development Program Missoula, MT.
McKenzie, R. H. (2010). Agricultural soil compaction: Causes and management. Alberta
Agriculture and Forestry.
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. (2009). Types of Tillage. Retrieved from:
ttp://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agriculture/agri_tillage_typesoftillage.html
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. (2010). Modern Concepts of Tillage. Retrieved from:
http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agriculture/agri_tillage_modernconcepts.html

Narrative Report
Direct Seeding of Monggo and Corn
 Last January 28, the AGRI 32 section CD3L went outside for the discussion. One
part of exercise was about the different methods of Direct Seeding and this was discussed
by another knowledgeable instructor. There were 3 methods under Direct Seeding such as
(1) Broadcasting; (2) Drill Method; and (3) Hill Method.
Broadcasting method, locally known as sabog tanim, is a method of direct seeding by
which seeds or grains are scattered over a well prepared soil. There is no plant spacings or
any kind of proper arrangement. With this method, a volume of seeds is held by one hand
and thrown with a wide swath. Skill is important to ensure a more or less even distribution
per unit ground area based on the desired seeding rate. Broadcasting on 1 hectare of soil
requires about 8 to 12 kilos of monggo. Some farmers would tie a timba on their waist for
storing the seeds. Advantages include fast planting. Disadvantages include unevenness of
growth (which is why one must make sure that every part is accommodated) and lack of
protection of the seeds from birds that eat it.
The Drill Method is another method of Direct Seeding and it requires about 30 seeds
per linear meter with a space of 50 cm per row that serves as pathways. This method is
done after the land preparation by drilling holes in the soil, placing the seeds, then covering it
with soil. One must ensure that the soil is leveled after covering to allow for equal distribution
of water and to avoid water runoff. To cover 1 hectare, one will need about 6 kilos of seeds.
Benefits include protection from birds and that fertilizer can be applied at the same time as
the seed. Due to the space per row that serves as a pathway, there is ease in managing the
weeds. Hindrances include it being laborious, particularly drilling by hand.
The last method of Direct Seeding is the Hill Method. It is done by using a long stick
of wood or the corn planter (known as the Farmalite in Quezon) and using it to dibble or
make holes in the soil, placing the seeds in the holes, and then covering it with soil. This
method can be done after land preparation and it requires a distance of 75 cm between rows
and a 50 cm distance per hill. To cover 1 hectare, one would need about 10 kilos of corn.
For Hybrid (yellow) corns, the amount of seeds depends on the company that provides it but
you generally need 12 to 14 kilos for 1 hectare.
Though I only watched my classmates perform these methods, it did not lessen my
astonishment as to how much thought the farmers have put into formulating these methods.
I was also happy that they seemed genuinely happy and patient they are in sharing such
information with us students—it honestly inspired me to do better.

Transplanting of Rice
 According to the professors and previous students of AGRI 32, the transplanting of
rice activity is the highlight of the subject. They weren’t wrong. The session started with a
short discussion of the different stages of lowland rice. After that, we proceeded with the
transplanting of the dapog. Each of us students hand 2 to 3 bunches of dapog to be planted.
We were told to plant on the intersections of the grid that was placed by the instructor, Kuya
Darwin, and place our feet carefully on the square as to not rub out the grid/guidelines. We
continued this for about 4 to 5 columns and used 4 to 10 strands of the dapog for every
transplant. Despite the time, which was 10 am to 1 pm, we didn’t really feel the heat due to
the cold breeze which made the experience even better.
The only discomfort I experienced during this activity was when ants bit my feet as I
waited for my turn to plunge into the field. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the feeling of
the mud on my feet since it was cool and relaxing. I am very willing to conduct this activity
once more.

Written Report
 Lowland Rice has about 9 growth stages with 3 Phases. Stage 1 is the Seedling
Stage (Dapog Seedling). In this stage, the development of leaves is 1 leaf for ever 3 to 4
days during the early stage. During this stage, the secondary adventitious roots replace the
temporary radicle. By 20 to 25 days, the dapog seedling is now ready for transplanting. This
can then be called a wet bed seedling.
Stage 2 is the Tillering Stage. This is when the tillers displace a leaf because of their
growth and development. At the maximum tiller stage, some tillers die or level off. Stage 3 is
the Stem Elongation Stage. This begins before panicle initiation in late-maturing varieties
(>150 days). On the other hand, for short-duration varieties (105 to 120 days), stem
elongation and panicle initiation occur simultaneously. Stage 1 to Stage 3 is called the
Vegetative Phase.

Stage 4 is the Panicle Initiation to Booting. This begins with panicle primordium
initiation at the tip of the growing shoot. By the end of the 4 th stage, the young panicle is
about to emerge and spikelets become distinct. During this stage, pagbubuntis is commonly
done. This is done to know if the seedling is at a booting stage (locally known as
nagbubuntis). If you get a shoot and open it, and it shows the spikelets, then it is
nagbubuntis. Stage 5 is the Heading Stage. This is when the ‘Head’ of the grain shows up
and about 50% of the panicles have already exerted. It usually takes 10 to 14 days for all
plants complete the Heading Stage. Stage 6 is the Flowering Stage. This is otherwise known
as Anthesis (flowering). In this stage, the florets open anthers protrude, and the pollen is
shed of florets and then closed. This occurs about 25 days after visual panicle initiation. It is
also during this stage when the plants is most sensitive to stress. Stages 4 to 6 is called the
Reproductive Phase.

Stage 7 is the Milk Grain Stage. This is when the grain starts to fill with a white milky
liquid that can be squeezed out. The top of the panicle bends gently in and arc due to the
weight of the liquid. It is also during in this stage that the panicle and the 3 uppermost leaves
are green. Stage 8 is the Dough Grain or Hard Dough Stage. During this stage, the yellow
spikelets remaining leaves dry up in senescence. Stage 9 is the Matured Grain Stage. In this
stage, the grains are finally fully developed, mature, golden yellow, and hard. Most of the
upper leaves are also dry and the panicles are bent down. Stages 7 to 9 is called the
Ripening Phase.