Harvesting

  As the spinach plant have reaches the age of 4 weeks , it is time for harvesting. Harvesting is the process of gathering a ripe crop from the fields. We have to find the potential buyers to buys our spinach. We have sold it to the people in the UiTM itself , the small grocery store and the villagers of Kampung Seri Mendapat.

four weeks of spinach

process of harvesting

  The total of spinach that we harvest is 30kg and we sell it for RM4/kg so we get RM120 in total of selling.

  The total cost of spinach seedlings is RM24 because we used 12packets of seeds, each cost RM2. The total chicken dung that we used is about 50kg which is cost RM4.


  The total profit we gained was :  RM120 - RM24 - RM4 = RM92.



  The last process that being done is to breaking the planting bed by using hoes. This is important to  break the crop boundaries to improve the structure of the soil. Then we plant the legumes cover crop (LCC) to avoid water drains from the field. LCC will fix atmospheric nitrogen (N) for use by subsequent crops and decrease the risk of soil erosion by improving the soil structure due to its root system. LCC can produce biomass and add organic matter to the soil . This is significant to  the sustainable of agriculture concept.
         
  

special thanks to the lecturers and supervisor in making this one of the valuable memories 😁

Green Spinach ( Amaranthus Gangeticus )

 We choosing the green spinach  ( Amaranthus Gangeticus ) because the time taken for it to be matured and can be harvest is in short period of time which is 4 weeks.


  Instead of using replanting method , for this green spinach we use direct planting method. by doing this method , the plant will have better root system because it has adapt the condition of the environment.There are no interruptions in growth due to moving from one place to another. It also reduce the risk of transplant shock when transplant  into a new, less-controlled environment.

illustration of lining method

  The seed was plant in lining method than pocket method because it can reduce the competition for the plant to achieve enough water and nutrient for growing. The spinach seeds are plant in depth 2 inches from the surface which is approximately 5-6 centimeter.

                                                             

one week after planting

  The seed are continuously being watered two times a day. Weeding process also being done to decrease the competition between the plants and weeds.
                                                               

three weeks after planting

  For this spinach, we don't use any pesticides or fungicides because want the plant growing organically.

                                                           

four weeks and ready for harvesting

  The spinach plant can be harvested at age 28 - 31 days.

Plant management

 After replanting the seedling on planting bed , we applied mulching to avoid direct sunlight to the new replanting plant that may be stunted. Mulch is important to your tree's health because it insulates the soil helping to provide a buffer from heat and cold temperatures. Mulching improves nutrient and water retention in the soil and can encourages favourable soil microbial activity and worms. Mulch also helps to retain moisture, prevent soil erosion, control weeds and it adds nutrients to the soil.

Process taking the palm oil leaf for mulching purposes.

The applied mulching on the planting bed

      We continued by watering the plant 2 times a day , during the morning and at late of afternoon.  Water is used for transpiration carrier of nutrients from the soil to green plant tissues. Water forms over 90% of the plant body by green or fresh weight basis. Plants can synthesis food through photosynthesis only in the presence of water in their system.

       When the plant was achieved a month from the date of germinate , we applied NPK fertilizer to the planting bed. NPK 15 : 15 : 15 is for  enhance fertility to the soil, improve quality and output of the crops during vegetative growth. We put about 2g on a plant.

NPK 15 : 15 : 15

Process of weighing the NPK

  The plant was attacked by the ladybug. Eating the plant leaves. We try to overcome this problem by spraying "serai wangi" to our planting bed but it dont have effect.

Serai wangi

   We also have try to replanting the plant, but the plant also be attacked.

Replanting process

               

                              Our plant that was attacked very badly.


   Our group had discuss to changed sweet pumpkin to green spinach.

             

 The process of removing sweet pumpkin plant.

Maintainance

     We remove the weed/other plant that will absorb the nutrient needed for plant to growth. A weed may also be defined as any plant growing where it is not wanted. Weeding also helps to loosen the soil. Water can infiltrate more rapidly and roots of the cultivated plants can develop in a better way. While weed control is important, keeping a few spots of weeds as a refuge will help to conserve the eco-system. The growth of weeds can be prevented or delayed by using mulch.

eg. of other plant

        After a heavily rain about half of the day , our plot have flooded with water. We have to dig a hole to drain the excess water from our plot. This is to improving the drainage system.The function of the field drainage system is to control the water table, whereas the function of the main drainage system is to collect, transport, and dispose of the water through an outfall or outlet. Drainage reduces soil and nutrient loss from runoff and can help avoid soil erosion.  Drainage systems also prevent the accumulation of stagnant water, which can encourage mosquitoes to breed.

Flooded plot 

Digging hole

We have to dig deeper drain to avoid this thing happen again. If soil is too wet it can result in poor conditions for the crops to grow; when soil is well drained then the oxygen, nutrients and trace elements that the plant needs are available.

 

Process of deeping the drainage

Growing the seeds

  Firstly  for the seed , our group have choose to plant sweet pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) by  doing transplanting method so we germinate the seed in germinating tray. The transplanting method has many benefit such as enhanced uniformity due to the precise spacing between transplanted crops allows them to mature uniformly without competition from other plants such as in direct seeding. Secondly, it  minimize weed pressure by allowing plants less time in the ground and, with many crops, not having plants in the ground when weeds germinate.Transplanting offers great savings in seeds costs because the quantity of seeds used in the greenhouse is significantly lower than in direct seeding. Transplanted crops mature more uniformly, and allow for the luxury of a nearly 100% stand.

Put in water to determine the good seed (sink) and the bad seed (float).

This process is called pre-treatment method.

 

Peat moss is added into the germinating tray as the germinating medium for the seedlings.

Process of planting the seed in germinating tray.

At first , the seed was eaten by the ants and was replaced.

The defect seedling also be removed.

After 3 weeks of planting in tray.

Then , the plant was replanting on the planting bed.

Land Management

  After the process of land clearing , we have to ploughing that is to turn over the upper layer of the soil, bringing fresh nutrients to the surface, while burying weeds and the remains of previous crops and allowing them to break down. As the plough is drawn through the soil it creates long trenches of fertile soil called furrows.A plough is used for tilling the soil, remove weeds and scrapping the soil. The importance of ploughing are its helps in loosening the soil so that it can hold more water and air. The air helps the roots of crops to breathe. Secondly, the loose soil also helps in the growth of earthworms and microbes which make the soil rich in nutrients. Thirdly, it is also easy to mix the fertilizers and manures in the loose soil.Next, it helps in removing the weeds by uprooting them and it also causing the loose soil for allowing growth of roots into the soil for firm binding.



  Then, we take the sample of soil to determine the soil pH. The pH is important because it influences the availability of essential nutrients. Most horticultural crops will grow  in soils having a pH between 6 (slightly acid) and 7.5 (slightly alkaline). Strongly acid soils need to be limed to raise the pH to near neutral levels. Plant roots can only absorb nutrients after they have been transformed into certain ionic forms. Some mineral soils aluminum can be dissolved at pH levels below 5.0 becoming toxic to plant growth. Soil pH may also affect the availability of plant nutrients. Nutrients are most available to plants in the optimum 5.5 to 7.0 range.

Process of taking soil sample.

Process of taking soil sample.

The soil sample was then bring in to the lab to determine the soil pH.

                      

The pH determined was 4.7 so we must do liming to increasing the pH between 5.5 - 6.5 for the best growth of our plant.

Liming process 

  Liming is a traditional procedure in preparing soil for planting. It is the application of calcium- and magnesium-rich materials to soil in various forms, including marl, chalk, limestone, or hydrated lime. Lime used on farm land is also called agricultural lime. Benefits of liming include increased nutrient availability by improves the uptake of major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) , improved soil structure, and increased rates of infiltration.

  After the liming process , we do the measurement process. Measure is to determine how large the size of each group or people get for planting. The total size of our plot is 106ft x 58ft and it was divided into 5 groups. One group consists of 4 people so each person for our group handle two planting bed. Each planting bed is 25ft x 4ft. The cross in the middle of the plot is called "Jalan Agro".

Rough sketch of the plot

  

  Next, is the process of making planting bed. One group consists of 4 people so each person for our group handle two planting bed. Each planting bed is 25ft x 4ft. The advantages of planting bed are keeping pathway weeds from soil, preventing soil compaction, providing good drainage, and serve as a barrier to pests such as slugs and snails.

Making planting bed process

Making planting bed process

Complete planting bed

  Hence , after the planting bed is done , chicken dung was applied. This is an organic fertilizer that high nitrogen and have balanced nutrients.

Making holes to put chicken dung

Chicken dung

Land Clearing

   Land clearing is the process of removing trees, stumps, brush, stones and other obstacles from an area as required to increase the size of the crop producing landbase of an existing farm or to provide land for a new farm operation.The land clearing was crucial because it makes the land being cleared safer. Often before land clearing, the land is filled with dead trees, rotting wood, and any type of garbage that may be found. Next, it will make the environment around it healthier because rotting stumps and trees on the plot of land they are often housing diseases that can quickly spread to other parts of the land and neighboring areas. They also tend to attract pests and termites. In addition it will adds an aesthetic appeal to the land itself. Before land clearing, the acreage is often ugly and filled with dying plant life, unwanted vegetation, and trash.

Below is the picture during the land clearing process.

Picture before the land clearing.

land clearing process

land clearing process

land clearing process

Picture after the land clearing

This land clearing was helped by the student of DPIM part 1, we are very thankful to them because this process become more faster.