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.

Introduction

  Firstly, I create this blog for my degree in technology and plantation management course at UITM KAMPUS JASIN, MELAKA.

   In this first semester especially for subject FPA 400 , we are needed to plant crop from the earlier process of plantation to harvesting and selling the crops. 

   The activity during the first week was started by roll call at 6.30am. , greeting the dean, the lecturers, and the staff in the faculty of plantation . Then we continued to build our organisation that consists of :

1)lectures

2)supervisors

3)chairman/kangani(KG)

4)treasurer

5)purchaser (purchased boots,mini tools,hats,gloves)

6)caterer

7)storekeeper

8)chairman of small group 

boots and mini tools

hats and gloves

  The first step is Land Clearing , i will discuss on the next post ...