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