Sunday, May 12, 2019

Identification of Crop Plants

 Hi, welcome to my blog. In this entry, I will share with you about week 5 for my field work course. For me, this week activity was very interesting because my classmate and I have to identify crop plants and find out the crop planted area UiTM. The task for this week was Identification of crop plants. We need to bring majung paper and marker pen for identification, labeling and inventory of crops plants. First of all, Madam Nabila Huda briefed and explained to students about type of crop plants.

5.1 Madam Nabila briefed to students about crop plants

  For your information, there are many type of crop plants. 

Type of crop plants:


    1.Woody plant
   2. Shrub plant
            3. Ornamental plant
4.Herb plant
  5. Fruity plant
  6.Major Crops


1. Woody plant
  • A woody plant is a plant that produces wood as its structural tissue. Woody plants are usually either trees, shrubs, or lianas. These are usually perennial plants whose stems and larger roots are reinforced with wood produced from secondary xylem. The main stem, larger branches, and roots of these plants are usually covered by a layer of bark. Wood is a structural cellular adaptation that allows woody plants to grow from above ground stems year after year, thus making some woody plants the largest and tallest terrestrial plants.
Image result for coconut tree
Example of woody plant : Coconut tree

2. Shrub plant


  • A shrub or bush is a small- to medium-sized woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height, and are usually under 6 m (20 ft) tall. Plants of many species may grow either into shrubs or trees, depending on their growing conditions. Small, low shrubs, generally less than 2 m (6.6 ft) tall, such as lavender, periwinkle and most small garden varieties of rose, are often termed "subshrubs".
Image result for hibiscus shrub
Example of shrub plant : Hibiscus


3. Ornamental plant
  • Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as houseplants, cut flowers and specimen display. The cultivation of ornamental plants is called floriculture, which forms a major branch of horticulture. Commonly, ornamental [garden] plants are grown for the display of aesthetic features including: flowers, leaves, scent, overall foliage texture, fruit, stem and bark, and aesthetic form. In some cases, unusual features may be considered to be of interest, such as the prominent thorns of Rosa sericea and cacti. In all cases, their purpose is for the enjoyment of gardeners, visitors, and the public institutions.
Image result for mother in law tongue
Example of ornamental plant : Mother-in-law's tongue

4. Herb plant
  • In general use, herbs are plants with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, medicinal purposes, or for fragrances; excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients. Culinary use typically distinguishes herbs from spices. Herbs generally refers to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits.
Image result for herb plant
Example of herb plant : Mint
5. Fruity fruit
  • A fruit tree is a tree which bears fruit that is consumed or used by humans and some animals — all trees that are flowering plants produce fruit, which are the ripened ovaries of flowers containing one or more seeds. In horticultural usage, the term 'fruit tree' is limited to those that provide fruit for human food. Types of fruits are described and defined elsewhere (see Fruit), but would include "fruit" in a culinary sense, as well as some nut-bearing trees, such as walnuts. The scientific study and the cultivation of fruits is called pomology, which divides fruits into groups based on plant morphology and anatomy. 
Image result for cempedak tree
Example of fruity plant : Jackfruit tree

6. Major crops
  • Agriculture in Malaysia makes up twelve percent of the nation's GDP. Sixteen percent of the population of Malaysia is employed through some sort of agriculture. Large-scale plantations were established by the British. These plantations opened opportunity for new crops such as rubber (1876), palm oil (1917), and cocoa (1950). A number of crops are grown for domestic purpose such as bananas, coconuts, durian, pineapples, rice and rambutan.
Image result for kelapa sawit
Example of major crop : Oil Palm

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Seed Handling, Treatment And Method of Sowing

    Hi, welcome back. For this entry, I want to share with you about week 4. As usual, I woke up in the early morning and gathered at the assembly site. In this week,I  learned about seed handling, treatment and method of sowing. Madam Wajihah (lecturer) was briefed to us about seed handling and treatment.

4.1 Madam Wajihah gave some i nformation about seed handling and treatment

  For your information, Seed is defined as (a dormant plant which develops into a complete plant when subjected to environmental conditions). Seed germination is the process where embryonic plant is contained in the seed leads to emergence of new plant. The embryo formed is wrapped in a seed coat. When the seeds are not subjected to environment, they remain dormant. Factors that affecting germination are water, oxygen, temperature and light.

   Before we plant the seed,we must do seed treatment . The function of seed treatment is to protect seed from the fungi, pest and disease. It is important because it will increase to germination percentage and reduce the disease incident from repeat again. There are several type of seed treatment that we have learned. Firstly, seedcoating by using chemical protectant that content with nutrient, fungicide or pesticide whether by apply  direct coating or film coating of the seed. Secondly, pelleting by rolling seed with chemical solution or granular form but we need to be careful because it tend to be more easily damage the seed. Thirdly, seed priming which is the most efficient ways. It is a pre-sowing treatment . We need to soak the seed into the osmotic solution whether fungicide or pesticide for at least 5 hours. Then, we also learned about physical seed treatment.  There are 4 type which is solar heat treatment (dry and expose seed to sunlight), hot water treatment (soak seed into hot water for overnight), dry heat treatment (by using machine that produce heat to the seed) and arrested stim treatment (heat traps to soften the seed). This physical treatment help seed to germinate well.

4.2 Planter executive explained to students about the uses and function of Thiram 80

     Before that, we was prepared 10 L of thiram solution from 20 g of thiram.  Thiram is a synthetic sulphur that containing compound used as fungicide and seed protectant. We were given a few oil palm seeds. In this opportunity, we gained new knowledge about the structure of oil pam seed. We have searched some information about the morphology of oil palm. The scientific name of oil palm is Elaeis guineensis.

Image result for oil palm seed
4.3 Elaeis guineensis (oil palm)


Related image
4.4 Structure of oil palm seed

    For additional information, crude palm oil (CPO) is extracted from mesocarp while palm kernel oil (PKO) is extracted from kernel. Depending on the varities, generally the ration of CPO to PKO is about 10:1. 90% of all palm oil is used for food. Other use in biodiesel, sanitary products etc.


Seed preparation and treatment:

First step, we peel off the outer layer of the oil palm seeds. Then, we soaked all that seed into thiram solution in the plastic container about 5 hours. After 5 hours, the seeds were transferred and plant into the black tray that consist with compost and soil. We let them in the greenhouse to get the perfect climatic condition for the plant growth.


For better understanding, let's take a look at this video:

4.5 Steps of Seed treatment 

That's all from me for this week. Thank You to lend me your eyes. See again at next entry.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Soil Mixtures


     Hi readers, for this entry I will share with you about week 3. I woke up in the early morning and get ready to do for this week activities. As usual, all students FPA gathered at assembly site at the morning. In this week, our (class 2F-2J) activity was soil mixtures. First of all, we learned  the basic knowledge about soil. Mr. Nuruddin was briefed to us about soil mixture.

3.1 Sir Nuruddin explained to students about soil mixtures

    For your information, Topsoil or surface soil is the major zone of root development for crop plants. It contains many of the nutrients available to plants and supplies much of the water necessary for their growth. The subsoil is those layers underneath the topsoil. It contains low organic matter and stores much of the water needed by plants. Mineral soils consist of four major components: inorganic or mineral materials, organic matter, water and air. The solid mineral particles comprise about 45% of the soil volume and organic matter 5%. An optimum moisture for plant growth, the pore space is divided roughly in half, 25% of the volume being water space and 25% air. The volume of composition highly varies with soil types. Air and water contents in soils are more variable.


Major Component of Mineral Soils  
3.2 Volume composition of a loam surface soil when in good condition for plant growth

  1.     Soil Organic matter comprises an accumulation of partially disintegrated and decomposed plant and animal residues and other organic compounds synthesized by the soil microbes as the decay occurs. The OM content of a typically well-drained mineral soil is small varying from 1 to 6% by weight of the topsoil and even less in the subsoils. It is an important source of plant nutrients and increases the soil’s ability to hold water. 
  2.    For soil Water, water is held in the soil pores with varying degrees of tenacity depending on the amount of water present and the size of the pores. Together with its soluble constituents, including nutrient elements (e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium), soil water makes up the soil solution. The soil solution contains small amount but significant quantities of soluble inorganic and organic compounds, some of which contain elements that are essential for plant growth. One other critical property of the soil solution is its acidity and alkalinity.Not all soil water is available to plants. Soil water provides the moisture for chemical reactions.  
  3. For soil Air, the content and composition of soil air are determined largely by the water content of the soil, since the air occupies those soil pores not filled with water. Some gases are consumed by plant roots and by microbial reactions while others are released. Therefore the composition of soil air is quite dynamic.  Carbon dioxide in soil air is often several hundred times higher than the 0.03% commonly found in the atmosphere. Oxygen decreases accordingly, may be lesser than of the 20% for normal atmosphere.

     We applied ratio of 3:2:1 based on standard nursery for soil mixture. Number 3 refer to top soil, number 2 refer to organic matter, and number 1 refer to sand. organic matter influences the most important soil properties such as nutrient and water holding capacity, structure, hence fertility.

                                                         Function of organic matter:
Organic matter can hold up to 20 times its weight in water (increase water holding capacity)
Permits exchange of gases, stabilizes structure (aggregate formation)
buffering in slightly acid, neutral and alkaline ranges-leading to uniform pH
30-40 % of CEC
Source of nutrients
           
     Before we mix the soil, we learned how to fold and make base correct base for the polybag. It is important to know this step so that the soil can occupied  the whole space at the bottom of polybag.


3.3 Students from class 2G managed to fold polybags.

After that, we mix the soil according to the ratio 3:2:1. Chicken dung was used as the organic matter.

3.4 Some of us mixed all the mixtures based on ratio 3:2:1

Finally, the soil mixtures inserted into the polybag and we divided and insert that mixtures into 5 small polybags.


3.5 The soil mixtures were inserted into small polybag.

In this week, I learned new things and some information about soil mixture. Actually there are a lot ratio that we can use for soil mixture. But, 3:2:1 is the best ratio for nursery activity. I hope you enjoy to read this entry. Thank you for visit my blog and see next entry.


Site Selection And Farm Clearing

                                                                                                                                               8 Mac 2019



    In week 2, we learned about site selection and farm clearing from the lecturers. As usual, we gathered at assembly site in the early morning. We recited surah Al-Kahfi and Asma ul-husna and followed by singing National Anthem and UiTM Di Hatiku song. After that, representer from each part gave their talk about current issues in Malaysia's plantation. Students part 2 were divided into 3 group to do activites that had been planned for this week. So, for this week we did land clearing and learned about site selection. Before we proceed our activity, the lecturer which is Madam Fatin Khairuddin was briefed about site selection and farm clearing. 



2.1 Lecturer briefed to students about site selection and preparation.

   For your information, nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to usable size. Some of them specialize in one phase of the process: propagation, growing out, or retail sale; or in one type of plant e.g., groundcovers, shade plants, or rock garden plants.



Function of nursery:


  • To sold up and tranplant the plant into the field
  • To provide the material of the highest possible quality.


The purpose of land preparation is to provide the necessary soil conditions which will enhance the successful establishment of the new plant

Includes:

    - Field selection;
    - Mechanical actions to be implemented;
    - Tillage
    -  Lining, terracing and holing
    - Chemical needs for pre-plant soil improvement;
    - Irrigation design and installation

Site selection: Among the criteria for selection are:


  1. Fertile soil
  2. Flat or slightly undulating land/area (Topography)
  3. Open area and no shading
  4. Area near to water source
  5. Proximity the highways

Land clearing 
The farm site must be clear from bush and removal, stones, rock and debris. The area must be cleared of all the tree plants that might be a hosts to fungal diseases. Removing them first may help eliminate or reduce root disease infection in young planting later on.


   After that, we have been instructed to do land clearing at wakaf site. My classmates and I were removed  all  unwanted plant that grow up around the wakaf site. We also transferred  the dead plant in the vase and put them on one place. Next, we moved to other place which is pasture site. We did land clearing by remove all the weeds, grass and remove the unwanted plants.

2.2 Students from class 2G did land clearing by removed dried grass and weeds at wakaf site.

 
2.3 Some students did lining to measure the area of the wakaf site by using measuring tape.

After we done our task, we took a break for a while and having a breakfast. Around 11.30 a.m we end our activity.

In this week, I learned and gained more knowledge about site preparation and land clearing. Thank you for lend me your eyes and I hope you enjoy to read this entry. Don't forget to read again in next entry. Bye.😆😆😆