Welcome to GattPrep!
Welcome back, young grower! 🌽👩🏽🌾
Now that you understand the principles of crop production, let’s zoom in on the techniques—the “how-to” of farming. Think of it like cooking: principles tell you what to do, but techniques show you how to do it.
In this lesson, you’ll learn the different ways to prepare land, sow seeds, care for crops, and manage pests and harvests. Whether it’s a backyard garden or a large-scale farm, using the right techniques makes all the difference in yield and quality.
Let’s get growing! 🌱
Land must be ready before planting begins. This involves several steps:
| Step | Purpose | Tools/Methods |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing | Remove weeds, shrubs, and trees. | Cutlass, hoe, tractor-mounted slasher |
| Ploughing | Break up and loosen soil. | Hoe, plough, tractor |
| Harrowing | Crush soil clumps and level surface. | Harrow, rake |
| Ridging or Mounding | Form beds for planting (for root/tuber crops). | Hoe, tractor |
| Adding organic matter | Improve soil fertility and structure. | Compost, manure |
📝 Why it matters:
Loosening the soil improves root penetration, drainage, and aeration. It also helps mix in organic matter or fertilizers.
Propagation means how plants reproduce or are multiplied.
A. Sexual propagation (from seeds)
Common in cereals, legumes, and vegetables (e.g. maize, beans, okro).
Seeds are sown directly in soil or nursery.
B. Asexual/Vegetative propagation (from parts of the plant)
| Crop | Plant Part Used |
|---|---|
| Cassava | Stem cuttings |
| Cocoyam | Corms |
| Yam | Setts (cut pieces of tuber) |
| Banana | Suckers |
| Sweet potato | Vines |
🧪 WASSCE Tip: Vegetative propagation produces identical offspring, is faster, and useful when seeds are not viable.
How you plant affects crop growth. Key things to consider:
Spacing: Distance between plants and rows. Prevents overcrowding.
Depth: Seeds should not be buried too deep or left too shallow.
Time of Planting: Depends on crop type and rainfall pattern.
| Crop | Spacing (Row × Plant) | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Maize | 75 cm × 25 cm | 3–5 cm |
| Cowpea | 60 cm × 20 cm | 2–3 cm |
| Yam | 1 m × 1 m (mounds) | Planted on mound top |
These are day-to-day farm activities that support healthy crop growth:
| Practice | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Weeding | Removing unwanted plants | Reduces competition for nutrients |
| Mulching | Covering soil with dry leaves or straw | Conserves moisture, controls weeds |
| Fertilization | Applying nutrients (manure or fertilizer) | Boosts growth and yield |
| Irrigation | Watering crops during dry periods | Maintains soil moisture |
| Staking | Supporting tall/weak plants with sticks | Prevents breakage (e.g., tomatoes) |
| Thinning | Removing excess seedlings | Ensures proper spacing |
| Method | Example | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | Handpicking insects | Cheap, eco-friendly |
| Cultural | Crop rotation, early planting | Breaks pest cycles |
| Biological | Introducing natural predators | Safe for environment |
| Chemical | Spraying pesticides | Quick control, but use cautiously |
⚠️ Note: Overuse of pesticides can harm humans and beneficial insects. Always follow instructions.
Harvesting
Timing is key: too early = low yield; too late = spoilage or pest attack.
Use tools like cutlasses, sickles, or harvesters.
| Crop | Harvest Signs |
|---|---|
| Maize | Husk turns dry and brown |
| Yam | Leaves yellow and start to die |
| Tomato | Fruit changes colour (green to red) |
Post-Harvest Handling
Includes drying, threshing, sorting, packaging, and storage.
👉 Dry maize before storing to avoid mould.
👉 Store root crops in cool, dry places to prevent rot.
Your school is starting a small garden to grow okro and maize. What techniques should be used from land preparation to post-harvest?
Land preparation: Clear weeds, plough and harrow soil.
Propagation: Sow okro and maize seeds directly.
Planting: Okro at 60 cm × 30 cm, Maize at 75 cm × 25 cm.
Cultural practices: Weed, mulch, water during dry days.
Pest control: Monitor for pests; use neem spray or ash.
Harvesting: Harvest okro while tender; maize when husks dry.
Post-harvest: Dry maize, store in sacks. Use okro quickly or refrigerate.
✔️ Answer: Apply appropriate techniques for each step: prepare soil, plant properly, maintain crops, and handle harvest carefully.
Which of the following is a vegetative method of propagation?
A. Planting maize seeds
B. Using yam setts
C. Broadcasting rice
D. Thinning seedlings
Answer: B. Using yam setts
Explanation: Setts are cut pieces of yam tubers used to grow new plants—this is a vegetative method.
(a) The process of removing unwanted plants from a farm is called _______.
(b) _______ is the method of applying water to crops during dry periods.
Answers:
(a) Weeding
(b) Irrigation
| Technique | Purpose |
|---|---|
| (i) Mulching | A. Avoid overcrowding |
| (ii) Thinning | B. Maintain moisture and reduce weeds |
| (iii) Pesticide spraying | C. Kill harmful organisms |
Answers:
(i) → B
(ii) → A
(iii) → C
Q: Why is proper land preparation important before planting?
A: It loosens the soil, improves aeration, helps root growth, and mixes in nutrients or compost to support healthy crops.
In this lesson, we explored:
Land must be cleared, ploughed, and enriched before planting.
Crops can be propagated sexually (seeds) or asexually (plant parts).
Planting techniques include proper spacing, depth, and timing.
Cultural practices like weeding and mulching keep crops healthy.
Pest control can be cultural, biological, or chemical.
Harvesting and post-harvest handling preserve crop quality.
Choose one crop (e.g. cassava, tomato, or maize). Write out or describe step-by-step how you would grow and manage it—from land prep to harvest. Which techniques are most important and why?
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