10

Technology & Livelihood E ducation

Agricultural Crop Production

Learner’s Material

GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
NOT FOR SALE
ALLOTTED TO
District/ School : _______________________ _ ________ _ __ ___ ___
Division ________________________________ _ ____________ ___ _
First Year of Use: __________________ ________ ________ ___ ____ i
Source of Fund (Year included ):____________________ __ ____
Technology & Livelihood Education – Grade 10
Agricultural Crop Production
Learner’s Material
First Edition, 2014
ISBN: ___________

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work of the
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etc.) included in this book are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every effort has
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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC Undersecretary :
Yolanda S. Quijano, PhD
Assistant Secretary: Elena R. Ruiz, PhD

Development Team of the Teaching Guide

Consultant: PEDRITO S. NITURAL , PhD
Central Luzon State University Science
City of Munos, Nueva Ecija
Subject Specialist & Management:
EMMANUEL S. VALDEZ, ALBERT B. ERNI
Authors: JESUS B. NAZARENO, MDM
Pri nci pal III, Bersamin Agro-Industrial High School
Di vi sion of Pangasinan II, Region I
RODOLFO C. SAJORDA, MSAE
Pri nci pal, Queen of Heart Academy
Da s marinas Ci ty, Ca vi te
Validated By: Dr. Dennis M. Lucas, Sr
EPP/TLE Di v. Coordi nator
Di vi sion Of Puerto Pri ncessa Ci ty

Andres Z. Taguiam, PhD

Technological University of the Philippines
Dasmarinas City Campus
Editors: Lourdes Lualhati, Rogelio Limsan
Reviewers: Dr. Cristina Celarta, Restituta Paragas Illustrator:
James M. Gaje
Printed in the Philippines by ____________
Department of Education-Instructional MaterialsCouncil Secretariat (DepEd IMCS)
Office Address: 2nd Floor Dorm G, Philsports Complex, Meralco Avenue,
Pasig City, Philippines 1600
Telefax: (02) 634-1054, 634-1072 E-
mail Address: imcsetd@[Link]

ii
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE
Quarter I
MODULE 1 - ENTREPRENEURSHIP

WHAT IS THIS MODULE ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN

PRE TEST

LESSON I

Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECS)

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS
REFERENCES

LESSON II

M arket and Environment

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS
REFERENCES

1
MODULE II - Agricultural Crop W ork (Rice Production)

WHAT IS THIS MODULE ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU
LEARN
PRETEST

Quarter II

LESSON I

Preparation of materials, tools, and equipment for rice

production work

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON II

Site Selection and Soil analysis

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON III

Land preparation (Irrigated/rainfed)

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN

2
 WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER

POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON IV

Seed Selection

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER. POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

QUARTER III

LESSON V

Seedling production

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER. POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON VI

Planting/Transplanting

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS

3
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON VII

Nutrient M anagement

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT WHAT WILL YOU LEARN

PRE TEST
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW
WHAT TO PROCESS
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT
TO TRANSFER.
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON VIII

Water M anagement

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
PRE TEST WHAT WILL
YOU KNOW WHAT TO
PROCESS.
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

QUARTER IV

LESSON IX

Pest M anagement

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN

4
 PRE TEST WHAT WILL
YOU KNOW WHAT TO
PROCESS.
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON X

Harvesting , Threshing , Drying, Storing and M illing

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
PRE TEST
WHAT WILL YOU KNOW WHAT
TO PROCESS.
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

LESSON XI

M arketing, and Keeping Farm Records and Accounts

WHAT IS THIS LESSON ALL ABOUT

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
PRE TEST WHAT WILL
YOU KNOW WHAT TO
PROCESS.
WHAT TO REFLECT AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT TO TRANSFER
POST TEST
DEFINITION OF TERMS

REFERENCES

5
 QUARTER 1 Learning M aterial No. I

PERSONAL ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPETENCIES (PEC’S)

ACROSS MARKET AND ENVIRONMENT

Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECs)

Content Standards Performance Standards

The learner demonstrates The learner independently creates a

understanding of one’s PECs in plan of action that strengthens/ further
Agricultural-Crop Production develops his/her PECs in
AgriculturalCrop Production.

Time Allotment 4 hours

Quarter I

6
 Module 1 Personal Entrepreneurial
Competencies Introduction

In this module you will learn more about entrepreneurship and the
entrepreneurial competencies related to Agricultural-Crop Production. You will
have a first-hand experience in educational activities leading to personal
assessment of your entrepreneurial competencies of a successful crop
producer/agri-entrepreneur within your province. There are some activities
below that will help you align your competencies with the competencies of
successful practitioners. Moreover, this module is designed to stimulate your mind
to think about entrepreneurship, its role in the business community in particular
and to the economic and social development in general.
Now, to start with this module, let us first learn what is the difference between
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurs are people with skills and capabilities to build, organize and
evaluate business opportunities. They are individuals who can strategically identify
products or services needed by the community and deliver these at the right time
and the right place.
Entrepreneurs are agents of economic change; they organize, manage and
assume risks of a business. Some of the good qualities of an entrepreneur are
opportunity seeker, risk taker, goal setter, excellent planner, confident problem
solver, hardworking, persistent and committed worker.
Entrepreneurship on the other hand is not just a simple business activity. It
is a strategic process of innovation and new venture creation. Basically,
entrepreneurship is both an art and a science of converting business ideas into
marketable products or services to improve the quality of living.
Now that you have a little background knowledge about entrepreneur and
entrepreneurship, can you now walk through in assessing your Personal
Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECs)? Always remember that “Successful
entrepreneurs continuously develop and improve their PECs.”

To begin with, let us first try to find out the competencies you will master
after finishing this module.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

- identify areas for improvement, development and growth;

- align your PECs according to your business/career choice; and
- create a plan of action that ensures success in your business/career choice

7
 Now that you have an idea about the enabling knowledge and skill that you will
develop/achieve and master, try to take the first challenge in this module the pre-
assessment.

Pre

As part of your initial activity, you will be challenged to test your knowledge
on the topic. To diagnose/assess what you already know about personal
entrepreneurial competencies. Answer the tasks below.

Task 1: Matching Type

Direction: Match the entrepreneurial competencies in column A with their

meaning in column B. Write the letter of the correct answers in your test
notebook /test paper.

A B
____1. Creative a. makes a wise decision towards the
attainment of the set objectives
____2. Profit Oriented b. strategic thinking and setting of goals
____3. Discipline c. trusts in one’s ability
____4. Decision Making d. adaptable to change
____5. People Skill e. innovative, have edge over other competitors
____6. Planner f. solid dedication
____7. Self-confidence g. skillful in record keeping

8
____8. Hardworking h. always sticks to the plan
____9. Ability to accept change i. works diligently
____10. Committed j effective and efficient communication skills
and relationship with people
k. always looks for income
Task 2: Guide Questions

Direction: The following are guide questions which encapsulate the entire module.
Write your answers on your assignment notebook, then share these in class.

A. Explain why entrepreneurial activities are important to social development and

progress of the economy.
B. What entrepreneurial activities do you know and are capable of doing which are
related to agri-business?
C. Given the opportunity to own a business that relates with agricultural crop-
production, are you confident to manage it? Explain your answer.
D. What do you think are the most important competencies you must possess in
order to become successful in your chosen business?
E. Name successful entrepreneurs from your province whose business is related
to agricultural-crop production. Be able to share with the class their PECs
that made them successful.

After all the guide questions have been answered to the best of your
knowledge and skills, share these with your classmates. You, too, may compare
your insights, personal knowledge, and relevant experiences on the topic to make
it more exciting and engaging.

LEARNING GOALS AND TARGET

After reading and understanding the objectives of this module and having
gone through pre-assessment and answering the guide questions, you will be
asked to set your own personal goals. These goals will inspire you to further
achieve the ultimate objective of this module. In the end, these goals would
motivate you to learn more about PECs.

Goals and Learning Ultimate

Targets Activities
Goal
9
Figure 1: Strategic process to achieve the objectives of this module.

READING RESOURCES AND INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES

After setting your own personal goals and targets to achieve the objectives
of this module, check first your inherent knowledge of PECs. Try to answer the
following guide questions with the help of your classmates.

Task 3: Group Activity

Direction: Answer the following guide questions on a separate sheet of paper.

Share your answer with the class.

1. Explain the importance of assessing one’s PECs before engaging in a particular

entrepreneurial activity.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
______.

2. Are there other strategies or approaches where you can assess your PECs?
Explain how these would become more useful in selecting a viable business
venture.
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
______.

3. What are the desirable personal characteristics, attributes, lifestyles, skills, and
traits of a prospective entrepreneur? Why do you think these are important?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
______.

4. Why is there a need to assess one’s PECs in terms of characteristics, attributes,

lifestyles, skills, and traits before starting a particular business?
10
 ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

5. What is the significance of evaluating PECs of a successful entrepreneur?

What helpful insights can you draw from this activity?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
__________.

How was your experience in answering the guide questions together with your
classmates? Were you able to benefit from them? What insights have you realized?
This time you’re going to study the lessons that will enrich your knowledge
about PECs. Read carefully all the important details about the succeeding topic.

Assessment of Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies (PECs) and skills

vis-à-vis a practicing entrepreneur/employee in a province.

Here is an example of how a successful practitioner behaves. You can evaluate

her attitude towards agricultural crop production and the business opportunity that
lies ahead.

REBECCA C. TUBONGBANUA: WOMAN FARMER-SCIENTIST

September 26, 2010 filipino achievers
Woman-Farmer-Scientist

Rebecca Tubongbanua is a successful agri-entrepreneur from San

Isidro,Buenavista, Guimaras. She entered the world of business in 2003, with a
measly capital amounting seven thousand pesos.

11
 She toiled for several years experimenting and perfecting her sulfite-free
and low-sugar technology in processing indigenous fruits, primarily the Guimaras
mangoes.

She put up an agri-business firm-the McNester, which caters to consumers

in the national and global market as well. Her processed commodities include
mango jam, mango-calamansi concentrate, dried mango, mango chutney,
calamansi juice, mango with calamansi juice, mango sauce, mango ketchup -
regular, pineapple ketchup-hot and spicy, Indian mango pickles, and pineapple
marmalade.

Tagbanua was elected as President of the Guimaras, Producers and

Processors Association. In 2007, she was chosen as Magsasakang Siyentista
(Farmers Scientist), and elected as Secretary General of the National Scientists
Association. In addition, she was nominated as Gawad Saka Awardee, and
because of her numerous achievements, she was cited by former Agriculture
Secretary Arthur Yap in 2010 as one of the top 200 agri-entrepreneur of the
country.

The entrepreneurial competencies refer to the important characteristics

that should be possessed by an individual in order to perform entrepreneurial
functions effectively. In this module, you will learn some of the most important
characteristics, attributes, lifestyle, skills, and traits of a successful entrepreneur in
order to be successful in a chosen career.

Below are few important characteristics/traits/attributes of a good

entrepreneur:

• Hardworking: One of the important characteristics of a good

entrepreneur is being a hard worker. This means habitually working
diligently for hours. Hardworking people keep on improving their
performance to produce good products and/or provide good services.

• Self-confident: Entrepreneurs have confidence in their own ability and

judgment. They exhibit self-confidence which enables them to cope
with all the risks in operating their own business.

• Discipline: Successful entrepreneurs always stick to the plan and fight

the temptation to do what is unimportant.

12
• Committed: A good entrepreneur accepts full responsibility in all
aspects of his/her business. He/she gives full commitment and solid
dedication to make the business succeed.

• Ability to accept change: Nothing is permanent but change. Change

occurs frequently. When one owns a business, he/she should cope
with and thrive on changes. He capitalizes on positive changes to make
his business grow.

• Creative: An entrepreneur should be creative and innovative to stay in

business and in order to have an edge over other competitors.

• Has the Initiative: An entrepreneur takes the initiative. He assumes

responsibility in the failure or success of his business.

• Profit-Oriented: A person enters the world of business to generate

profit or additional income. Therefore, he must see to it that the
business would prosper.

Listed below are the important skills of a successful entrepreneur.

• Planner: Planning is a strategic thinking and setting of goals to achieve

objectives and carefully maximizing all the available resources. A good
entrepreneur develops and applies step-by-step plans to realize goals.
He knows that planning is effective only when combined with diligent
action.

• People Skills: are skills which are very important in order to be

successful in any kind of business. People skills refer to an effective
and efficient communication and relationship with people working in and
out of the business. In day-to-day business transactions, one needs to
deal with people. Well- developed people skills can spell out the
difference between success and failure of the business.

• Decision Making: Successful entrepreneurs have the ability to think

quickly and make a wise decision towards the pre-determined set of
objectives. No one can deny that the ability to make decision is an
important skill that an entrepreneur should possess. Sound decision
should spring out from given facts/information and should be directed
towards the pre-determined objectives.

13
 Process

In order to firm up what you have learned and to have a better appreciation
of the different entrepreneurial competencies, try to read the PECs checklist
presented below, then answer the same.

Task 4: PECs Checklist

Directions: Using the PECs Checklist, assess yourself by indicating a check (/)
mark in either strengths and/or development areas column. Interpret the results by
counting the total number of check marks in each of the columns. After
accomplishing the checklist, form a group and share your insights and experiences
why you have come up with that personal assessment.

Table 1: PECs Checklist

Personal Assessment in terms of:

Personal Entrepreneurial Competencies Strength Development

of an Entrepreneur Areas
Hardworking
- Works diligently
Self-confident
- Confidence in one’s ability
Discipline
- Sticks to the plan
Committed
- Solid dedication
Ability to accept change
- Adaptable to
change
Creative
- Innovative to have an edge over
other competitors

14
 Profit-oriented
- Always looks for income

Planner
- Strategically thinks and sets goals

People Skills
- Has effective and efficient
communication skills and
relationship with people
Decision Making
- Makes a wise decision towards the set
objectives
TOTAL

Interpretation/Insights:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.

How was your experience in discovering your strengths and the areas to be
developed? Did you gain valuable experience in exchanging insights with your
classmates? To learn more and deepen your understanding of PECs, do Task 5
below.
Task 5:
Interview

15
 Interview successful agri-business owners or entrepreneurs in your
province whose type of business is related with agricultural-crop production.
Focus your interview on PECs and other business-related attributes that help them
become successful. Analyze the result of the interview and reflect on the
similarities and/or differences. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Sample Interview Guide

Name of Proprietor/Practitioner: _____________________________________

Age: _______________________ Number of Years in Business: ___________
Business Name: _________________________________________________
Business Address: _______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

1. What are your preparations before you engaged in this type of

business/job?
2. What are your special skills/characteristics that are related to your
business/job?
3. How did you solve business-related problems during the early years of
your business operation?
4. Did you follow the tips from a successful businessman/practitioner before
you engaged in your business?
5. What are your best business practices that you can share with aspiring
students?
6. What are your salient characteristics, attributes, lifestyle, skills, and traits
that made you successful in your business/job?

Note: Ask the needed information from the interview to supply answer/s to
Row 1 in the table below. Meanwhile, fill out the second row with your
PECs.
Personal
Entrepreneurial
Competencies Characteristics Attributes Lifestyles Skills Traits

16
 Successful
Entrepreneur in the
province

My PECs

Using the information from the table above, analyze, and reflect on the
similarities and differences in your answers. Put your reflection on the table
below. Write your conclusion on the space provided on the next page.

Personal
Entrepreneurial Similarities Differences
Competencies

Characteristics

Attributes

Lifestyles

Skills

Traits

Conclusion:
___________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
____________________________ .

17
 After performing the activities on the importance of PECs, let us determine
how much you have learned. Perform Task 6 to determine how well you have
understood the lesson.
Task 6: Preparation of a Plan of Action

Directions: Using the table below and the information generated from Task 5
(Interview), prepare an action plan that indicates how you would align
your PECs to the PECs of the successful agri-business owners in your
province.

Objective Area Activities Strategies Time Expected

Frame Outcome

To align my PECs with Characteristics

the
PECs of a
successful entrepreneur
in
agribuisness/agricrop..

Skills

18
 Attributes

Traits

Task 7: Essential Questions

Direction: Read and study the following questions below. You may use a separate
sheet of paper or your notebook to write your answers.

1. Why is there a need to compare and align your PECs with the PECs of a
successful entrepreneur?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
____________________________.

2. How does your action plan help sustain your strong PECs and/or address your
development areas?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
____________________________.

19
 3. What plan of action would you do to address your development areas?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
_______________.

ENVIRONMENT AND MARKET (EM)

Content Standards Performance Standards

The learner demonstrates The learner independently creates a

understanding of environment and business vicinity map reflective of
market in agricultural-crop potential market in agri-business in a
production in one’s province. province.

Time Allotment: 4 hours

Quarter I
Module 2 Environment and Market Introduction

People who aspire to start a business need to explore the economic, cultural
and social conditions prevailing in the area. Needs and wants of the people around
the vicinity that are not met may be considered as business opportunities.
Identifying the needs of the community, its resources, available raw materials,
skills, and appropriate technology can help a new entrepreneur in seizing a
business opportunity.

To be successful in any kind of business venture, potential entrepreneurs

should always look closely at the environment and market. They should always be
watchful of the existing opportunities and constraints. The opportunities in the
business environment are those factors that provide possibilities for a business to
expand and make more profits. Constraints, on the other hand, are those factors
that limit the ability to grow, hence reducing the chance of generating profit. One of
the best ways to evaluate the opportunities and constraints is to conduct SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis.

SWOT analysis is a managerial tool to assess the environment. It gathers

important information, which in turn is used in crafting a strategic plan. Strengths
and weaknesses are internal in an organization. Basically they relate to resources
20
owned by the organization, things that one has control over, as- well as the extent
of its marketing capability.

Opportunities and Threats exist in the external environment. Opportunities

relate to the market, development of new technologies, and external factors such
as government policies, climate, and trends. Threats relate to what the competition
is doing as well as legal and other constraints.

Now that you have read some of the important things to consider to succeed
in any business, you are now ready to explore more about the environment and
market.

To begin with, let’s first try to find out the competencies that you will master
after finishing this module.

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this module, you are expected to:

- identify what is of “Value” to the customer;

- identify the customer to sell to;
- explain what makes a product unique and competitive;
- apply creativity and innovative techniques to develop marketable product;
and
- employ a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to the product/service.

Now that you have an idea about the things you will learn, try to take the first
challenge in this module-- the pre-assessment.

21
 Pre

Task I: Multiple Choice

Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. This is generated by examining what goods and services are sold outside the
community.
A. Business Creation C. Business Concept
B. Business Pricing D. Business Idea
2. A process of making a new product to be sold to the customers.
A. Product Analysis C. Product
Development
B. Product Conceptualization D. Product
Implementation
3. These are luxuries, advantages, and desires that every individual considers
beyond necessary.
A. Wants C. Requirements
B. Desires D. Needs
4. This is the factor or consideration presented by a seller as the reason that one
product or service is better and different from that of the competitors.
A. Unique Selling Plan C. Unique Pricing
Policy
B. Unique Selling Proposition D. Finding Value-
Added

5. In this stage, the needs of the target market are identified, reviewed, and
evaluated.
A. Concept Development C. Project
Development

22
 B. Economic Analysis D. Refine Specification 6. This is the
introduction of a new idea to make the product and services more attractive
and saleable to prospective customers.
A. New Idea C. Product Development
B. Creativity D. Innovation
7. A managerial tool used to assess the environment in gathering important
information used for strategic planning.
A. Environmental Scanning C. WOTS Analysis
B. SWOT Analysis D. Survey Analysis
8. A marketing practice of creating name, symbol or design that identifies and
differentiate a product from others.
A. Product Naming C. Branding
B. Unique Selling Proposition D. Tagline

9. This is a meaningful and unforgettable statement that captures the essence

of your brand.
A. Product Naming C. Branding
B. Unique Selling Proposition D. Tagline
10. These are the things that people cannot live without.
A. Wants C. Requirements
B. Desires D. Needs

Task 2: Guide Questions:

Directions: Read and study the guide questions below. You may use a
separate sheet of paper to write your responses to the guide
questions.

1. How does one determine the product or service to be offered/delivered to

the target customers?

2. How does one select an entrepreneurial activity?

3. When can one say that a certain product has a “value”?

4. Are innovation and creativity to your product/service important? Explain.

5. How can one effectively respond to the needs of the target customer?

23
 6. What is the importance of scanning the environment and market in
generating business idea?

7. What is your level of confidence in formulating a business idea after your

self assessment? Explain.

After all the guide questions have been answered and skills have been
mastered, share them with your classmates. Discuss your insights, personal
knowledge of, and relevant experiences on the topic to make it more exciting and
engaging.

LEARNING GOALS AND TARGET

After reading and understanding the objectives of this module and having
gone through pre-assessment and answering the guide questions, you will be
asked to set your own personal goals. These goals will inspire you to further
achieve the ultimate objective of this module. In the end, these goals would
motivate you to learn more about Environment and Market.

Goals and Learning Ultimate

Targets Activities
Goal

Figure 2: Strategic process to reach the objectives of this module

READING RESOURCES AN D INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES

After setting your own personal goals and targets to achieve the objectives
of this module, you will have the opportunity to read and learn more about
environment and market. You, too, will also be given a chance to do practical
exercises and activities to deepen your understanding of the topic.

24
Product Development

When we talk of product development, we are referring to a process of

making a new product to be sold by a business or enterprise to its customers.
Product development may involve modification of an existing product or its
presentation, or formulation of an entirely new product that satisfies a newly
defined customer’s needs and/or want and/or a market place.

The term development in this module refers collectively to the entire process
of identifying a market opportunity, creating a product to appeal to the identified
market, and finally, testing, modifying and refining the product until this will be
ready for production. This product can be any item to be sold to the consumers.

There are basic, yet vital questions that you can ask yourself. When you
shall find acceptable answers to these, you can say that you are ready to develop
a product and/or render service.
1. For whom are the product/service aimed?
2. What benefit will the customers expect from it?
3. How will the product differ from the existing brand? Or from their
competitor?

Likewise, needs and wants of the people within the area should also be taken
into consideration. Everyone has his or her own needs and wants.
However, people have different concepts of needs and wants. Needs in business
are important things that every individual do without in a society. These include:
1. Basic commodities for consumption
2. Clothing and other personal belongings
3. Shelter, sanitation and health
4. Education

Basic needs are essential to every individual so he/she may be able to live
with dignity and pride in the community of people. These needs can obviously help
you generate business ideas and subsequently to develop a marketable product.

25
 Wants are desires, luxury, and extravagance that signify wealth and an
expensive way of living. Wants or desires are considered above all the basic
necessities of life. Some examples are the eagerness or the passion of every
individual which are non- basic needs like fashion accessories, shoes, clothes,
travelling around the world, eating in an exclusive restaurant, watching movies,
concerts, plays, having luxurious cars, wearing expensive jewelry, perfume, living
in impressive homes, and others.
Needs and wants of people are the basic indicators of the kind of business
that you may engage into because they can serve as the measure of your success.
Some other good points that you might consider in business undertakings are the
people, their needs, wants, lifestyle, culture, and tradition, and social orientation.
To summarize, product development entirely depends on the needs and wants of
the customers. Another important issue to deal with are the key concept of
developing a product. The succeeding topic shall enlighten you about the
procedure in coming up with a product concept.

Concepts of Developing a Product

Concept development is a very critical phase in developing of a product.

From this stage, the needs of the target market are identified and competitive
products are reviewed before the product specifications are defined. The product
concept is selected along with an economic analysis to come up with an outline of
how a product is being developed. Below is a figure that shows the stages of
concept development of a product.

Figure 3: Concept Development

The process of product development follows these steps:

A. Identify Customer Needs - Using survey forms, interviews, researches,

focused group discussions, and observations an entrepreneur can easily
identify customers’ needs and wants. In this stage, the information that can
possibly be gathered here are product specifications (performance, taste, size,
color, shape, life span of the product, etc.). This stage is very important
because this would determine the product to be produced or provided.

26
B. Establish Target Specifications - Based on customers' needs and reviews
of competitive products, you may now establish target specifications of the
prospective new product and/or service. Target specifications are essentially
a wish-list.

C. Analyze Competitive Products - It is imperative to analyze existing

competitive products to provide important information on establishing
product/service specifications. Other products may exhibit successful design
attributes that should be emulated or improved upon in the new
product/service.

D. Generate Product Concepts - After having gone through with the previous
processes, you may now develop a number of product concepts to illustrate
what types of product/service are both technically feasible and would best
meet the requirements of the target consumers/market.

E. Select a Product Concept - Through the process of evaluation between

attributes, a final concept is selected. After the final selection, additional
market research can be applied to obtain feedbacks from certain key
customers.

F. Refine Product Specifications - In this stage, product/service specifications

are refined on the basis of input from the foregoing activities. Final
specifications are the results of extensive study. Expected service life and
projected selling price are being considered in this stage.

G. Perform Economic Analysis - Throughout the process of product

development, it is very important to always review and estimate the economic
implications regarding development expenses, manufacturing costs, and
selling price of the product/service to be offered/provided.

H. Plan the Remaining Development Project - In this final stage of concept

development, you may prepare a detailed development plan which includes
a list of activities, the necessary resources and expenses, and a development
schedule with milestones for tracking progress.

Finding Value

27
 People buy for a reason, there should be something in your
product/service that would give consumers a good reason to go back and buy for
more. There must be something that has to make you the best option for your target
customers; otherwise they have no reason to buy what you are selling. This implies
further, that you offer something to your customers which they will value or
treasure.

The value that you incorporate to your product is called value proposition.
Value proposition is “a believable collection of the most persuasive reasons people
should notice you and take the action you are asking for.” Value is created by
fulfilling deep desires and solving deep problems. This is what gets the people
moving, and keep them spending for your product/service.

Innovation

Innovation is the introduction of something new in your product/service.

This may be a new idea, a new method or a device. If you want to increase your
sales and profit you must innovate. Some of the possible innovations in your
products are change in packaging, improved taste, color, size, shape, and perhaps
price. Some of the possible innovations in providing services are application of new
improved methods, additional feature of product/ services, and possibly, freebies.

Let us go back to what [Link] did with the Guimaras mangoes

aside from its known qualities. She made mango jam, mango calamansi
concentrate, mango sauce, mango ketchup-regular to make a difference from
other existing products in the market.

28
Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

Unique Selling Proposition is the factor or consideration presented by a seller as

the reason that the product or service being offered is different from and better
than that of other key players or competitors. Before you can begin to sell your
product or service to your target customers, you have to sell yourself into it. This
is especially important when your product or service is similar to those around you.
USP would require careful analysis of other businesses' ads and marketing
messages. If you analyze what they say or what they sell, apart from the qualities
of their product or service, you can learn a great deal about how companies
distinguished themselves from competitors.

Here's how to discover your USP and use it to increase your sales and profit:

• Use empathy: Put yourself in the shoes of your customers. Always

focus on the needs of the target customers and forget falling in love with
your own product or service. Always remember, you are making this product
or providing for the target customers to eventually increase sales and earn
high profit. You are not making this product or service for yourself. Essential
questions such as what could make them come back again and again and
ignore your competitors? Most possible answers will be focused on the
quality, availability, convenience, cleanliness, reliability, and friendliness.
Agriculture products are not that hard to sell because they form part of our
basic needs of everyone.

• Identify what motivates your customers . It is very important for you to

understand and find out what drives and motivates your customers to buy
your product/service. Make some efforts to find out, analyze, and utilize the
information that motivates the customers in their decisions to purchase your
product/service.

• Discover the actual and genuine reasons why customers buy your
product instead of that of your competitor's . Information is very
important in decision making. Competitive entrepreneur always endeavor to
improve his/her products/services and constantly provide satisfaction and
sustain patronage of customers. As your business grows, you should
always consider the process of asking your customers some important
information and feedback that you can use to improve your
product/services.

29
 Process

In order to firm up your understanding of the topic previously presented, you will
be tasked to form a group and conduct an interview with a successful agri-
entrepreneur/practitioner. You have to document this interview and present this to
the whole class for reflection and appreciation.

Task 3: Interview

Directions: Select a successful entrepreneur/practitioner. Conduct an interview

by utilizing the sets of questions below. Document the interview and
present this to the class.

1. How did you identify your customers?

2. What were your considerations in selecting your customers?

3. Explain how your product/service become unique from other product/s.

4. Did you consult somebody before you engage in this business? Cite sample
insights that you gained from the consultation.

5. What were your preparations before you started the actual business?

6. What creative and innovative techniques did you adapt to your

product/service? What was the effect of the innovative techniques on the
sales and profits of your business?

7. What strategies did you consider to have a unique selling proposition for
your product/service?

30
Task 4: Video Viewing

In order to deepen your understanding of the lesson, perform the following tasks:

1. Browse the internet on topics related to:

a. customers’ needs and wants particularly on agricultural crops;
b. techniques in identifying customers’ needs and wants;
c. creativity/innovations in products and services in the market, agricultural
crops in particular;
d. unique selling proposition; and
e. product development.
2. Prepare a short narrative report about the aforementioned topics. You may
highlight the “aspect” that intensifies your knowledge of product development.

Task 5: Product Conceptualization

Directions: Using the figures below develop your own concept for your
product/services.

31
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_________________

32
Generating Ideas for Business

The process of developing/generating business idea is not a simple

process. Some people come up with a bunch of business ideas, while some are
without ideas. There are two problems that arise; first is the excessive generation
of ideas that makes one remain in the dreaming stage, and second, when one
fails to generate.

The most optimal way is to have a systematic approach in generating and

selecting ideas that will be translated into a viable business. Here are some basic
yet very important considerations that you may use to generate possible ideas for
business:

1. Examine the existing goods and services. Are you satisfied with the
product? What do other people who use the product say about it? How can it
be improved? There are many ways of improving a product from the way it is
crafted up to the time it is packed and sold. You can also improve the materials
used in crafting the product. In addition, you introduce new ways of using the
product, making it more useful and adaptable to the customers’ many needs.
When you are improving the product or enhancing it, you are doing an
innovation. You can also do an invention by introducing an entirely new product
to replace the old one.

Business ideas may also be generated by examining what goods and

services are sold outside the community. Very often, these products are sold in
a form that can still be enhanced or improved.

2. Examine the present and future needs. Look and listen to what the
customers, institution, and communities are missing in terms of goods and
services. Sometimes, these needs are already obvious and felt at the moment.
Other needs are not that obvious because they can only be felt in the future, in
the event of certain developments in the community. For example, a province
will have its electrification facility in the next six months.
Only by that time will the entrepreneur could think of agricultural products which
are made using electrically-powered tools or equipment.

33
3. Examine how the needs are being satisfied. Needs for the products and
services are referred to as market demand. To satisfy these needs is to supply
the products and services that meet the demands of the market. The term
market refers to whoever will use or buy the product or services, and these
include people or institutions such as other businesses, establishments,
organizations, or government agencies.

There is a very good business opportunity when there is absolute lack of

supply of a pressing market demand.

Businesses or industries in the locality also have needs for goods and
services. Their needs for raw materials, maintenance, and other services such as
selling and distribution are good sources of ideas for business.

4. Examine the available resources around you. Observe what materials or

skills are available in abundance in your area. A business can be started out
of available raw materials by selling them in raw form and by processing and
manufacturing them into finished products. For example, in a copraproducing
town, there will be many coconut husks and shells available as “waste”
products. These can be collected and made into coco rags/doormat and
charcoal bricks; then sold profitably outside the community.

A group of people in your neighborhood may have some special skills that
can be harnessed for business. For example, women in the Mountain Province
possess loom weaving skills that have been passed on from one generation to the
next. Some communities there set up weaving businesses to produce blankets,
decorative items, and various souvenir items for sale to tourists and lowland
communities.

Business ideas can come from your own skills. The work and experience
you may have in agricultural arts, industrial arts, home economics, and ICT classes
will provide you with business opportunities to acquire the needed skills which will
earn for you extra income, should you decide to engage in incomegenerating
activities. With your skills, you may also try on doing things during your spare
time. Many products were invented this way.

5. Read magazines, news articles, and other publications on new products

and techniques or advances in technology. You can pick up new business
ideas from Newsweek, Reader’s Digest, Business Magazines, “Go Negosyo”,
KAB materials or Small-Industry Journal. The Internet serves as a library where
you may browse and surf on possible businesses. It will also guide you on how
to put the right product in the right place, at the right price and at the right time.

34
 Listings of possible businesses to set up in an area may also be available from
banks or local non-government organizations.

Key Concepts of Selecting a Business Idea

Once you have embarked on identifying the business opportunities, you will
eventually see that there are many possibilities available for you. It is very unlikely
that you will have enough resources to pursue all of them at once. Which one will
you choose?

You have to select the most promising one from among a hundred and one
ideas. It will be good to do this in stages. In the first stage, screen your ideas to
narrow them down to about five choices. In the next stage, trim down the five
choices to two options. In the final stage, choose between the two and decide
which business idea is worth pursuing.

In screening your ideas, examine each one in terms of the following factors:
1. How much capital is needed to put up the business?
2. How big is the demand for the product? Do many people need this product
and will continue to need it for a long time?
3. How is the demand met? Who are processing the products to meet the
need (competition or demand)? How much of the need is now being met
(supply)?
4. Do you have the background and experience needed to run this particular
business?
5. Will the business be legal, not going against any existing or foreseeable
government regulation?
6. Is the business in line with your interest and expertise?

Your answers to these questions will be helpful in screening which ones from
among your many ideas are worth examining further and worth pursuing.

35
Branding

Branding is a marketing practice of creating name, symbol or design that

identifies and differentiates product/service from that of the competitors. It is also
a promise to your customers. It tells them what they can expect from your product/
service and it differentiates your offerings from other competitors. Your brand is
derived from who you are, who you want to be, and who people perceive you to
be.
Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business. An effective
brand strategy gives you a major edge in increasingly competitive markets.
The features of a good product brand are as follows:
- delivers the message clearly
- confirms your credibility
- connects your target prospects emotionally
- motivates the buyer
- concretizes user loyalty

Here are some simple tips to publicize your brand.

.
• Develop a tagline. Write a meaningful, unforgettable, and easy-to- remember
statement that captures the essence of your brand.

• Design a great logo. Create a logo suitable to your business and consistent
with your tagline and advertise it.

• Write down your brand messaging. Select key messages you want to
communicate about your brand.

• Be true to your brand. Deliver your brand promise.

36
 • Be consistent. Be reliable and consistent every time.

Process

In generating a business idea, you should first identify what type of

business is suited to your business idea. You should analyze and scan the potential
environment, study the marketing practices and strategies of your competitors,
analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and the Threats in your
environment to ensure that the products/goods and service you are planning to
offer will be patronized within the easy reach by your target markets/consumers.

Bear in mind these simple rules for successful SWOT analysis.

• Be realistic about the strengths and weaknesses of your business when

conducting SWOT analysis.

• SWOT analysis should distinguish between where your business is today, and
where it could be in the future.

• SWOT should always be specific. Avoid any grey areas.

• Always apply SWOT in relation to your competition i.e. better than or worse
than your competition.

• Keep your SWOT short and simple. Avoid complexity and over analysis

• SWOT is subjective.

37
Task 6: SWOT Analysis

Directions: In generating a business idea, environmental scanning is very important.

Utilize the SWOT analysis table below to list all your observations.
Consider the strategies below to select the best business idea.
Strength (S) Weaknesses (W)

- -
-
-
-
- -
- -
- -
Opportunities (O) Threats (T)

- -
- -
- -
- -
-
-
Strategize:

• SW – Utilize the strengths to overcome the weakness

• OS - Capitalize on the opportunities to eliminate the weakness
• ST – Maximize on your strengths to eliminate the external threats
• OT – Take advantage of the available opportunities to eliminate the external
threats.

Strategies/Activities:

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________

38
 Analysis:

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________

My Best Business Idea:

______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________

In order to deepen your understanding of the topics previously discussed, you

will be asked to perform the following activities:

Task 7: Extra Readings and Video Viewing

Reading books and watching videos have been considered two of the most
effective educational activities that help learners deepen their understanding of a
certain topic. In this particular circumstance, you will be asked to conduct extra
readings and video viewings on the following topics:

A. Steps in selecting a business idea

B. Criteria of a viable business idea
C. Benefits of a good brand
D. Ways of developing a product

After successfully performing the assigned task, make a narrative report about
this and share it with the class.

39
Task 9: Making my own Logo

Direction: Generate a clear appealing product brand with logo and tagline.

Logo

Taglin

40
 GRADE 10 LEARNING MATERIALS K TO 12
CURRICULUM AGRICULTURAL CROP PRODUCTION
NC I (RICE)

Content Standard Performance Standard

The learner demonstrates The learner independently
understanding of concepts and demonstrates common competencies
principles underlying theories and in agricultural crop production work
actual application in agricultural (Rice) as prescribed in TESDA
crop production Training
(Rice). Regulation.

Quarter II

41
 Due to the adverse effects of climate change, rice
production here in the Philippines has been threatened
tremendously. The food sufficiency target of the government for the
year 2015 has been stalled. This module will equip you with the
necessary knowledge and skills in rice production and make them
agents of the new technologies to boost rice production. Through
this module, your knowledge, skills, and attitudes will be enhanced
in line with selecting good quality seeds of rice, preparing the land
for planting (irrigated/rainfed) varieties, preparing seedbeds and
sowing of seeds, demonstrating care and management of seedlings,
pulling of seedlings, transplanting of seedlings/direct seeding,
fertilizer application, irrigation and drainage practices, controlling
weeds, controlling pests and diseases, harvesting, threshing, drying
and storage, marketing and keeping of farm records and accounts.

Rice is the staple food of all the Filipinos hence, rice production
is an important industry in the Philippines. It is the backbone of Philippine
economy for it does not only give benefit to rice growers but also to other
industries like rice threshing, warehousing, milling, seed production, and
many others, that offer a lot of job opportunities. Being the prime
commodity, rice leads the growth of the agricultural sector. It is
indispensable to sustainable development. Rice accounts for the majority
of the total value of production in agriculture. This is primarily because
rice is the most preferred commodity of the population. Furthermore,
majority of the people depend on farm labor and ricerelated businesses for
their livelihood.

42
 At the end of this module, you must be able to:
1. select the ideal site for planting rice;
2. prepare the land for planting rice (irrigated/rainfed);
3. select good quality seeds;
4. prepare seedbed, sow seeds, and demonstrate care and
management of seedlings;
5. pull and transplant seedlings/practice direct seeding;
6. fertilize the rice plant;
7. perform irrigation and drainage practices;
8. identify weeds and their control methods;
9. control pests and diseases;
10. harvest, thresh, dry, and store rice seeds;
11. market rice seeds and prepare and keep farm records and
accounts.
12. perform routine check-up of tools and equipment;
13. demonstrate manual handling procedures;
14. use personal protective equipment and personal health and
safety requirements;
15. familiarize with common OHS hazards risks and its control.

W HAT DO YOU ALREADY KNOW ?

Pre

Let us find out how much you already know about rice production. Read
and understand the questions below. Choose the letter of the best answer
and write it on your answer sheet.

1. Which of the following is a digging tool?

A. Bolo
B. Crowbar
C. Shovel
D. Pruning shear

2. Which tool is used for cleaning the levees?

A. Bolo B. Crowbar

43
 C. Mattock
D. Shovel

3. What tool does NOT belong to the group?

A. Bolo
B. Crowbar
C. Mattock
D. Shovel

4. Farm tools are needed in rice production operations because they A.

make work easier.
B. make work faster.
C. save time and effort.
D. make work faster, easier and economical.

5. What PPE should a student wear when he/she is exposed to dust?

He/She should wear
A. eye and respiratory protection.
B. hard cap.
C. hearing protection.
D. safety footwear.

6. The environmental impact of improper disposal of waste and

agricultural chemicals are the following EXCEPT:

44
 A. air pollution
B. dirty and ugly surroundings
C. friendly and healthy surroundings
D. water contamination

7. What equipment in rice production is used to draw water from a source?

A. Sprayer
B. Sprinkler
C. Water pail
D. Water pump

[Link] do we need to conduct pre-operative check up of tools,

Implements, and equipment before starting to work?
A. To check if the tools are serviceable
B. To determine the functionality of tools and implements
C. To repair defective tools
D. All of the above

9. Which of the following PPE is used to protect hands from injury?

A. Boots
B. Goggles
C. Gloves
D. Mask

[Link] of the following does not affect rice yield?

A. Climate
B. Location
C. Transportation
D. Soil
[Link] supply is an important factor in rice production because it
directly affects the
A. frequency of planting.
B. photosynthesis activity.
C. physical characteristics of the plant.
D. population of common pests and diseases.

[Link] following are attributes of an ideal rice field except A.

good drainage
B. pH range of 6.2 – 7.0.
C. high clay soil
D. high organic matter

45
 [Link] best implement to level the field is A.
harrow.
B. harvester.
C. rotary tiller.
D. wood plow.

[Link] prepare the land for planting upland rice, plowing and harrowing
should be done
A. 1 – 2 times.
B. 2 - 3 times.
C. 3 - 4 times.
D. 4 – 5 times.

[Link] of the following is not a characteristic of a well- prepared land

for planting?
A. Dilapidated dikes
B. Dikes are clean and narrow
C. Well puddled and soft
D. Weeds and stalks are thoroughly incorporated with the soil

[Link] is the best time to fix levees?

A. After the first harrowing
B. After the first plowing
C. Before the first plowing
D. Before the second harrowing

[Link] among the following is the recommended time of soaking rice

seeds before sowing?
A. 24 hrs.
B. 29 hrs.
C. 34 hrs.
D. 39 hrs.

18. The ultimate purpose of raising dapog seedlings is to A. economize

.
B. delay transplanting.
C. produce healthy seedlings.
D. raise seedlings even in a restricted area.

19. Which of the following is one of the advantages of using the straight
row planting system?

46
 A. It is the cause of overcrowding of plants.
B. It makes hand weeding difficult.
C. It makes mechanical weeding easy.
D. It provides uneven spaces for growing plants.

20. What is the average seeding rate per hectare using the dapog method?
A. 22 kg
B. 33 kg
C. 44 kg
D. 66 kg

21. To speed up the germination of the incubated seeds we need to A.

allow the seeds to dry up.
B. moisten the seeds occasionally by sprinkling.
C. sprinkle the seeds with warm water.
D. re-soak the seeds after 2 days.

22. Which of the following is the recommended seedling rate per hill for
growing rice?
A. 2-3
B. 3-4
C. 4-5
D. 6-7

23. Replanting of missing hills should be done ______ days after planting
to complete the required plant population in a given area.
A. 3-5
B. 5-7
C. 7-9
D. 10-12

24. Which one is the function of nitrogen in plant?

A. Encourages root growth
B. Makes stalks bigger
C. Helps in the production of seeds
D. Stimulates growth of the leaves and stems

25. To reduce application of chemical fertilizer that contains nitrogen,

green manuring could be done. Green manures are A. organic
materials that come from animals. B. leguminous plants that are
plowed under.
C. concentrated form of plant food.

47
 D. organic materials that are thoroughly decomposed.

26. What is panicle initiation in rice?

A. The beginning of the reproductive phase
B. Its appearance of the first tiller
C. The caryopsis becoming milky
D. Its appearance of the panicle from the flag leaf sheet

27. Below are ways by which irrigation water is lost except one:
A. evaporation
B. percolation
C. seepage
D. absorption

28. Which is an example of a broadleaf weed?

A. Mutha
B. Kangkong
C. Ubod-ubod
D. Bayakibok

29. When mixing liquid herbicide, remember to A. pour herbicide before

the water.
B. pour herbicide and water at the same time.
C. pour water ahead of herbicide.
D. never pour herbicide ahead of the water.

30. This is the most destructive rice pest which attacks the plant from
seedling stage to maturity .
A. rice stem borer
B. plant hopper
C. rice bug
D. maggot

31. This method of insect control utilizes the natural enemies of insects
to control the pest.
A. Biological
B. Cultural
C. Chemical
D. Physical

32. Which among the following is not needed in cleaning rice grains?
A. 1.5 mm fish net and stirrer
48
 B. Canvas and winnowing basket
C. Blower and shifter
D. Sickle and reaper

33. What is the most popular method of drying rice grains?

A. Solar dryer
B. Mechanical dryer
C. Batch dryer
D. Air dryer

34. Which is not a guide in storing rice seeds?

A. Store grains after drying
B. Store fertilizer near pile of rice grains
C. Separate the old from the new harvest when piling
D. Observe good housekeeping before storing in the bodega.

35. When a farmer relies on good management practices to prevent

the occurrence of insect pests and diseases in his farm, he is using
the?
A. Genetic control
B. Chemical control
C. Biological control
D. Cultural control

49
 LESSON 1

Farm Tools and Equipment

I. INTRODUCTION

The different farm tools and equipment in agronomic crop

work have been profoundly taken up in your lessons last year.
Their proper operations and maintenance were discussed, too.
But for you to be able to perform properly the different rice
production activities, the important tools and equipment to be
used will be discussed in this lesson with emphasis on their
correct operation and maintenance as well as safety precautions
in using them and the protective gears to be used.

The lesson is all about the farm tools and equipment used in rice
production. You will learn this within 12 days.
50
 At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. identify the different tools and equipment in rice production;

2. describe the specific uses of each tool and equipment;
3. perform the proper care and maintenance of each tool and
equipment;
4. observe safety precautions in the use of farm tools and
equipment.

HAND TOOLS

Hand tools are usually light and are used without the help of animals
or machines. They are being used in performing farm activities which involve
small yet important jobs to be done. Below are some of the examples:

1. Bolo .There are different kinds of bolo

used for different purposes. In crop
production it is used for cutting of
weeds particularly tall shrubs and
grasses .

51
 2. Shovel is used in removing trash,
digging loose soil, moving soil from
one place to another, and for
mixing soil media and fertilizers. It
is also used in the repair and
construction of levees and in
irrigation management.

3. Rake is used for cleaning the ground

and leveling the topsoil during
seedbed preparation particularly in
the dry method of seedling
production.

FARM IMPLEMENTS

These are accessories which are being pulled by working animals or

mounted to machineries (hand tractor, tractor) which are usually used in the
preparation of large tract of land. These are usually made of a special kind of
metal.

Examples :

1. Plows. These are farm implements used in rice production operations

either pulled by a working animal or a tractor. The plow is specifically used
for tilling large areas, making furrows and ditches to facilitate irrigation
and drainage.
Plows pulled by working animals are made of either a combination
of metal or wood or pure metal . Due to intensive farm mechanization it is

52
becoming extinct in some regions. They are used to till areas with a
shallower depth than that of the disc plows which are pulled by tractor s.

Carabao drawn plow Disc plow drawn by a tractor

2. Harrow. The native wooden harrow is made of wood with a metal tooth
and pulled by a carabao while the disc harrow is a metal mounted to a
tractor. Harrows are used for tilling and pulverizing the soil in upland rice
production where the soil is tilled dry while waiting for the rain or water
supply.

Harrow

3. Rotavator. The rotavator is an implement attached to a tractor used for

land preparation. It could be used for wet and dry land preparation. One
passing of rotavator is equivalent to the combined effect of one plowing
and harrowing in land preparation.

53
EQUIPMENT

These are machineries used in farm operations especially in rice

production. They are used in land preparation and in transporting farm inputs
and produce. Using these equipment requires a highly skilled operator .

1. Hand tractor. It is the most useful and convenient equipment of the

farmers. It is used to pull a plow and harrow in preparing a wide area of
land. It is also used to transport other materials from the house to the farm
and a very important equipment in the mobility of most farmers.
2. Four wheel tractor. It is used to pull disc plow disc harrow and rotavator
in preparing much wider area of land. It is also used to draw a trailer to
transport bulk of materials, equipment, farm inputs, and harvest. It is ve ry
useful during harvest and other post harvest activities.
3. W ater pump. This equipment is very important to draw irrigation water
from a source such as deep well, rivers and lakes. In some areas where
water is scarce, second cropping of rice could be done using a water pump.
4. Combine harvester .This equipment performs the harvesting and
threshing at the same time. The grains are deposited in its compartment
and could be easily transported to the nearest road when hauling the
harvests.

Hand Tractor Small Tractor Big Four wheel Tractor

54
 Combine Harvester Rice Thresher
Photos Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture ,CLSU

LET US REM EMBER

Using the right tools and equipment for the specific farm operation
makes it easier and more economical.

After knowing the farm tools and equipment, continue the lesson in doing
pre-operative check-up of equipment.

Activity#1

Give at least five reasons why it is very important to do pre -operational check-
up of equipment?

Nowadays due to intensive farm mechanization, many types of farm

machineries are being introduced to the Filipino farmers. Before operating
these machines, one needs to read and familiarize the operations manual to
be able to operate them efficiently and attain their maximum usage. For safety
reasons, whenever using these farm machineries, always do the following:

Always Remember to Check Equipment Before Operating

A pre-operational check of all the equipment to be used will assure the

user that it is in a safe operating condition. Check the tires for proper
inflation and defects, windows for visibility, seat position, seat belts, brakes
for adjustment, steering response, rear view mirrors, slow-moving vehicle
emblem, reflectors, and running lights for day or night time operation.

Safety Check: Walk around the tractor, hand tractor, thresher, reaper and
any attached implement checking the area for obstacles that may be

55
 under or near the tractor which include stones, boards, children's toys
etc. Make sure there are no bystanders; remember this is a working
area. Check whether the wheels are free, or stuck in the ground. Check
for any loose
parts or objects on the tractor such as tools on the platforms or around
brakes and other controls.

Inspect around: Walk around the tractor, hand tractor a second time to check
the equipment itself. This time look at the tires for wear and inflation,
the power take-off shaft for shielding and guarding (rotate the shield to
make sure it moves freely), the hitch for proper hitch pin and safety
clip. Pay particular attention to the ground under the tractor for any
signs of liquid leaks such as oil, coolant or fuel.

Check the oil of all engines attached to machineries to be used: Remove the
dipstick, wipe it clean, and check the oil level. If oil is required,
remember to wipe off the filler cap before you remove it to avoid dirt
falling into the engine. Use a clean funnel and clean the top of the oil
can to prevent rust or other foreign objects going in with the oil.

Check the radiator: Slowly remove the red cap and check the liquid level.

Check the air pre-cleaner and air cleaner. Remove and shake out any dirt.

Always check the fuel gauge. Fill if necessary, through it should have been
filled at the end of the last day the tractor was used.

Have a fire extinguisher. Your tractor should have a fire extinguisher in case
of fire during operation or refueling and in area of storage and milling .
Make sure it is charged and easily accessible.

Remember:

Smooth operations of all machines are ensured if periodic

maintenance is done. These can affect performance and your
safety!

Hazardous activities

During the maintenance of agricultural machinery, there are many activities

which are potentially hazardous. Always observe the safety procedures in
doing the maintenance of the equipment and tools.

Hazardous activities Things to be done to ensure safety

56
 Lubricating If you need to remove the guard to
lubricate the machine, never
lubricate while the machine is in
motion.

Checking hydraulic systems Remember that hydraulic oil is under

high pressure. The external signs

of oil injection may be slight, but
the internal damage is not and
may lead to surgery or
amputation.
If checking for leaks, use
something (eg. a piece of card
run along the hose) to show
where the leak is. Do not use
your hands.
Release the pressure before
working on the system

Sharpening When working on, for example a

forage harvester, only the actual
sharpening should take place with
the machine in motion. All
activities before and after, like.
guard removal, should be done
with the machine stationary, even
if rundown takes a long time.

Beware of flying particles when

sharpening machinery. Use
protective equipment such as
goggles.
Working under machines When working under raised
machines, jacks should be used
and correctly located, and
additional support (eg axle stands)
provided.
When working on hydraulically-
raised equipment (eg. trailers) use
props.

57
 Never rely on the hydraulics.

Hammering Beware of flying particles. Always

use the appropriate personal
protective equipment. It offers
protection not only against flying
particles, but also from against
many risks.
Be aware of the danger of falling off
Cleaning or into a machinery, particularly
in
wet or muddy conditions. Make
sure you know how to access
machines safely, especially large
machines such as combines.

Don’t clean with machines

running and with guards
removed.
Blockages Many accidents happen while
cleaning machine blockages –
often because operators attempt
to clear a blockage while the
machine is still powered.
Again, the key question to ask is:
“Have I been trained to do this job
properly?” If the answer is “no”, do
not attempt it.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to protect workers from

serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical,
radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.
Among them are face shields, safety googles, hard hats, and safety shoes.
Protective equipment includes a variety of devices and garments such as
goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.

58
Protection from head injuries

Hard hats can protect workers from head impact, penetration injuries,
and high impact injuries such as those caused by falling or flying objects,
fixed objects, or contact with electrical conductors. It also prevents the long
hair from getting caught in machine parts such as belts and chains. Ordinary
hats shall be worn by a farmer whenever working in the farm to protect
himself against ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Protection from leg and foot injury

In addition to foot guards and safety shoes, leggings (e.g., leather or

other appropriate material) can help prevent injuries by protecting workers
from hazards such as falling or rolling objects, sharp objects, wet and slippery
surfaces, molten metals, hot surfaces, and electrical hazards while working
in the farm shop. Pants should be worn to protect the legs from itchy worms
and snake bites when working in the farm.

Protection from eyes and face injury

Besides spectacles and goggles, personal protective equipment such as

special helmets or shields, spectacles with side shields, and face shields can
protect workers from the hazards of flying fragments, large chips, hot
sparks, optical radiation, splashes from molten metals, as well as objects,
particles, sand, dirt, mists, dusts, and glare. Sun glasses should be worn
during harvesting and other post-harvest jobs to protect the eyes.

Protection from hearing injury

Wearing earplugs or earmuffs can help prevent damage to hearing.

Exposure to high noise levels can cause irreversible hearing loss or
impairment as well as physical and psychological stress. Earplugs made from
foam, waxed cotton, or fiberglass wool are self-forming and usually fit well. A
professional should fit your workers individually for molded or preformed
earplugs. Clean earplugs regularly, and replace those that are no longer
functional.

Protection from hand injury

Workers exposed to harmful substances causing skin absorption,

severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, chemical burns, thermal burns,
and harmful extreme temperature will benefit from hand protection. Wear
leather globes while operating some machines; but when handling chemicals
use rubber gloves.

Protection from body injury

59
 In some cases, workers must shield most of their bodies against
hazards in the workplace, such as exposure to heat and radiation, hot metals,
scalding liquids, body fluids, hazardous materials or waste, and others. In
addition to fire -retardant wool and fire retardant cotton, materials used in
whole-body personal protective equipment, include leather, synthetics,
rubber, and plastic.

Respiratory Protection

Workers must use appropriate respirators to protect against adverse

health effects caused by breathing air contaminated with harmful dusts, fogs,
fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays, or vapors. Respirators generally cover
the nose and mouth or the entire face or head and help prevent illness and
injury. A proper fit is essential, for respirators to be effective.

Process

Activity #1

Conduct an interactive activity with the class by forming two

groups, one group will enumerate what farm operations will be
undertaken, and the other group will indicate what farm
tools/equipment to use together with the applicable PPE to wear and
vice-versa. The group with the highest score will be the winner.

Activity #2

Students will be asked to draw from the box containing the names
of farm tools and equipment and explain how and when it will be used
in accomplishing rice production activities.

Activity #3

Get your partner, list two farm equipment and make a research
in the internet on the different parts that need to be maintained, and
the procedure on how to do the maintenance.

60
Activity#4

Report to the class your output on Activity#3.

Activity #1

Group yourselves into three, and go to a nearby farm. Observe

how a new farm equipment is used. Make a step by step description of
how each equipment is used, to know how to operate these properly.
Share it with the class.

Activity #2

Using the rice reaper of the nearest farm in the locality, make a report
about the conditions of the parts needed to be maintained. Are they in
the best condition? Why or why not? Share it with class.

Activity#1

You are the farm manager of the San Pedro Apartado Multi -
Purpose Cooperative and tasked to prepare the farm equipment
conditions analysis. Make a list of the equipment; evaluate each
equipment and identify the parts that need maintenance.

61
 List of equipment Condition Parts that need
maintenance

Activity # 2

Divide the class into groups and with the supervision of the teacher or
the farm technician or the owner of the combine harvester in the nearby farm
in the locality, let each group will conduct pre -operational check-up of the
combine harvester.

The students will be grouped and asked to attach a rotavator to the tractor.
Each group will be rated using a rubric.

Hand tools – tools that are usually light and are used to do minor
operation in the farm.

Farm implements – accessories pulled by animals or mounted to

machines to make the farm operation easier.

Equipment – powered tool machines used in farming operations.

Repair – to restore to good condition and make it functional.

62
Prepare – to gather all the needed materials ready for a specific work.

Combustible- any materials that will burn not just by a spark

Flammable- is a material that can easily catch fire under normal

circumstances and with the help of minimal ignition source

Ignition- cause of burning by providing heat or spark

ROPS- Roll Over Protective Structure

M SDS- Material Safety Data Sheet

ATV-All Terrain Vehicle

PTO- Power Take Off

Safety- the physical or environmental conditions of work which

comply with the prescribed Occupational Health Safety
(OHS) standards and which allow the workers to perform
his or her job without or within acceptable exposure to
hazards.

Occupational safety- the practices related to the promotion of

safety in production and work process

Health- a sound state of the body and mind of a worker that

enables him or her to perform normal job.

63
LESSON II
SITE SELECTION AND SOIL ANALYSIS

P hoto Courtesy of Dr.P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

Introduction

Like any other plant, rice needs an appropriate kind of soil as well as good
location to attain the highest possible yield.

The lesson is all about the factors to consider in site selection for planting rice
and doing soil analysis. You will learn this within twelve days.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to

1. identify the factors to consider in site selection;

2. select a site appropriate for rice production;
3. collect soil sample and analyze ; and
64
 4. appreciate the value of selecting a good site for rice production

If given a chance to select a good site for rice production, here are the
important factors to consider to ensure optimum growth and development.
These are soil, climate, and location.

The following are the different factors to be considered in selecting a

good site for rice production, as stated in the Competency-Based Learning
Module (CBLM) for Rice Production:
1. Soil. A rice field should possess the following attributes:
a. high clay content
b. a 2:1 ratio of top clay mineral montmorillionite
c. medium amount of organic matter
d. good drainage
e. top soil 18 – 20 cm deep
f. soil pH range of 6.2 -7.0

2. Climate. Climate change is one of the factors posing challenge to rice

production nowadays. These factors include rainfall, sunlight, wind
velocity, and temperature.
a. Rainfall. In rainfed areas, the start of the rainy season
determines the planting time. This is because the source of
water supply for non-irrigated rice field comes directly from
rainfall. On the other hand too much rainfall causes floods
that submerged the plants. Water directly affects the
photosynthetic activity of the rice plant.
b. Sunlight. It is the foremost source of energy of all plant life.
When water supply is not limited, sunshine is the most
important climatic factor that influences rice yield. Therefore,
site should be free of any barrier to sunlight
c. Temperature. It is a limiting factor in rice production.
However, in the Philippines, temperature is almost constant,
hence, it is not a critical problem.
d. Wind velocity. Gentle wind is beneficial to rice plant because
new air blown around the plant causes replenishment of
65
 carbon dioxide. Strong wind such as heavy wind during
typhoon may cause lodging and shattering of rice grain,
reduction of photosynthetic activities and may enhance
growth of bacterial leaf diseases.

3. Location. Farm location greatly affects the profitability of rice

production. The following are some factors to consider:
a. the farm should be near the road to facilitate ease of
transport.
b. there should be available laborers in the different stages of
rice production.
c. good irrigation and drainage.
d. proximity to drying pavement and other post-harvest
facilities.

A good site should have access to farm service road

Soil Sampling and Soil Analysis

The success of rice production starts with knowing the kind of soil where you
are going to plant. The rice plant is nutrient sensitive; its ability to produce
good harvest depends on the nutrients present in the soil. Soil sampling and
analysis are important to determine the pH level and the nutrients present in
the soil. The result of the soil analysis will be the basis of fertilizer application.

Procedures to Follow in Soil Sampling

1. Make a sketch of the area showing sampling areas (SA).Divide the farm
into sampling areas. Each SA should be more or less uniform in
cropping history, past lime and fertilizer treatments, slope, degree of
erosion and soil texture and color.

2. In each SA dig from 5 -10 pits and collect samples corresponding to

the size of the sampling area. Spot sample is taken in the following
manner:
• clear the soil surface area
• using a shovel or spade dig a pit to a depth of 20-30 centimeters

66
• from one vertical side of the pit take a slice of soil 2-3 cm thick with
a single downward thrust of the spade. Using a knife or trowel trim
the slice of soil on both sides to a bar of 3-4 cm width.
• place the thin bar of soil in a pail or any suitable clean container.
• if the subsoil sample is needed, take a bar of soil from the
succeeding 20 to 30 cm soil depth. The subsoil and surface soil
should be placed in separate containers.

Take composite soil samples. After collecting the samples from

the different sampling areas, they will be pulverized and mixed
thoroughly in the container. Place the composite soil sample of about
½ kilogram, in a clean plastic bag. After which, it is now ready for
chemical analysis, using a simple Soil Testing Kit (STK) for qualitative
analysis of soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium or by running
a complete chemical analysis in a soil laboratory. Results of both test
will serve as the basis for the farmers in making recommendation on
the amount of fertilizer materials to be applied to satisfy the nutrient
requirement of the crop.

P hoto Courtesy of Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

• Selecting the appropriate site plays a vital role in the success of rice
production.
• Factors to consider in selecting the site
a. accessibility of the farm to the road
b. availability of good labor supply
c. good irrigation and drainage
d. proximity of threshing and drying pavement
Factors that affect growth and development of the crop

67
 1. kinds of soil
2. climate
3. location

Process

Soil pH for rice is from 6.2 to 7.0

Activity#1

Select at least four cooperating farmers in the community and

conduct an on-site inspection of their farm. Based on your observation
identify the ideal site. Use the table below and check the spaces if the
factors are met.

Score card in selecting the site

Name of Farmer:_______________
Location:______________________
Directions: Of the four sites visited, write the appropriate rating based on
the scale listed below, considering the adaptability of factors in selecting the
site.

Factors to consider in S ite

selecting the site
A B C D
1. Accessibility
2. Availability of water supply
3. Exposure to sunlight
4. Soil condition

Rating scale: Description

5 – very good
4 – good
3 – fair
2 – poor

68
 Activity#1

Select four cooperating farmers in the locality, get the data on their
average harvest (number of cavans) for the past three years. Compare and
analyze to see if the differences were affected by the farm location.

Activity#2

Search the internet for videos/film showing pictures of different farm

locations in the country. Compare the data on harvest, if available and arrive
at a conclusion if there are differences or none. Share your findings with the
class.

Each student will identify a farmer/partner. Proceed to his farm location

and together get a soil sample, strictly following the procedure. Perform the soil
analysis to determine the pH value of the soil.

A. Answer the following questions in your quiz notebook. Write only the
letter of the correct answer.
69
 1. There are three important factors that affect rice yield. Which of
the following is not among the factors?
A. Climate
B. Kind of soil
C. Location
D. Topography

2. Water supply is an important factor in rice production because it

directly affects the
A. frequency of planting.
B. photosynthetic activity of the rice plant.
C. physical characteristics of the rice plant.
D. population of common pests and diseases.

3. An ideal rice field possesses all of the following attributes except:

A. Good drainage
B. High clay content
C. High organic matter
D. pH range of 6.2 – 7.0

4. Rainfall, sunlight, and temperature are referred to as

A. climate.
B. season.
C. weather.
D. all of the above

5. What is the ideal soil pH for rice production?

A. 6.2 – 7.0
B. 6.5 – 8.0
D. 7.0 – 8.0
D. 7.5 – 8.0

B. Describe the appropriate site for planting rice crop.

Soil - is a loose and friable material of the earth surface where plants
grow and develop.
70
Climate - is the weather condition of a locality,

Temperature - is the degree of hotness and coldness of the

environment.

pH - is a value used to express the relative acidity or alkalinity of the soil.

LESSON III
PREPARE THE LAND FOR PLANTING RICE
(IRRIGATED/RAINFED)

P hoto Courtesy Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

71
INTRODUCTION

Thorough land preparation is necessary either for rainfed or

irrigated rice production method in order to have bountiful harvest.

This lesson provides the learner with the appropriate land preparation
techniques and strategies. It includes the tools and equipment needed
and the steps in undertaking these activities. You will learn this within
thirteen days.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. use the appropriate tools and equipment in preparing the land for
planting of rice
2. demonstrate the proper way of plowing and harrowing;
3. prepare and level the land thoroughly; and
4. observe safety precautions in using tools, implements, and
equipment.

72
Prepare the Land for Planting

High yield in rice production could be traced back to land

preparation. Many problems in cultural management practices could
be prevented with well-puddled and well-leveled rice paddies. Aside
from making the soil soft for easy transplanting, a well leveled soil
prevents the emergence of early weeds. It also facilitates mixing of
organic matter such as rice straw, weeds and stubbles with the soil
which promotes decomposition. Proper soil preparation serves to level
the field for uniform distribution of irrigation water, fertilizers and
pesticides. It also aids in the efficient control of some pests like the
golden snail. During dry season planting, it also prevents or minimizes
water seepage from the field thereby resulting to efficient water
management.
If land preparation is not uniform, growth of plant is uneven causing
variations of plant development and stage maturity resulting in
possible decrease in harvest. Land preparation should be started at
least four weeks before transplanting.

P hoto Courtesy of Bersamin Agro-Industrial High School

Plowing is the process of breaking up the soil usually 15 cm. deep to

incorporate and cover inorganic matter. It can be accomplished with a
73
power tiller or moldboard plow hitched to a carabao. To prepare the
field for plowing follow these steps:
1. remove from the field anything that may cause injury to the
plowmen and farm animals or damage to the implements.
2. Cut tall grasses and remove stubbles that may interfere with
plowing.
3. In irrigated fields, flood the field 2 – 7 days before plowing to
soften the soil. Keep the surface of the soil covered with water to
prevent the soil from sticking to the plow. Keep the soil flooded
with about one cm depth of water for one week to soften the
clods and allow weeds and stubbles to decompose before
harrowing is done. In rainfed areas, the field is better plowed
while it is dry.
`

Plow under the weeds and stubbles 10 to 15 cm deep, three to

four weeks before transplanting or direct seeding to allow
decomposition and to recycle plant nutrients. If organic materials are
not fully decomposed, soil tends to become acidic and some nutrients
become less available. Draining removes toxic substances, allowing
organic matter to decompose and help the plant produce deeper and
stronger roots. Decomposition is faster in moist soil.

P hoto Courtesy of Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

74
Harrowing . Leveling can best be accomplished by leaving just enough
water in the field, about 2-5 cm to expose the high and low areas.
Harrowing is done 2-3 times depending on the soil condition.

Leveling the field can be done by scraping the mud from high spots
moving it to the low areas. A bamboo pole maybe attached to the base
of the harrow teeth to help in leveling.

To prevent the field from drying and hardening, use enough water. If
possible, wait for 7 to 10 days between two successive harrowings to
allow more weed seeds to germinate before these are turned under the
soil giving more time for plowed fresh organic matter to decompose.

Harrow the field at least twice with one week interval for irrigated
field and at least one day for rainfed field due to limited supply of water.
The first harrowing is done a week after plowing to break the soil clods
and to incorporate the stubbles. This will allow dropped rice seeds during
the previous cropping and weed seeds to germinate. The second
harrowing which is also the first levelling should be done across the
direction of the first harrowing. This further incorporates the volunteer
plants and allowing the remaining dropped seeds and weed seeds to
germinate. These practices help reduce the initial pest host population
and maintain the hardpan which minimizes water seepage.

P hoto Courtesy of Bersamin Agro-Industrial High School.

A rotavator drawn by a tractor for easier, faster and safer land

preparation both for wet or dry method.

Rotavating - This method of land preparation is employed with the

use of a rotary tiller or rotavator drawn by a tractor. A rotary tiller
may take the place of a plow and harrow because it changes the soil
into fine tilth having sufficient depth. One or two rounds of rotavation
followed by one harrowing is enough to have a preferably level field.
75
 Prepared land can be planted after 2- 3 days. Chopped rice straw and
weeds may be fully decomposed but are already in the process of
decomposition. Decomposition produces too much heat and carbon
dioxide (CO 2) which may cause the newly transplanted seedlings to
exhibit slow growth.

Final leveling of the field using a carabao drawn leveler.

P hoto Courtesy of Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

LET US REM EMBER

After the last leveling there should be no higher or lower levels of the
rice paddies.

Cleaning and Repairing Levees of Rice Paddies

Just after plowing, the levees must be repaired to prevent

seepage from the paddy. Look for rat holes, cracks or breaks, and
plaster with mud. Levees that are properly repaired and plastered with
mud are unfavorable to rat infestation, growth of weeds and host
plants or insects. During dry season rice production, a canal at the
middle of the paddies should be constructed to facilitate irrigation.

P hoto Courtesy of Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

76
The best time to fix the levee is after the first plowing because the
upturned soil near the levees can be used for plastering in the work.
The following are the steps in repairing levees.

1. Clean the levees. Trim the thick portions of both sides of the
levees using a bolo. Patch all rat holes, breaks, and soft spots.
2. Repair the levees by using soil which has been broken up
during the first plowing for patching soft spots and cracks.
Break up and rebuild the portion of the levees containing rat
holes.
3. Patch-up/cover/fill the levee with mud making sure that all
cracks are sealed properly.
4. Dikes must be cleaned to remove pest, compact to prevent
seepage, and maintain at 15 cm high x 20 cm wide to prevent
rat burrowing. Ditches will ensure even water distribution
and drainage.

Fields used solely for year-round rice production must be

allowed to rest or fallow for at least 30 days or more before plowing for
the next cropping season. This will break the life cycle of majority of
the insects.
Rainfed rice fields are often prepared during April and May. Plow field
after the first rain then harrow. Leave it for 7 or more days to allow
weed seeds to germinate, afterwhich the field will be plowed and
harrowed again to kill the emerging weeds. Plowing and harrowing may
be done 2-3 times until the field is ready for transplanting.

IM PORTANT THINGS TO REM EMBER

• Lowland rice requires well puddled and well prepared soil. This
ensures a soil surface that is weed-free, soft and leveled to make
transplanting of seedlings/planting of seeds easier. It also
facilitates mixing of organic matter such as rice straw, weeds,
and stubbles with the soil to hasten decomposition. Proper land
preparation is undertaken to level the field, for uniform
distribution of irrigation water, fertilizer, and pesticides. It also
prevents or minimizes water seepage from the field.

• In upland rice culture, plowing should be done across the slope.

77
 • Observe safety measures in using tools and equipment.

Process

Activity #1

Each student will be asked to visit a certain farm to evaluate if

thorough land preparation has been done. Use the checklist below.

RATING

ACTIVITIES V Good Good Fair Poor

91–100 81–90 75–80 70-74
1. Cleared the area before
plowing
2. Followed correct procedure in
plowing
3 Harrowed the field well
[Link] the levees
[Link] proper use of
tools/equipment
6. Used PPE

Activity #2

Students will be grouped into five and be assigned to do land

preparation in specific areas. After the job has been done, let each
group evaluate the work of the other group. Take note of the lapses of
each group, and present observations to the class.

78
 Activity#3

Pretend to be an outstanding farmer who will demonstrate the

proper way of harrowing and leveling rice paddies before planting
using either a carabao drawn harrow or hand tractor. Explain why
paddies should be well-leveled.

A. Write AGREE if the statement is correct and DISAGREE if the

statement is wrong. Write your answers on your quiz notebook.

1. Well-puddled and well-prepared soil for lowland rice varieties

ensures a soil surface that is free from weeds, soft and leveled
to make planting easy.
2. Uneven growth of plants is caused by poor land preparation.
3. Harrowing can be best accomplished by leaving just enough
water in the field to expose the high and low spots.
4. Levees should be covered with mud to render them
unfavorable for rats and insect pests.
5. The land should be plowed and harrowed 4-5 times
alternately.

B. Answer briefly.

1. Describe the steps in preparing the land for irrigated and

rain fed rice planting.

79
RESOURCES

1. Bolo
2. Moldboard plow
3. Harrow
4. Draft carabao
5. Shovel
6. Pick mattock
7. Hand tractor
8. Tractor

Tools – simple devices used in the farm such as bolo, digging bar,
and shovel
Equipment – machineries used in the farm such as tractor
Farm implements – devices such as plow and harrow
Levee – dike or bund that surrounds a paddy
PPE – Personal Protective Equipment
Puddled soil – a soil surface which was plowed and harrowed
several times, leveled and ready for planting. Seepage –
sideward loss of water

LESSON IV

80
 SEED SELECTION

P hoto Courtesy of Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

This lesson deals with the principle of selecting good quality seeds to
grow. It includes the characteristics of good seeds, sources of good
seeds, seed testing, and computing the percentage of germination. You
will learn these in thirteen days.

After studying the lesson, you must be able to

1. identify and select good seeds for planting;

2. test the viability of seeds using ragdoll method;
3. compute for the percentage germination; and
4. appreciate the importance of testing seeds before planting;

81
 Using high quality seeds of a recommended rice variety will result in
a considerable increase in the yield.
The characteristics of certified seeds are the following:
1. pure
2. clean
3. with the same size and shape
4. 85% or higher percentage of germination
5. free from seed borne diseases
Seeds of improved variety should be certified by the National Seed
Quality Control Services (NSQCS). It could be proven through a blue
card attached to the sack. Good quality seeds could be availed from
agencies such as the PhilRice and other accredited seed producers
enumerated below.

Sources of Good Seeds

1. PhilRice
2. Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)
3. Agricultural Productivity Commission (APC)
4. Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB)
5. Seed Grower – cooperators in your locality
6. Reliable dealers of farm supplies

How to avail good seeds

1. Buy seeds from accredited seed growers stated above.

2. If there are no accredited seed growers in the locality, then

buy seeds from reliable sources (i.e. farmers whose fields
have uniform crop growth) or produce your own high
quality seeds . However, make sure to perform a seed
germination test to ensure quality. There should be at least
85% germination.

3. If the variety has not yet been tested in the area, make
initial selection based on recommended environment and
cropping season. Then, conduct at least two seasons of trial
in the locality.

82
 4. During wet season, consider the prevalent pests in the area
and the shattering and lodging characteristics of a variety.
In the dry season, consider planting hybrid varieties
because these varieties tend to perform better during dry
season.

5. In rainfed areas, farmers tend to use varieties for irrigated

lowland areas owing probably to lack of access to rainfed
varieties. It is recommended to first choose varieties
intended for rainfed environment. Consider also traditional
or regionally preferred varieties for rainfed environment
knowing that crops can develop adaptability in an area.

6. Farmers also often prefer new varieties, believing that they

yield better. However, a variety may be released based on
reasons other than yield (e.g. better grain quality and
resistance to pests). Thus, it is important to know the
characteristics of the varieties but, more importantly, to
conduct adaptability trials.

Your choice of an appropriate variety is determined by specific

conditions in the farm. The following are the desirable characteristics
of high yielding rice varieties:

1. Early maturing and non-seasonal (100 – 130 days from

seeding to maturity)
2. Resistant to pest, diseases, drought and lodging
3. Nitrogen-responsive (this means that when you apply
nitrogen to the rice plant, the yield increases)
4. High grain weight (6 – 7 mg)
5. High grain milling quality (whole )
6. High milling recovery (66% -70%)

The following are some rice varieties recommended for irrigated and
rainfed regions of the Philippines:

Irrigated Varieties

Variety Agronomic Characteristics Disease & Insect Pest Reactions

83
 Ave. Max Maturity Height Borer
Yield Yield days (cm) Blast BLB Tungro BPH GLH
(Tons) (Tons)
10 Rc230H 6.7 10.6 108 103 I S S (S) I MR

NSIC 2010 7 10.7 110 110 I S S (S) MS I

Rc232H
NSIC 2010 6.5 9.8 115 119 I I S (S) I MS
Rc234H
NSIC 2010 6.2 10.9 114 115 I I S (S) MS I
Rc236H
NSIC 2011 4.5 7.3 122 90 I I S
Rc21 SR
NSIC 2011 3 7.6 108 108 I I S I S
Rc23
NSIC 2011 7 11.2 110 104 S S S I I
Rc244H
NSIC 2011 7.2 11.4 106 103 S S S I I
Rc246H
11 Rc248H 7.1 10.3 108 112 I S S I I

NSIC 2011 6.5 8.9 109 109 I I S I MR

Rc250H
NSIC 2011 6.8 9.8 108 105 I I S I I
Rc252H
NSIC 2011 6.1 10.2 117 118 I S S I I
Rc254H
NSIC 2011 6.3 9.9 109 104 I S S MS MS
Rc256H
NSIC 2011 6.7 9.8 106 103 I S S I I
Rc258H
NSIC 2011 6.5 10 109 107 I S S I I
Rc260H
NSIC 2011 6.4 10.4 114 113 I I S I MR
Rc262H
NSIC 2011 6.3 10.9 118 115 I S S I MS
Rc264H
NSIC 2011 6.3 10.2 110 111 I I S I MS
Rc266H
NSIC 2011 6.5 12.7 115 113 S I S I MS
Rc268H

Rainfed Varieties

Variety Agronomic Characteristics Disease & Insect Pests Reactions

Ave. Max Maturity Borer
Yield Yield days Height Blast BLB Tungro BPH GLH
(Tons) (Tons)
RC100 4.1 4.1 118 111 I I S I S R
PSB 2.3 4.4 117 101 I I S I I I
RC102
PSB RC12 3.5 6 109 89 I I S I I MS
PSB RC14 3.6 6.1 110 92 I I S I I S
PSB RC36 3.1 5.3 127 121 I I MS S I MS
PSB RC38 3.2 5 127 119 I I MS S I I
PSB RC40 3.1 4.9 130 126 R I MS S I MS
PSB RC98 2.6 4.5 116 98 I I I/S R I I
Source:[Link]
84
Legend: I - Insusceptible S-Susceptible MR- Moderately Resistant R-Resistant
MS-Moderately Susceptible
There are other factors to consider in the selection of good seeds aside
from the desirable characteristics, and these are:

1. Genetic purity. The seed should not be mixed with other rice
variety.
2. Physical purity of composition. Seeds should be free from inert
matter, chaff, and weed seeds. They must be clean.
3. Moisture content. The ideal moisture content of rice seeds for
sowing is 14%.
4. Capacity of the seed to germinate or viability. The international
standards for viability require a minimum of 80% germination.

The four general classifications of agricultural seeds according to their

purity and quality are as follows:
1. Breeder seeds. This is the purest seed of rice varieties obtained
through selection, introduction, and hybridization.
Hybridization means that a selected seed is planted and during
the reproductive stage , it is crossed with another plant.
2. Foundation seeds. This type of seed is produced from breeder
seeds in the government seed farm where its varietal purity is
maintained.
3. Registered seeds. This seed is produced from the foundation
seed.
4. Certified seeds. This type of seed is produced from the registered
seed.

Testing the Viability of Seeds

Before sowing it is highly recommended that a test be conducted

to determine the viability of the seeds. Many seeds fail to germinate
because they have been kept too long under bad conditions. That
renders them too weak when grown or too immature when harvested.
Every plant grower should determine the germinating power of seeds
by testing them to ensure high percentage of germination, less
expenses, time and effort.

Methods Of Seed Testing

85
There are two methods of testing the viability of seeds, the rag doll
and the seedbed. This should be done before sowing in seedbed or
before directly seeding in paddy.

1. Rag Doll Method

Courtesy of P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty College of Agriculture, CLSU

The following are the steps in the rag doll method:

a. Prepare a clean rag measuring 20.32cm X 30.48cm and a
stick 25.4cm long.
b. Prepare at least 100 seeds for testing. Do not select.
c. Lay the rag on any flat surface and distribute the seeds
evenly in rows on the rag.
d. Roll the rag around the stick for support. Moisten the cloth
and place it in a warm –moist place.
e. Unroll the rag after 5 days. Determine the germination rate
following the formula.

% germination = No. of seeds germinated x 100

No. of seeds sown

Examples:

Regina Mae wants to test the viability of her palay

seeds. She sow 100 seeds and after 7 days only 86
seeds germinated. What is the percentage germination
of the seeds?
86
 Solution: % germination = 86 X 100 = 86%
100

If the percentage of germination is 80% or above, use

the seeds at the required quantity. If it is below 80%
germination, adjust the seed bulk to the seeding rate.
To adjust use the formula:

Adjusted Amount of Seeds = 100% x rate of seeding

% germination

You will now compute the adjusted seeding rate of the

given.
Seed bulk = 60 kg
Germination = 78%
Seeding rate = 50 kg

6. How much adjusted amount of seeds will you sow per

hectare using the given bulk, germination percentage
and seeding rate. Substitute the values:

Adjusted amount of seeds = 100 X 50 kg

78

= 1.28 x 50 kg.
= 64.10 kg/ha.

2. Seed Box Method

87
 If you decide
to use the seed box method, do the following
steps:

a. Prepare a small seed box and fill it with sterilized soil.

b. Get 100-150 seeds (depending on your choice) at random.
Sow the seeds in rows in the seed box. Cover the seeds lightly
with soil. Water the seeds occasionally.
c. When seeds have germinated, determine the percentage
germination as in the rag doll method.

IM PORTANT THINGS TO REM EMBER

To ensure high crop yield and good quality, viable seeds should be
selected. Desirable characteristics such as early maturing, resistance
to lodging and nitrogen responsiveness are not the only factors to
consider when buying rice seeds. Other factors such as purity,
physical composition, moisture content, and capacity of the seed to
germinate should be included.
Seed viability is a characteristic of rice essential to profitable rice
production because good quality seeds bring about a maximum yield
with minimum expenditure of time, money and effort. Seed viability
test should be done before the seed is sown in seed beds or directly
seeding in paddies following the rag doll or seed box methods.

88
 Process

Activity #1
1. Prepare the following and perform the rag doll method of testing
the viability of seeds.
a. 20.32cm X 30.48cm rag
b. handful of rice seeds
c. 25.4cm stick
d. water

2. After 5 days, open your rag doll and determine the viability
percentage of germination of your tested seeds. Write the result
in your activity notebook.

Activity#2

Organize a simple symposium in the class and invite two farmers to

share their farming experiences. Select one farmer using seeds
sourced from his neighbor, sowing same seeds without testing the
viability; the other using seeds acquired from a certified seed grower
which is tested before sowing. Draw some conclusions from the shared
experiences of the farmers. Deepen knowledge by having an
intellectual discussion with the farm technician assigned in the
locality.

89
Activity#3

Tie-up with the technician of the Department of Agriculture and a

cooperating farmer. Identify a certain farm lot along the road to be
used as demonstration farm for seed growing venture. Students will
act as junior technicians working and learning jointly with the farmers.

A. Read the following questions/statements. Select the best

answer then write the letter corresponding to the right answer.

1. The following are characteristics of high yielding rice varieties

except one.
a. Early maturing and non seasonal
b. Resistant to drought
c. Nitrogen responsive
d. Late maturing and seasonal

2. The capacity of the seed to germinate refers to:

a. viability c. vitality
b. fertility d. germ inability

3. Why is seed testing important?

a. It saves time in planting c. It saves cost of inputs
B. It saves labor d. All of the above

90
 4. A seed germination test showed that of the 120 seeds used in
the test, 98 germinated. The percentage germination of the
seed is
a. 68.71% c. 81.67%
b. 76.18% d. 87.76%

5. Which of the following is not a variety of rice?

a. NSIC RC10 c. TSG B. BPI RI10 d. IR 36

B. Answer the following.

1. What are the desirable characteristics of good seeds? (5pts)

2. Compute for the percentage of germination using the problem
below.
Rudy tested his seeds before planting. He sowed 150 seeds
using the rag doll method. After 5 days he found out that only
120 seeds germinated. What is the percentage germination?
In case the percentage of germination is below 80% find the
adjusted amount of seeds if the seed bulk is 60 kgs and the
seeding rate is 50 kg.

RESOURCES

1. Seeds
2. Piece of cloth
3. Container on which to soak the seeds

Seed viability - the ability of the seed to germinate normally

Lodging – the bending of plants at ground level

91
 QUARTER III

LESSON V

SEEDLING M ANAGEM ENT

This lesson is very important in ensuring healthy seedlings growth

and for a good harvest. It is all about how to prepare the seed bed, how
to sow seeds, and take care of seedlings. You will learn these within
twelve days.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. prepare seed bed, sow seeds and care for rice seedlings;
2. sow seeds in wet and dry seed bed;
3. practice proper care and management of rice seedlings; and
4. internalize the relevance of proper seedbed preparation, sowing
and care of seedlings.
92
 5.
6.

In rice farming, it is very important to know the

varieties your neighbor will be planting, as well as their expected date
of sowing. This will give you the best idea when to sow your seeds to
have almost a uniform date of harvesting, and for a more convenient
transport of farm equipment and harvest.

Once you have identified the best variety of rice suited to the climatic
conditions of the locality which is high yielding and with high quality
of harvest, you must decide on the method of raising seedlings you will
use based on the availability of water. The following points should be
considered:

1. Select a site far from the residential area and away from
wandering chicken. If not, protect the area against stray animals
with a nylon net or chicken wire.
2. The site must have undergone soil analysis to be able to correct
soil deficiency and to ensure healthy seed growth.
3. Make sure it is far from fields infected with tungro, grassy stunt,
and other diseases. It should not be lighted at night to avoid
attracting adult stem borers, brown plant hoppers, and green
leaf hoppers.
4. Monitor fields nearby to detect the presence of virus-infected
plants particularly from ratoon of previous crop.
5. Protect against insect vectors. If there is an abnormally high
incidence of virus infestation in the area, look for better site.

M ethods of Raising Seedlings

1. W etbed M ethod

93
 Seedlings raised in wetbed method
P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

The wetbed method is widely used in areas where water

abounds, even in rainfed areas and in the second/dry cropping
season. It is usually done 25-30 days before transplanting. The
steps in the wet-bed method are:

a. Plow and harrow the field a day before sowing of seeds.

Then prepare seed bed plots of any convenient length,
approximately 1-1.5 meter wide. Do this in 1 to 2 days.
While harrowing, allow water to flow out of the bed for
some time. This will allow the weed seeds to be carried
out thus leaving lesser weeds to grow in the seedbed.
b. Use mud around to raise the seedbed to about 4-5 cm.
higher than the original soil level. Level the bed and
slightly incline to the side using a wooden plank. This
will facilitate irrigation and drainage, and to ensure
uniform growth of the seedlings.
c. Incorporate carbonized rice hull or organic materials
on bed for easier pulling of seedlings later.
d. Use a plot of about 400-500 sq. meters to sow 44 kg. of
inbred seeds and 20 kg. for hybrid seeds (adjust seed
bulk based on actual % of germination) for a one-
hectare field .
e. For seedbeds with poor soil, apply 60-100 grams of
nitrogen fertilizer before sowing. Then sow seeds
uniformly.

Incubating the Seeds

1. Put the seeds in a container filled with water for 24

hours. Stir the water in the container while pouring
seeds to allow the empty ones to float thereby separating
them from the good ones.
94
 P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

2. After 24 hours of soaking, transfer the seeds in sacks.

Half fill the sacks with seeds for easier germination.

3. After soaking and putting in a half- filled sack, incubate

the seeds in a warm and shady place for 36-48 hours.
Moisten the seeds regularly by sprinkling with water to
speed up germination.

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

Sowing the pre-germinated seeds

After the seeds have germinated, they are broadcasted

uniformly on the surface of the seedbed. Avoid sowing too thickly
to ensure healthy seedling growth. Too dense sowing will result
in thin and weak stems.

95
 Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty ,College of Agriculture, CLSU

Care and maintenance of the Seedlings

After sowing, the pre-germinated seeds should be submerged in

water overnight. Drain them the following day to ensure uniform
germination.

Start shallow irrigation 2-3 cm depth within 3-5 days

after sowing. Then apply nitrogen fertilizer at the rate of 5 kgs
per 40-50 sq m seedbed. Continue irrigation, by gradually
increasing the water depth to 5 cm. As a rule of thumb, you have
to visit your seedbed always to detect occurrence of insect pests
and diseases. Upon detection, immediately spray with
appropriate insecticide or fungicide, following the rate
recommended by the manufacturer. Transplant the seedlings
using the following guide: 16 - 18 days old for the early maturing
varieties harvestable after 116 days, and 20 - 25 days old for
varieties that are harvestable after 126 days or more.

2. Dapog M ethod

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

This method is used in irrigated land with a well managed

and controlled irrigation system. It is characterized by the

96
absence of the soil medium, restricted area (40 sqm/ha.) and
early transplanting.

Preparation of Seedbed

1. Construct seedbed the same way as the wetbed

method.
2. Cover the bed with banana leaves Remove the
midrib, plastic sheets or heavy coarse paper to prevent
the roots of the seedlings from getting in contact with
the seedbed underneath and to facilitate separation
of seedlings.
3. Surround the seedbed with bamboo slats or banana
stems held in place with a stick.

Pre-germination of seeds

1. Soak and incubate the same way as in wetbed.

2. Sow seeds uniformly at the rate of one cavan (44 kg) per
40 square meters. You will need 1 ½ cavan (66 kg)
seeds for one hectare field. Adjust seedbulk based
on the percentage of germination of the seeds.
3. Keep lining the roots in contact with the banana leaves
or
plastic to prevent the seedlings from drying.

4. Press the seedbed lightly using a wooden board every

morning and afternoon for 3 - 4 days.

Care and maintenance of the seedlings

Water the dapog seedlings every morning and afternoon,

using water sprinkler until the seedlings are ready for
transplanting. Seedlings will be ready for transplanting, 10-12
days after sowing. Instead of pulling the young plants, cut into
one square foot or to any convenient size, then roll each piece.

Control of insect pests and diseases will be done following

the same procedure in the production of seedlings in seedbed
method.

THINGS TO REM EMBER

97
 The farmer’s decision on the method to use in raising seedlings
depends on the availability of water. However, wetbed method is widely
used in areas where water abounds.

Production of healthy seedlings require utmost care, to ensure

Process

healthy plant growth and high

production.
Activity#1

Form a group to perform the following activities in an identified

area.

1. Prepare a 3m x 1m seed bed.

2. Germinate seeds just enough for the area.
3. Demonstrate proper sowing.
4. Discuss how to take care of your seedlings.

Assign an observer group to fill up the rubric for scoring on the table
below to determine how good the work group manage their activity,
and vice-versa.

A. Seedbed preparation
Activities Rating

1 2 3 4 5
1. Cleared the area
2. Prepared seedbed about 4-5 cm

3. Leveled the seedbed surface

4. Selected the proper site for
seedbed
5. Sowed seeds uniformly with the
right thickness

98
B. Care of seedlings
Activities Rating

1 2 3 4 5
1. Visited the seedbed at least
once
2. Sprayed insecticides when
there was occurrence of insect
pests
3. Collected golden apple snail
(GAS) eggs
4. Removed weeds
5. Applied irrigation water at
recommended depth

Legend:
1 = 75-79% 2 = 80-85% 3 = 86-90% 4 = 91-95% 5 = 96-
100%

Activity#2

Present and discuss to the class the findings of the observer’s group
performed in the activity above. Prepare a plan of action on how to
improve one’s performance in doing the same task.

Activity #3

99
 Using the experiences gained from the above activities, and enriched
by extensive readings on the topic, present to the class a discussion
paper on the best method of raising seedlings for rice production both
in irrigated and rainfed field conditions.

Direction: Choose the correct answer and write the letter on your quiz
notebook.

1. The ideal size intended for raising seedlings using seedbed

method is _______________:
a.1-1.5 m wide with any convenient length.
b. 1-1.5 m wide x 10 m.
c. 4m x 2m only.
d. 5m x 5m.

2. The recommended soaking time for rice seeds before sowing the
seedbed is________________:
a. 20-22 hours. c. 28-30 hours.
b. 24 hours. d. 36-48 hours.

3. How many hours of soaking will it take to incubate seeds before

sowing in the seedbed?
a. 36 to 48 c. 46 to 50
b. 40 to 48 d. 48 to 72

4. Five days after sowing, the seedbed is irrigated for two days at a
depth of
a. 1-2 centimeter. c. 3-4 centimeters.
b. 2-3 centimeters. d. 4-5 centimeters.

5. Rudy wanted to produce healthy seedlings in his rice farm How

many times in a week should he visit the young plants? a. Only
once c. 3 times
b. Twice d. 4 times

100
6. Which among the following methods of raising rice seedlings is
more economical?
a. Dapog c. Seed bed
b. Dry bed d. Seed box

7. How much nitrogen should be applied per square meter in

a seed bed with poor soil?
a. 50 to 80 grams c. 60 to 100 grams
b. 55 to 85 grams d. 100 to 125 grams

8. What is the average seeding rate of seeds sown using the

dapog seedbed method?
a. 22 kg c. 44 kg
b. 33 kg d. 66 kg

9. What is the recommended age of seedlings for transplanting

of late maturing rice varieties that are harvestable in 126
days after sowing?
a. 12 - 15 days c. 18 - 20 days
b. 16 - 18 days d. 20 - 25 days

10. Which of the following methods of raising seedlings work best

in areas where water is sufficiently available?
a. Wetbed c. Dry bed
b. Seed box d. Dapog

Resources

1. area for the seed bed

2. seeds
3. bolo
4. plow and harrow if needed
5. plunks
6. draft carabao/hand tractor
7. shovel
8. fertilizer
9. PPE
[Link]

101
 Seedbed – a well-prepared plot where seeds are sown
Dapog method – a method of raising rice seedlings characterized
by the absence of soil medium
Fertilizer –any substance which is added to the soil to supply the
nutrients needed to enhance plant growth.

102
 LESSON VI
PULLING AND TRANSPLANTING OF SEEDLINGS/DIRECT SEEDING

P hoto, Courtesy of Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

Just like any other crop, raising rice seedlings needs extra care during
planting and transplanting. This lesson discusses the steps in pulling
seedlings, the system of transplanting, and direct seeding.
You will these within twelve days.

At the end of the lesson you should be able to:

1. discuss the steps in pulling and bundling seedlings;

2. pull and bundle seedlings appropriately;
3. transplant seedlings following the recommended distance , depth,
and rate of planting; and

103
 4. state the advantages of direct seeding.

Proper W ay of Pulling Seedlings

Hand pulling of seedlings Pulling seedlings with the use of scythe

P hoto Courtesy of P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

1. Irrigate the seedbed overnight to a depth of at least 3-5 centimeters

to soften the soil and facilitate pulling of seedlings
2. Hold the seedlings close to the base and gently pull them.
3. Another method is to use a scythe to cut through the soil half inch
below the stem, This method is faster, and avoids stress and
damage to the stem while ensuring that adequate roots of the
seedlings are retained.
4. Bundle them in any convenient size for ease of handling.

Seedlings raised through dapog method are prepared following the steps
below.
1. Cut the bed into convenient size of at least one square foot and roll
each piece. Do not prune the seedlings.
2. Roll the matted dapog seedlings.
3. Tie the rolled seedlings.

Pulling and Transplanting of Seedlings

104
 Pulling of seedlings will be done one day before transplanting.
According to the CBLM year 3, early maturing rice varieties that can
be harvested from 110 to 115 days after transplanting will be
transplanted from 16 to18 days after sowing. However, late maturing
varieties will be transplanted from 20 to 25 days after sowing.

Proper Transplanting of Seedlings

Right after the final harrowing, level the field using a wooden plank
attached to a harrow. Then allow the mud to subside. With the aid of
a wooden planting guide prepare lines by pulling on the leveled field.
These lines will serve as guides in transplanting at a uniform p
distance of planting. An example is 20 cm x 20 cm or any desired
distance depending on the variety. This is to allow the plant to attain
its maximum tillering and it also facilitates weed control later, using
a rotary weeder.

P hoto Courtesy of P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

1. Straight row planting. Seedlings are transplanted in straight rows

where definite spacing is maintained between plants.
Straight row planting enhances the attainment of an
optimum plant population and it facilitates the application of
fertilizer and weeding operations using a rotary weeder.
Use guides or markers to attain straight rows. Hold the
seedlings in between the thumb and the first and second finger
and insert these gently into the soil. Plant seedlings in spots
indicated by the guides or markers.
After planting a row, move backward to the next row and
resume planting. Handle seedlings carefully before
transplanting to avoid injury. In case there is a delay in
transplanting, it is suggested to increase the number of
seedlings per hill by one for each day that transplanting is

105
 delayed. This compensates the reduced tillering capacity once
the seedlings get older due to transplanting delay.
For inbred varieties of rice, transplant 2-3 seedlings per
hill and 1-2 seedlings for the hybrid varieties at a depth of 2-3
centimeters. Transplant early maturing varieties 16-20 days
after sowing while medium maturing ones at 16-30 days after
sowing.
If transplanting is delayed up to 30 days for early
maturing and 35 days for medium maturing varieties, increase
the seedling rate to 5 – 8 seedlings per hill.
For highland rice culture, cold tolerant traditional
varieties are transplanted 30 – 45 days at a distance of 15 cm x
20 cm with 2 – 3 seedlings per hill

Proper way of holding seedling to transplant

Random transplanting
P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

2. Random [Link] method of transplanting has no

specific distance in planting. However, planters tend to plant too
close or too far which sometimes adversely affect the potential
yield of the variety and the use of rotary weeder. This method is
faster but it requires use of more seeds (66 to 68 kg/ha.). It is
106
 economical, however, because it does not entail high cost of
labor.

Seedlings raised in dapog method should be transplanted 4 - 7

seedlings per hill using the straight row or random planting method.
After planting, place extra seedlings along the alleyways of the
field to be used for replanting 3-5 days after transplanting.

Direct Seeding

This method could be done in irrigated and dry rainfed planting.

Direct seeding in puddled soil is recommended in areas where
irrigation facilities are costly, scarce, and just rely on rain.

For land preparation, follow the procedure in preparing irrigated field

for transplanting. Follow the procedure in pregerminating the seeds.
Broadcast 80-100 kg/ha of pre-germinated rice seeds in well-prepared
and leveled paddies. A new technology has been introduced with the
use of a drum seeder . The drum seeder regulates the distance of
planting and the number of seeds per hill. For upland or rainfed areas,
pre-germinated seeds are drilled in rows or in furrows at the rate of 2-
3 seeds/hill at a distance of 20-30 centimeters. Drain the field the
following day to facilitate uniform germination of seeds.

Direct seeding with the use of drum seeder.

P hoto Courtesy of Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

107
 Direct seeding of pre-germinated seeds using the drum seeder saves
seeds and facilitates mechanical weeding. Drum seeder regulates plant
distance with fairly low rate of seeds at 50-100 kg per hectare.

A mechanical seeder
P hoto Courtesy of Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

For rainfed rice planting, seeds are planted by means of mechanical

seeder seen in the figure above. Another method is by dibbling or
drilling.
• Dibbling. Seeds are dibbled in straight rows at 15 cm x 15 cm to
25 cm x 25 cm. with 5 - 8 seeds per hill.
• Drilling. Seeds are planted in furrows made by plow with the same
distance and rate of seeding as in dibbling.

IM PORTANT THINGS TO REM EMBER

• A day before transplanting, pull seedlings carefully to minimize

seedling damage.
• Clean and bundle seedlings for ease of transporting.
• Random transplanting has no definite distance and alignment
between plants while straight row planting has uniform distance
and spaces.
• Direct seeding can be done by broadcasting or with the use of a
drum seeder or mechanical seeder. It requires less labor in
planting.

108
 Process

Activity #1

1. Divide the class into two groups. The first group will pull
seedlings while the second group will transplant seedlings.
2. Demonstrate direct seeding by broadcast system.

The teacher will fill up the rubrics based on student performance in

the activities to find out their learned skills.

Activities
Hold Pull Clean and Follow
Name of students seedlings seedling bundle proper
close to gently seedlings distance
ground and rate of
planting
1.
2.
3.

Legend:
1 = 75-79%
2 = 80-85%
3 = 86-90%
4 = 91-95%
5 = 96-100%

109
 Activity#2

Watch a video presentation of new technologies in transplanting

rice seedling like the use of a transplanting machine.
Brainstorm on the advantages and disadvantages of mechanical
seeder over the manual transplanting method. Emphasize on the
positive impact of farm mechanization in boosting production.

Activity#3

Organize a small farmer learning cell and act as an agent of change

in the community. Demonstrate the use of transplanter and seeder
technologies in the locality. Each student should have at least five
farmer- learners/cooperators.

A. Answer the following test items. Write the letter of your choice in your
quiz notebook.

1. The random system of transplanting

a. provides enough space for growing plant.
b. makes weeding using rotary weeder difficult.
c. makes hand pulling of weeds difficult.
d. causes overcrowding of plants.

2. What is the average number of transplanted seedlings per hill?

a. 2-3 seedlings
b. 3-4 seedlings
110
 c. 4-5 seedlings
d. 6-7 seedlings

3. What should be considered in straight row system of

transplanting rice?
a. Its variety, season, and fertility of the soil
b. The provision of enough space for photosynthesis
c. Its spacing of the plant for easy weeding
d. The harvesting of rice plants during the maturity period

4. What is the average rate of transplanting for hybrid seedlings

per hill?
a. 1 – 2 c. 4 - 7
b. 3 – 6 d. 7 - 10

5. When is the right time to replant missing hills after

transplanting?
a. 3 – 5 days after planting
b. 5 - 7 days after planting
c. 7 – 9 days after planting
d. 10 – 12 days after planting

B. Answer the following:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of direct seeding?

2. How and when do you pull seedlings for transplanting?

RESOURCES

1. references
2. seedlings raised in seed bed
3. pre-germinated seeds
4. string (planting guide)
5. dibbler

111
 Random planting - a system of planting with no definite distance
or alignment usually done by contract
Straight row planting - a system of planting with specific distance
and spacing
Transplanting - means to plant the seedlings from the seed bed
to the paddies
Dibbler - a small pointer tool used for making holes in the soil
for planting seeds.
Dibbling - the process of preparing the holes in the field for planting
of seeds or seedlings using a dibbler..
M echanical seeder- a machine used in direct seeding of
pregerminated seeds in either lowland or upland field
condition.
Drum seeder- an equipment used for direct seeding of pregerminated
seeds, either lowland or upland field condition.

112
 LESSON VII

NUTRIENT M ANAGEM ENT

P hoto Courtesy of Dr. P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

This lesson will equip you with the knowledge on the macro and
micro elements of the soil and their functions, the kinds of fertilizer
materials, and amount of fertilizer to apply, methods of applying
fertilizer, and the time to apply it. You will learn these within thirteen
days.

At the end of the lesson you should be able to:

1. identify the macro and micro elements needed by the plants;

2. state the functions of each macro element;
3. enumerate the kinds of fertilizer materials;
4. apply fertilizer appropriately;
5. compute the recommended rate of fertilizer per given area;
113
 6. appreciate the value of proper fertilization.

Proper application of fertilizer will give you more returns from your
rice crop at less cost. For maximum returns, fertilizer should be
applied at the right amount, place, and at the time the crop needs it.
Indiscriminate application of fertilizer will result in plant over growth
which will make the plant susceptible to pests and diseases causing it
to be less productive.
The result of the soil analysis explained and discussed in Lesson 2
should be the basis in determining the right amount of fertilizer to be
applied.
The assigned Municipal Agricultural Officer in your locality could be
tapped to provide assistance in case the soil intended for rice
production has not been analyzed.
In the absence of soil analysis, refer to any available Fertilizer
Recommendation Maps in your locality. Follow the average general
recommendation and time of application.

The M acro and M icro Elements of the Soil and their Functions

According to the CBLM Year 3 there are 10 essential plant foods

needed for the development of any crop. However, only three are
usually taken from the soil, air and water in sufficient amount. These
are the macro elements: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P 2O5) and
potassium (K 2O) or NPK. The micro elements are sulfur, zinc,
molybdenum, copper, boron, manganese, and magnesium. The
functions of the macro elements, signs and symptoms of deficiency,
and sources are identified below:

Nitrogen (N)
Functions:
• Stimulates growth of the leaves and stems
• It gives dark green color to plant
Deficiency symptoms:
• Pale yellow in color

114
 • Lower leaves will die early
• Short and stunted plant
Excess of nitrogen causes the plant to lodge before booting
which will cause decrease in the yield of rice. If you observe
the plants to be dark green it is already prone to lodging. Do
not apply nitrogenous fertilizer anymore.

Sources of Nitrogen
1. Ammonium sulfate (21 – 0 – 0)
2. Ammonium phosphate (16 – 20 – 0)
3. Urea (46 – 0 – 0)
4. Organic fertilizer
5. Liquid fertilizer

Phosphorous (P) Functions:

1. Encourages root growth
2. Hastens maturity of the plant
3. Helps in the production of seeds Deficiency
symptoms:
Not enough tillers per hill Sources:
1. Superphosphate (0-20-0)
2. Ammonium phosphate(16-20-0)
3. Triphosphate(0-45-0)
4. Complete fertilizer (14-14-14)
5. Liquid fertilizer
6. Organic fertilizer

Potassium (K)
Functions:
1. Increases the vigor of the plant.
2. Plant becomes more resistant to disease.
3. Stalks become stronger.
4. Grains become bigger and plump.
Deficiency symptoms:
Plant growth, root development, and seed development are
usually reduced. Sources:
[Link] of potash (0-0-60)
[Link] fertilizer (14 – 14 – 14)
Proper Storing of Fertilizers

Although fertilizers are not highly poisonous chemicals,

always keep them out of reach of children and away from the
supply of foods. Store fertilizers in a dry and cool place. They
115
 should be protected from moist and rain. Do not allow the
fertilizer bags to touch the cement floors to prevent caking due
to accumulation of moisture.

Kinds of Fertilizer

There are two kinds of fertilizers: organic and inorganic.

1. Organic fertilizer refers to the fertilizer that comes from

decayed plant and animal residues such as:

a. Animal manure. Animal manures are especially valuable

in crop production. In addition as plant food, they supply
large amounts of organic matter to the soil. The
composition depends chiefly on the kind of manure and
the condition of their storage. Well-decomposed manure
is better than fresh. These are main components in
composting and vermicomposting.
Average Chemical Composition of Manures

M anure Type M oisture% Composition %

N P K Ca Mg

Cattle
Fresh 79.9 2.06 0.66 0.77 0.70 0.16
Decomposed 71.4 2.41 0.75 0.88 0.88 0.12

Carabao
Fresh 71.0 1.22 0.85 0.79 0.15 0.09
Decomposed 67.8 1.09 0.82 0.70 0.19 -

Swine
Fresh 73.8 2.76 2.64 1.47 1.26 0.09
Decomposed 70.5 2.11 2.41 0.97 0.35 0.04

Poultry
Fresh 82.2 3.17 3.25 2.35 0.52 0.25
Decomposed 44.6 3.17 3.29 2.41 0.65 0.37
Source:THE III, SEDP Series

116
 P reparing soil mixture using organic fertilizer as one of the component
Courtesy of P edrito S. Nitural, Faculty ,College of Agriculture, CLSU

b. Green manures are green growing plants that are plowed

under. Leguminous plants are mainly used for this
purpose due to their capacity to produce nutrients in
their root nodules. Upon decomposition, nutrients
become available to new crops grown in the area. Green
manure supplies the crop its needed nutrients like
nitrogen and others.

c. Compost is an organic material consisting of very fine,

thoroughly decomposed mixture of manure, plant parts,
and other organic matter. It contains mineral elements
needed for plant growth. It is prepared by piling up
animal manure, soil, crop residues, lime or wood ashes.
It could also be produced through vermicomposting
using African night crawlers (ANC) worms which produce
cast which is a very good source of organic material.

2. Inorganic Fertilizer. These are the commercial fertilizers.

They are concentrated form of plant food which maybe
complete or incomplete. A complete fertilizer contains all the
three macro elements (NPK). An incomplete fertilizer contains
only one or two of these elements – N, P or K.

Inorganic fertilizers are classified according to the number of

fertilizer elements present.
a. Single element fertilizers. These contain only
one element. Examples:
Ammonium sulphate(21-0-0)
Urea (46-0-0)
Ordinary superphosphate (20-0-0)
Muriate of potash (0-0-60)
b. Incomplete fertilizers. These fertilizers contain
only two fertilizer elements. Examples:

117
 Mono-ammonium phosphate (21-53-0)(18-46-0)
and (16-20-0) (11-18-0)
c. Complete Fertilizers. These contain all three
major elements, N,P,K in percentages indicated
respectively by the three numerals .Examples:
12-12-12, 14-14-14, 12-24-12, 10-25-25, 5-1016

All the commercial fertilizers are manufactured to meet the demands

of different crops and different soil types. They provide the plants with
ready concentrated amount of nutrients for plant growth, the same
elements found in an organic fertilizer but greater in percentage. But
its excessive use results in depleted organic matter and losses in soil
friability and its ability to resist drought. Commercial fertilizers should
be supplements but never as replacements for compost and manures.
It will be best to use a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers
to be able to preserve and improve the quality of the soil.

According to the Palay Check Program of PhilRice, here is the

recommended rate of application of fertilizers based on the identified
deficiencies. It will be better if you will still follow your computed rate
of fertilizer application based on the result of the soil analysis.
Deficiencies Irrigated Rain fed
First application: First application:
P and K are not deficient
3-3.5 bags 14-14-14-12S 4-4.5 bags 14-14-14-12S
For fine-textured soil: For fine-textured soil:
First application: First application:
3-3.5 bags 14-14-14-12S 4-4.5 bags 14-14-14-12S +
+ 1 bag 16-20-0 + 1 bag 0-0-
0.5 bag 16-20-0 + 0.5 bag 60
0-0-60
For medium-textured
P and K are deficient For medium-textured soil:
soil: First application:
First application: 4.5 bags 14-14-14-12S +
3.5 bags 14-14-14-12S + 1 bag 16-20-0
0.5 bag 16-20-0
At EPI:
At EPI: 1 bag 0-0-60
0.5 bag 0-0-60
First application: First application:
Only P is deficient 3-3.5 bags 14-14-14-12S 4-4.5 bags 14-14-14-12S +
+ 1 bag 16-20-0
118
 0.5 16-20-0

Only K is deficient For fine-textured soil: For fine-textured soil:

First application: First application:
3-3.5 bags 14-14-14-12S 4-4.5 bags 14-14-14-12S
+ +
0.5 bag 0-0-60 1 bag 0-0-60

For medium-textured For medium-textured

soil: soil:
First application: First application:
3.5 bags 14-14-14-12S 4.5 bags 14-14-14-12S
+ 0.5 bag 0-0-60 At EPI: + 0.5 bag 0-0-60 At EPI:
0.5 bag 0-0-60 1 bag 0-0-60
W HEN TO APPLY FERTILIZER

1. Basal Application. Right before the last harrowing, one or

two days before transplanting, drain all water from the field
and apply 1/2 of the recommended nitrogen (N), all the
phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) depending on the variety
used and the age of seedlings when transplanted. It will be
best to use a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers
in the basal application using 10 bags of organic fertilizer per
hectare together with the ½ recommended rate of inorganic
fertilizer
2. Top dress. Timely application of top dress fertilizer is very
important to supply the needed nutrients for healthy and
long panicle. Apply or broadcast the remaining nitrogen 5 – 7
days before panicle initiation or 70 – 72 days before maturity.

Photo Courtesy of Mr. Roger C. Nazareno, Farmer, San Pedro Apartado Multi -Purpose Cooperative, Pangasinan

3. Foliar Application. Different brands of foliar fertilizer have

different composition but the method and timing of
application are the same. Start application 45 days after

119
 transplanting at 10 – 14 days interval. Refer to the table
below for the direction.

Crop Fertilizer Time of Interval Rate

application
day Tbs/16 l

RICE
Crop Giant (Orange Early in the morning or 10 – 14 4- 6
level) 15 – 15 – 30 + late in the afternoon.
ME Start application 45
days after transplanting
Foliar Plus Apply 15 days after 4 x / 15 6-8
15 – 15 – 30 + ME transplanting days
interval

Proper Timing of Top Dressing In Rice

Sufficient nutrients from tillering to early panicle initiation and

flowering stages will result to good crop growth, good panicle
development, and attainment of the yield potential of a given variety.

TRANSPLANTED
MATURITY 18 – 21 days TRANSPLANTED
Panicle initiation (DAYS) 25 – 28 days
Irrigated
VEM (100 – 105) IR
-56, IR-58
IR – 36, IR – 60,
BPI R; 10
UPL R, -4 48 – 56
MM (115 – 130)
IR – 42, IR – 64 BPI 48 -56
R; 4, 58 – 66
IR – 46, IR – 52
RAINFED
MM (120 – 130) 48 – 56
C – 22 58 -66 75 - 80
Wagwag
Legend: VEM = Very early maturity
MM = Moderate Maturity

Correct Amount of Fertilizer to be Applied

In computing the right amount of fertilizers to be applied in a

given area, make use of the result of soil analysis and the
recommended rate of application of fertilizers. It requires the ability to
compute for the fertilizer need in a given crop per unit area. One way

120
of expressing fertilizer rate is by kilogram nitrogen (N) phosphoric acid
(P2O5) and kilogram soluble potassium (K 2O) per hectare. Another way
is by bags of the fertilizer material per hectare. For farmers it is
advisable to use the latter but for extension men, the former is used to
facilitate communication.
The amount of fertilizer to be applied per hectare to supply a
certain amount of plant nutrient depends on the recommended rate and
composition of the fertilizer material to be used.

Fertilizer Computation Formula:

Formula # 1

Weight of fertilizer material= Recommended rate x 100

% nutrient of the fertilizer material

Formula # 2

Number of fertilizer bags = Weight of nutrient

Weight of nutrient per bag

Sample Problems and Computations

The recommended rate is given in the form of NPK. Calculate the

number of kilograms of ammonium sulfate (21% N or 21–0–0) or Urea
(45-0-0), super phosphate (20% P 2O5 or 0–20–0) and muriate of potash
(60% K 2O or 0–0–60) to meet the 100–70–40 fertilizer recommendation.

Example # 1
The recommended rate for Nitrogen is 100–0–0/ha. Convert the
weight of fertilizer using the formula:

Weight of fertilizer material= Recommended rate x 100

% nutrient of the fertilizer material

121
 Step1. Determine the kind of fertilizer to use to meet the N
recommended rate. The recommendations could be supplied
with ammonium sulfate (21 – 0 - ) or urea (46 – 0 – 0). If you use
urea:

= 100 kg x 100
46
= 100 kg
.46
= 217.39 kg

Step 2. Convert the computed weight of fertilizer material into

number of bags by dividing it with 50 kg which is the commercial
weight per bag of the fertilizer material.

= 217.39 kg
50 kg/bag
= 4.35 or 4.4 bags

Therefore, approximately 4.4 bags of urea per hectare are needed

to supply the fertilizer recommended rate of 100-0-0.

Example # 2
Step 1. Determine the amount of fertilizer to use to meet the
recommended rate for phosphorous 0-70-0. The
recommendations could be supplied with super phosphate (0 –
20 -0 ):

= 70 kg x 100
20
= 70 kg or 3.5 x 100
.20
= 350 kg

Step 2. Convert the computed weight of fertilizer material into

number of bags by dividing it with 50 kg which is the commercial
weight per bag of the fertilizer material.

= 350 kg
50 kg/bag
= 7 bags

Therefore, a total of 7 bags per hectare are needed to supply the

fertilizer recommended rate of 0-70-0.

122
 Example # 3
Step 1. Determine the amount of fertilizer to use to meet the
recommended rate for potassium 0-0-40. The
recommendations could be supplied with muriate of potash (0- 0-
60 ):

= 40 kg x 100
60
= 40 kg or 0.6666 x 100
.60
= 66.67 kg

Step 2. Convert the computed weight of fertilizer material into

number of bags by dividing it with 50 kg which is the commercial
weight per bag of the fertilizer material.

= 66.67 kg
50 kg/bag
= 1.33bags

Therefore, approximately 1.33 bags per hectare are needed to

supply the fertilizer recommended rate of 0-0-60.

Example # 4

The fertilizer recommendation for a given area is 80–50-0 per hectare.

Compute the kind and amount of fertilizer needed to meet the
requirement.

Step 1. Determine the fertilizer to be used. The recommendation

could be supplied by:

ammonium phosphate (16–20-0) and urea (46–0–0) or

ammonium sulfate (21-0–0) or urea (46–0–0) and ordinary
phosphate (0–16–0) or superphosphate (0–20–
0).

Step 2. If you use two single element fertilizers follow the same
sequence as example 1. If ammonium phosphate is to be used
(16–20-0) or superphosphate (0-20-0)

Step 3. Determine the weight of the fertilizer with the formula:

123
 Weight of fertilizer material= Recommended rate x
100
% nutrient of the fertilizer material

= 50 kg x 100
20
= 30 kg
.20
= 250 kg

Step 4. Change into number of bags by dividing with 50 kg/bag.

= 250 kg
50 kg/ha
= 5 bags

Step 5. Find the nutrient weight of nitrogen. Since 16–20–0 has

16% nitrogen and 20% phosphorus 250 kilograms 16–20–0
contains 25 kg N and 30 kg phosphorus.

Therefore, 250 kg of 16–20–0 will supply 40–50–0 nutrient weight.

Step 6. Subtract the nutrient weight in step 5 from the

recommendation rate.
80 – 50 – 0
- 40 – 50 – 0
40 – 0 – 0

Step 7. Suppose urea is available, compute for the remaining

nutrient.

= 40 kg x 100
46
= 36 kg
.46
= 86.96 kg

Step 8. Change the number of kilograms into bags per hectare.

124
 = 86.96 kg
50 kg/bag
= 1.74 bags

Finally, 5 bags of ammonium phosphate and 1.74 bags of urea are

needed to satisfy the recommendation.

Example # 5.
Suppose the fertilizer recommendation is 100–60–60 per hectare. In
this case, you may use complete fertilizer 14–14–14 and urea (46–0–0)
to come up with the recommendation.

Step 1. Compute for the smaller content first which is 60 to

determine the amount of complete fertilizer needed to supply the
requirement .

Weight of fertilizer material= Recommended rate x 100

% nutrient of the fertilizer material

= 60 kg x 100
14
= 60 kg
0.14
= 428.6 kg

Step 2. Convert the weight of fertilizer material into number of

bags by dividing the weight of fertilizer material per
hectare by 50 kg.

= 428.6 kg
50 kg/ha
= 8.6 bags

Step 3. Since 14–14–14 contains 14% NPK equivalent to 60 kg

determine the remaining or lacking amount of nitrogen by
subtracting the computed weight from the recommended
rate.
100 - 60 - 60
- 60 - 60 - 60
40 - 00 – 00

Step 4. Compute for the lacking amount of nitrogen using urea

125
 (46-0-0)

= 40 kg x 100
46
= 86.96 kg

Step 5. Convert the number of kilograms into bags/ha.

= 86.96.2 kg
50 kg/bag
= 1.74 bags

So you need 8.6 bags of 14–14–14 and 1.7 bags of urea to

supply the fertilizer recommendation per hectare.

LET US REM EMBER

• Oversupply of nutrients result to increased susceptibility of the

crop to pests, lodging, etc.
• Undersupply and untimely application slow down the growth of
seedlings, lower number of tillers, and lower grain weight.

• The macro elements are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium

(NPK).
• The two kinds of fertilizers are the organic and inorganic.
• The methods of applying fertilizers are basal, top dress, and foliar
.
• Fertilizer computation formulas:

Formula # 1

Weight of fertilizer material= Recommended rate x 100

% nutrient of the fertilizer material

Formula # 2

Number of fertilizer bags = Weight of nutrient

Weight of nutrient per bag

126
 Process

Activity#1

Solve these problems.

1. The fertilizer recommendation for rice crop planted in clay loam
soil type is (45 – 0 – 0). Determine the amount of fertilizer needed
to supply the recommended rate if you use ammonium sulfate
(21-0-0) and urea (46-0-0) to supply the nitrogen.
2. The fertilizer recommendation for clay soil is 40 – 20 – 0.
Determine the kind and amount of fertilizer needed to supply
the recommended rate using ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) as the
source of (N)and ordinary superphosphate (0-20-0) as the source
of P2O5.

Activity#2

Research from the internet how to formulate soil nutrient booster,

using materials that can be sourced out from the locality. Present your
output to the class for deliberations. Once polished, each group should
come up with their own sample output.

127
 Activity#3

Conduct some field research on the possible combinations of different

kinds and amount of fertilizers to come up with the best yield result.
Course the recommendations to the farmer cooperators/learners for
field trials to validate research results.

Compute what is being asked. Write your answers on your quiz

notebook.

Mang Seve Dalaw, a traditional farmer was encouraged by the

success stories of farmers adopting the new technologies of farming.
He had his farm analyzed for the first time and came up with the
recommended rate of fertilizer application of [Link] the
number of bags needed using the following fertilizers:

Complete fertilizer 14-14-14

Ammonium phosphate 16-20-0
Urea 45-0-0

RESOURCES

Reference
Fertilizer samples
a. Organic
b. Inorganic

128
Fertilizer – any substance added to the soil to supply the needed
nutrient elements for plant growth
M acro elements - substances or nutrients needed by plants in large
quantities
M icro elements - substances or nutrients needed by plants in small
quantities
Organic fertilizer - a fertilizer that comes from decomposed plant
and animal residues
Inorganic fertilizer - a commercially prepared and in
concentrated form of plant food which may be complete or
incomplete. It is complete when the three macro elements
are present (NPK); incomplete when one or two elements are
lacking
Fertilizer ratio - the relative percentage of N, P2O5 and K 2O in a
fertilizer grade. Example: 14–14-14 has a ratio of 1.1.1 NPK
Fertilizer recommendation - the recommended rate of
fertilizer application expressed in kilograms N,P and K per
hectare
Example: 90–50–30 fertilizer recommendation
indicates that in a certain kind of soil you need to apply 90 kg
N, 50 kg P2O5 and 30 kg K 2O per hectare.
Fertilizer formula - the quantity and analysis of fertilizer materials
which make up a mixed fertilizer
Example: ammonium sulfate, urea, super phosphate and
muriate of potash
Fertilizer grade - the minimum guarantee of the nutrient content
in terms of percent N, P and K.
Example: If urea is 46 percent N that means 46 kg of every
100 kg of the fertilizer material (46%) is available N.

129
 LESSON VIII
W ATER M ANAGEM ENT

Water management is very essential in rice production. This lesson

presents the types of irrigation system, schedule of irrigation, water
use and disposal and the six stages of rice growth when the field is to
be drained . You will learn these in thirteen days.

At the end of the lesson you should be able to:

1. determine the right depth of water at a certain stage of plant

growth;
2. irrigate and drain the field appropriately;
3. choose the appropriate method of irrigating the field; and
4. consider the importance of water in the management of lowland
rice production.
130
 Due to climate change, the supply of water is becoming scarce
nowadays. The extreme changes of weather conditions in the different
regions of the country caused a dramatic impact in rice production.
Places with extreme rainfall experience flooding while those with
scarce rainfall face long drought. Both situations cause soil
degradation, resulting in loss of agricultural production.

Dams that hold water for irrigation purposes become destructive

during rainy season due to excessive supply of water, yet becomes
inutile to supply water during summer when it is needed most in the
rice fields. Farmers turn to use of water pumps to source out water
from deep wells but the water level below is getting deeper each year
making it very expensive for farmers to sustain a profitable rice
production.

Water is life. It is one of the most important factors in increasing

production of our staple food. It determines the availability of nutrients
in the soil and control weeds. Hence, efficient utilization and
conservation of irrigation water are necessary.

Water insufficiency in any stage most especially during the vegetative

and reproductive growth stages is evident. It reduces plant height,
tiller number, and yield. Water is most critical from panicle initiation
to grain development. Lack of water during these stages leads to
production of unfilled grains.

W ater M anagement

For efficient water management in irrigated rice production,

take note of the following desirable recommended water depth at
different stages of growth:

131
 a. After transplanting, irrigate the puddied field with a
depth of 2 - 3 centimeters.
b. Maintain this water depth from 3–5 D A T(Days After
Transplanting), then gradually increase the level up to
5 cm as the crop grows. Avoid deep flooding to
minimize percolation and seepage. Keep farm ditches
well-shaped and free of weeds to allow quick flow of
irrigation water with minimum loss.
c. At tillering stage, keep water depth at 2 - 3 centimeters.
d. Maintain the water depth at 3–5 cm during panicle
initiation stage.
e. At ripening stage, maintain deep inflow of water 20 days
after flowering then drain the field 2 – 3 weeks before
harvesting.

For rainfed areas construct bigger and higher dikes to impound

more water. It should be about 25 – 30 cm high to free it from rats,
holes and breaks. Start impounding water during the early stage of
growthgradually increasing from 5 cm. to a maximum of 15 cm as the
crop becomes taller.

When there is abundant water supply, the field must be kept

submerged for 3-5 days after transplanting. A depth of 2-3 cm is
enough to get higher yield. But a depth of 5-10 cm helps control weeds.
However, there are periods when the rice field has to be drained for a
specific purpose and water efficiency. These are:

1. during transplanting, for ease and more accurate

distance and spacing of planting
2. during early stage of growth, to attain maximum tillering
and to prevent late tillers to come out for a uniform plant
growth and development
3. during weeding, for easier control of weeds using a
mechanical weeder
4. fertilizer application, for the plants to be able to absorb
the maximum nutrients from the applied fertilizers
5. maximum tillering stage, to attain uniform growth, and
6. two weeks before harvesting, to facilitate grain
development and maturity and for ease of harvesting and
transport

Draining the field during the maximum tillering stage prevents

the emergence of late tillers and the accumulation of toxic nitrogen
which the plant needs. It is necessary to let the water flow out of the

132
rice field while the paddy is being drained. Water must be channeled
to other paddies that need it.

Types of Irrigation System

a. Reservoir type. A large dam or a small water impounding dam

is constructed across a stream of river where water is
impounded for irrigation and for domestic use. The flow of
irrigation water is dependent on the selection of the methods of
water distribution to meet the water needs of the service area.
The rotation method is usually employed to ensure even
distribution of available water supply and to ensure that a wider
area will be supplied with irrigation water.

b. The run-off-the-river type. In this method a controllable gate

is constructed along the river or stream . When water outlet is
closed, water level rise which could be diverted to the canals and
laterals. The quantity of water entering the main canal is
regulated at the intake gate. The available water supply is
dependent on the elevation at the source. As a general rule, the
supply is proportionate to the height of the source and volume
flowing from the source. During periods of high flow when
available supply becomes abundant, the continuous method is
usually practiced. When the supply is scarce, the rotational
method is employed.

c. Pumping type. This method makes use of a pump powered by

an engine installed to draw water from underground or open
sources like rivers and lakes. The available water supply is
dependent upon the capacity of the pumps and the water level.
Energy is used to run the system, hence, higher operation
expenses are incurred. When using this type, never allow the
rice paddies to dry and have cracks, which will cause water
seepage making irrigation more expensive.

Whatever type of irrigation is used, cooperation among

farmers is to be practiced at all times in order to implement the
schedule of irrigation calendar for an efficient and effective
rotation method.

133
Irrigating the field using water pump , at the panicle initiation stage of rice where water
supply is very important.

Efficient W ater Use and Disposal

To determine the right amount of water to use, consider the following:

1. Rice variety. You may need more water for the late maturing
varieties than early maturing varieties.
2. Season. Wet season crops need less water than dry season crops.
3. Types of soil. Clay or clay loam soil needs less water than light
soil such as sand.
4. Presence of weeds. Flooding the field always prevent the growth
of weeds.

W ater may be lost through the following processes:

1. Evaporation. It is the direct loss of water from the water surface

or moist soil surface. The amount of water that evaporates is
influenced by high intensity of sunlight, strong and dry wind, and
high temperature. Second crop rice production which is on time
with the summer season needs more water to sustain growth and
yield.
2. Transpiration. It is the loss of water from the leaves.
Transpiration is affected by the weather condition. More water
will be lost during dry season which explains the need of constant
irrigation.
3. Seepage. Water moves sideways within the soil. It may pass
through the dike or below the ground. This can be minimized if
the dikes and levees are well-maintained.
4. Percolation. It is the downward flow of water. Its occurrence is
high if the soil is sandy, deep, and has a deep water table. Well-
puddled rice paddies minimize percolation and tend to hold water
efficiently.

134
 IM PORTANT THINGS TO REM EMBER

• The three systems of irrigation are:

1. reservoir type
2. run – off – the river or free flowing
3. pumping type

• The methods of water distribution are:

1. rotational
2. continuous method

• The factors to consider in determining the right amount of

irrigation water to use are:
1. rice variety
2. season
3. type of soil
4. presence of weeds

• The six stages of rice growth when the rice field has to be
drained:
1. during transplanting
2. early stage of growth
3. weeding
4. fertilizer application
5. maximum tillering stage
6. two weeks before harvesting

• Adequate water supply is needed to:

o facilitate land preparation especially leveling; o ensure good
crop establishment with faster root development;
o promote seedling vigor and normal crop growth and
development with minimal lodging; and
o facilitate better nutrient uptake with the right amount and
timing of water.
• Efficient water management means o Achieve 3-5 cm water
depth every irrigation time from early tillering until 1-2 weeks
before crop maturity or harvest.

135
 A water depth of about 3-5 cm will be maintained from
10 DAT or 10-15 DAS to near crop maturity will ensure
water status for optimum crop growth and yield.
However, under field conditions, irrigation water supply
may be insufficient to maintain a flooded soil condition or
a certain surface water depth. While a certain flood water
depth can control weeds, saturated soil condition at an
early crop growth stage can reduce snail mobility and
damage.

• Stop irrigation one week before harvesting for medium textured

soil and 2 weeks before harvesting for fine textured soil.
This ensures sufficient moisture to complete grain filling
and facilitates harvest operations. This also helps ensure
better grain appearance, i.e., grains will not be splashed
with mud and water.

Process

Activity#1

Make a powerpoint presentation on effective and efficient water

management on rice production. Encourage fellow students’
interactions to broaden your knowledge.

Activity#2

Access the website of the different agencies and companies engaged

in rice research. Study and compare their water management
136
technologies. Select one which you believe is best suited to the
community and present it in class.

Activity#3

As an offshoot of your research papers that you had presented

in the class, demonstrate the technology selected in the assigned
area in the school farm. Encourage your farmer-cooperators/learners
to explore the fun of cooperative work and learn with you.

Answer the following questions. Write your answer on your quiz

notebook.

1. Enumerate the procedure in installing the water pump to

irrigate rice paddies.
2. Describe in, at least, 10 sentences how to minimize water loses
in the rice paddies.
3. Identify the six stages of rice growth when the field is to be
drained and give the importance of doing it.

Resources
1. References
2. Foot rule to measure the depth of water
3. Irrigation pump, if necessary

137
DAT – days after transplanting
Tillering stage – starts with the development and appearance
of the first shoot/tiller and ends when the plant stops
producing tillers
Panicle initiation – beginning of the reproductive phase
characterized by the formation of the panicle within the stalks
M ilk stage – stage of rice growth when the content of the grain
becomes milky
Irrigation – the application of water needed by the plant by means
of any method
Drainage –a shallow canal to remove excess water from the field
when not needed

QUARTER IV

LESSON IX

PEST M ANAGEM ENT

138
 This lesson covers the pest management in
rice production to include weeds, insect pests, and diseases . It covers
the kinds of weeds, methods of weeding, kinds of herbicides, and
methods of applying them. The signs and symptoms of major insect
pests and diseases of rice and their control will be discussed too. You
will learn these within fifteen days.

After the lesson you should be able to:

1. classify the types of weeds, insects, and pests found in rice fields;
2. discuss the importance of pest management;
3. undertake pest management using appropriate methods;
4. explain the methods of applying chemicals to control pests;
5. explain the integrated pest management (IPM) 6. observe safety
measures in handling chemicals; and
7. cite the potential loss in production due to pests.
139
 The rice field is a complete battleground for existence, where our
human interest clashes with many organisms. While we are doing our
best to produce the highest possible yield to ensure food sufficiency,
pests such as rodents, birds, insects eat their way for their survival
too. The bacteria and fungi invade plant tissues and the weeds
compete with the plants for food. Mother nature is sometimes cruel
that plants wither during drought and submerge them when flood
comes. It takes a lot of challenges to produce enough food for the
ballooning population. With enough knowledge and skills in pest
management, we could limit their effects and continue to increase
production to help contribute to sustainable development through
sustained rice production.

In the past, farmers immediately apply toxic chemicals upon

detection of some pests in the rice field. It is their most convenient way
of controlling them. But, due to increased awareness and
understanding of the ill effects of these chemicals in our
environment,friendly technologies have been developed to reduce
significantly the destructive pests through integrated pest
management. It is a combination of effective cultural, biological,
chemical, genetic, and physical cropping practices.

Both approaches, the chemical and IPM should be both used with
responsible discretion of the farmers to boost production and at the
same time protect our mother earth for a sustainable livable
environment.

For us to implement these approaches wisely, we need to know

more about these pests:

W eeds are plants that grow in places where they are not wanted.
Weeds reduce rice yields by competing with rice plants for sunlight,
moisture, space, and soil nutrients. They also serve as alternate hosts
of insect pests and diseases. They are more serious in upland and
direct seeded wet land than in transplanted irrigated rice paddies.

140
The types of weeds commonly found in rice fields are:

1. Grasses. These are monocotyledonous plants which have long

narrow leaves, usually flat leaves with parallel veins and round
hollow stem. Among these are:
a. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pens
Common name: bakbaka or galut-galut (Iloc.),
kawadkawad (Tag.), Bermuda grass or runners (Eng.)
b. Echinochloa glabrescens Muriro
Echinochloa crusgalli sbsp. Hispidula
Common name: marapagay (Iloc.), bayakibok (Tag.),
Barnyard grass (Eng.) and lagton (Bicol)
c. Echinochloa colona (L.) Link
Common names: dukayang or bulang (Iloc.), pulang puwit
(Tag.), jungle rice (Eng.)
d. Paspalum sp
Common name: karunsi (Iloc.), plastic grass (Eng.)
e. Rottboellia chochichinensis (L)
Common name: marapagay, sagisi (Iloc.), aguingay (Tag.)

Echinoclora colona (Dakayang, left), Echinocloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv

(center), Rottboella chochichinensis (Marapagay,
right).
Sources: CBLM Year 3

2. Sedges. These are weeds with triangular stem, long narrow leaves
and modified rhizomes for storage and propagation.
Examples are:
a. Fimbrystilis littoralis Gaud
Common name: siraw-siraw (Iloc.), ubud-ubod, taulat
(Tag.), gumi (Pangasinan), sirisibuyas (Bicol)
b. Cyrperus iria (L)
141
 Common name: payong-payong (Iloc.), umbrella sedge
(Eng.)
c. Scirpus maritimus( L)
Common name: bawang-bawang, marilango, marabawang
or buslig (Iloc.), apulid (Tag.), bulrush
(Eng.)
d. Cyperus difformis (L.)
Common names: marabutones, ballayang (Iloc.),
payongpayong, tagataga (Tag.)
e. Cyperus rotundus (L.)
Common name: barsanga (Iloc.), mutha (Eng.)
f. Schenoplectus grossus (L.) Palla
Common names: bilid-bilid (Iloc.), giant bulrush (Eng.),
Tikiw (Tag.)

Fimbristylis littoralis Guad. (left), Cyperus iria (right)

Source: CBLM Year 3
3. Broadleaves. These are dicotyledonous plants with netted veined
leaves. Among the most common in rice fields are:
a. Monochoria vaginalis Presl
Common name: gabing uwak, biga-bigaan (Tag.), billagut
(Iloc.), Upi-upi (Bicol)
b. Ipomoea aguatica (Forssk)
Common name: balangeg (Iloc.), kangkong (Tag.), swamp
cabbage (Eng.)
c. Sphenoclea zeylanica (Gaertn.)
Common names: sili-silian (Tag.), marasili (Iloc.)
d. Ipomoea triloba (L. Common names: marakamote (Iloc.)
kamokamoteha Tag.)

142
Monochoria vaginalis Sphenochlea zeylanica Gaertn

Source :CBLM Year 3

M ethods of W eed Control

In all cases, all kinds of weeds must be controlled before they could
compete with the plants. It is therefore more economical to make use
of the cultural and biological methods before resorting to chemicals.

A. Physical/mechanical method. Weeds can be controlled by

means of:
1. hand pulling or hand weeding
2. use of mechanical weeders or rotary weeder possible when
transplanted, using the straight row planting and
mechanical seeder in direct row planting
3. efficient use of irrigation water which prevents the
emergence of all kinds of weeds

B. Cultural method. This involves good land preparation and

flooding during land preparation to remove weed seeds, closer
crop spacing, and use of varieties that are taller and will
produce more tillers early in the season.

C. Chemical Control. Herbicides may be used to kill weeds or

suppress their growth.
Chemical control is cheaper than hand weeding and can be
used in all rice environments. However, the continued use of the
same herbicides leads to build-up of perennial weeds which are
difficult to control with herbicide. This can be prevented by hand
143
 or mechanical weeding periodically. Herbicides are applied
either pre-emergence (before weeds germinate) or
postemergence (after weeds have germinated) in granular or
sprayable form.
Pre-emergence application of granular or sprayable herbicides
controls most annual weeds. This is applied 3-5 DAT in a water
depth of 3-5 centimeters.
Post-emergence herbicides control annual broadleaf weeds and
sedges. This is applied 20-25 DAT. Drain water from the paddy
before spraying. Reflood the paddy the following day to a depth
of 5-7 cm. to suppress late germinating weeds.
In spraying herbicides always follow the recommended
rate of application so as not to incur damage to the growing
plant.

D. Preventive M ethod. Before sowing the seeds make use of big

container in soaking to allow the weed seeds to float and
discard. During the land preparation for the seed bed just after
leveling the bed, flood and allow the water to flow out to discard
the floating seeds. Use certified seeds, wire mesh in canal, and
remove weeds before seeds mature.

Pointers for Effective Herbicide Application

1. Apply herbicides at the right time.

a. Pre-planting – apply herbicide after land preparation before
the crop is planted.
b. Pre-emergence – apply herbicide before the emergence of the
crop or weeds.
c. Post-emergence – herbicide is applied after emergence of the
crop or weeds.
2. Use the right dosage of chemicals. Weak or strong dosage of
chemicals may not be useful to the plant; therefore, follow the
recommended dosage.
3. Spray during fair weather. Do not spray when the wind is strong
nor during rainy weather. Spray early in the morning or late in
the afternoon.
4. Distribute spray solution accurately.

144
 Knapsack sprayer

Preparing Herbicide Sprays

All granular herbicides can be used directly but herbicides in the form
of wettable powder (WP), as well as emulsifiable concentrates (EC)
should be mixed with water or other diluting liquids such as oil before
using. If you mix them properly, your herbicide will work effectively. If
any common container is used in the preparation, label it properly and
keep it away from children.

1. Prepare the required amount of herbicide. Remember that too

much herbicide may injure the crop and too little herbicide may
not control weeds effectively.
2. Pour ¼ of the required water into the container. Your container
should contain more than what the sprayer tank can contain.
Never apply the herbicide ahead of the water because the
wettable powder tends to float and many emulsifiable
concentrates are acidic.
3. Add the herbicide to the water. If you are using wettable powder,
thoroughly mix it with small amount of water before pouring into
the water container. This makes the dispersion of the powder in
a large amount of water easier.
4. Mix the herbicide in the water container using a bamboo stirrer,
not your hand.
5. Add the remaining water to complete the dilution.

W AYS OF CONTROLLING INSECT PESTS:

145
 In controlling insect pests, use of chemicals should always be the
last recourse. Visit the farm regularly to detect presence of insect
pests. If negligible apply natural ways of controlling either biological or
organic method. A combination of the methods below should be
considered:

1. Biological control – done by promoting the existence of natural

enemies of rice insect pests. These natural enemies can be
grouped into:
1. spiders which eat any insect pests they can catch
2. insect predators which eat many kinds of pests
3. insect parasites which eat only one or a few kinds of
pests, pathogens/organisms which infect different kinds
of pests
2. Using pest resistant varieties – by incorporating insect
resistance genes in the high yielding varieties of rice like the new
varieties offered by the DA and other government agencies.
3. Cultural and chemical controls for insect pests of rice with their
nature of attack and damage are shown and discussed below.

There are about 100 species of insects that infest the rice plant.
However, only 15 of these are of major significance and are regularly
occurring. Some of the most destructive insects are: rice whorl maggot,
rice caseworm, common army worm, cutworms, rice stemborer, rice
leaf folder, green leafhopper, brown planthopper and the newly
discovered black bugs in some parts of the country.

M ajor Insect Pests

1. Rice whorl maggot (Hydrellia philippinia) Local name: ngilaw ti

pagay, ngilaw ti taltalon (Iloc.), langaw-bukid (Tag.) The
adult fly is dull-grayish. It is attracted to newly transplanted rice
with standing water. Eggs are laid singly on either surface of the
leaf. Incubation ranges from 2 - 4 days. The newly hatched
maggots migrate to the unopened central leaves where the larvae
feed on the inner margins of developing leaves. As the leaves
expand, the damaged areas become very visible. Pupation takes
place outside the feeding stalk and lasts for 7-10 days. Egg to
adult stages normally extends 26-28 days. Infestation generally
occurs from seedling to maximum tillering stage.

2. Rice caseworm (Nymphula depuntalis) Local name: kutalo

(Iloc.).

146
 The adult moth is white with wings that are marked with
a few light brown to black specks and 2 - 3 dull brownish
yellow bands located below the margin (Figure 27). Eggs are
laid in 1 or 2 adjacent rows in the lower surface of the leaves or
on the leaf sheath near the water surface. After 2-4 days, eggs
hatch into pale cream minute larvae.
The caseworm derives its name from the larva’s habit of
wrapping itself in a section of a leaf and attaching itself to the
rice plant. It feeds on the upper portion of the leaf. The larva
undergoes five instars. It changes its leafcase after each
morning.

3. Common armyworm (Mythimna separate Walker). Local name:

arabas (Iloc.)
Armyworm infestation occurs sporadically. Outbreaks are
characterized by the sudden appearance of larvae in
immense numbers causing severe damage before they are
detected.
The adult is nocturnal and appears to be pale brick red
to brown. It has a hairy body covered with dark specks and
patches. The eggs are laid in clusters between the leaf sheath
and the stem. They hatch from 7 to 9 days.

4. Cutworm (Spodoptera litura). Local names: tariptip (Qui.) arabas

(Cag.)
It is a polyphagus insect that feeds on many plant
species. It is also a very common pest of various agricultural
crops.
The forewings of the adult insects are purple-brown with
numerous spots and light colored lines with hindwings. Larvae
are brown-black and thoracic segments have 1 to 2 dark specks
near the base of the legs. The eggs are round with ridge surface,
pearly white, and laid in clusters of 300 covered with short
brownish hair on either surface of the leaf. Adults come out
during night time. This insect usually attacks rice plants at the
seedling stage.

5. Rice stemborers. Local name: rusok (Cag.)

Considered the most serious pest of rice, stemborers are of
regular occurrence and of wide distribution. They reduce tillers
even on resistant varieties and are difficult to control with
insecticides. This pest occurs in all rice environments and are
generally abundant toward the end of the rainy season. They
infest rice plants from seedling stage to maturity. Their damage
to the rice plants results in deadhearts when the central leaf
147
 whorl is affected and white head when base of the panicles are
severed (Figure below).
The adult of most stemborer species are positively strong fliers.
They mate in the evening.

Dead Heart caused by Stem Borer

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

6. Rice leaffolder (Cnaphalacrocis medinalis) Local name:

balbalkot, igges nga aglukot ti bulong (Iloc.).
Leaffolders have increased in importance in areas where rice
is heavily fertilized and planted during the dry and wet
seasons.
The adults have shiny light brown wings and dark broad
margins and 2-3 vertical dark stripes. The larvae are long,
yellowish green with brown head. The eggs are oval,
yellowishwhite and laid of rows of 10-12 each, arranged linearly
along the midrib of either surface of the leaves. They attack rice
plants from seedling to flowering stages (Figure 9).

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

7. Green leafhoppers (Nephotettix spp) Local name: berde a sepsep
(Iloc.), berdeng ngusong kabayo (Tag.).
The green leafhoppers (Figure below) generally feed on the
leaves and upper parts of the plants. They are vectors of virus
organisms causing tungro and yellow dwarf diseases.
Oviposition occurs 2 - 3 days after emergence. Egg masses are
laid on the upper surface of the leaf blade or leaf sheath.
Incubation takes 7 - 8 days. The nymphs undergo 5 instars in
14-19 days before they become adults. They attack rice plants
from seedling to booting stages.

148
 P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

8. Brown planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens) Local name: kolor

kape a sepsep (Iloc.).
The brown planthopper (Figure 11) infests the lower
parts of the plants. Brown planthoppers are of two kinds: the
winged and wingless types. Both winged and wingless hoppers
transmit grassy stunt but the wingless type causes direct
damage known as “hopper burn.” This is characterized by
gradual yellowing followed by sudden drying of the plants
forming circular patches in the fields.

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture , CLSU

9. Rice bugs (Leptocorisa oratorious) Local name: dangaw (Iloc.)

This pest is a major problem where rice is grown
continuously and rice in all its stages of growth. Both nymphs
and adults are distinguished by their peculiar bug odor. They
are phototropic and remain active during early morning and
when sunlight is weak.

149
 Extent of Damage of Insect Pests.

Insect of rice, nature of attack, damage and control measures*.

Insect pests Nature of attack and Preventive and control

damage measures
a. Rice whorl a. The larva feeds on 1. Eliminate all possible
maggot unopened whorl, alternate host plants.
(Hydrella scraping the 2. Drain the field at 3-4 days
philippinia F) epidermal layer & interval during the first 30
ribbing the inner most DAT.
margin of the leaf 3. Apply insecticides not later
b. Stunting than 7 DAT when ETL is
c. Reduction of tillers reached .

150
b. Rice caseworm a. It consumes the 1. Transplant older seedlings
(Nymphaula tissue of the leaves; a (25-30 days).
depuntalis) papery membrane on 2. Drain paddies for 7 days to
the upper epidermis kill larvae in their cases.
of the leaves develops 3. Spray foliar insecticides 7
b. Stunting & reduced DAT to maximum tiller when
tillers ETL is reached.
c. Damaged plants 4. In the highlands, apply fresh
appear in patches in leaves of madre de cacao.
the field
c. Armyworm a. The larva feeds on 1. Establish seedbeds away from
(Pseudoletia leafblades leaving only weedy areas.
unipuncta) the midribs 2. Keep the rice field &
b. It cuts off the panicles surrounding areas clean.
3. Spray appropriate insecticide
when ETL is reached.
d. Cutworm a. The larva feeds at base 1. Spray appropriate insecticides
(Spodoptera of the plant and when ETL is reached.
litura) devour the entire
plant
e. Rice a. Presence of hold on 1. Do not transplant severely
stemborers the stems infested seedlings.
a. Yellow b. Borer cuts off the 2. Observe clean culture to
stemborer growing parts from eliminate all possible
(Tryporyza the youngest leaves to alternate host plants.
inertulas) dry up deadhearts 3. Use recommended resistant
b. Striped varieties.
stemborer 4. Use systematic insecticides
(Chilo
when ETL is reached.
suppressalis)
5. Harvest at ground level and
row immediately after harvest
to remove larvae.
f. Rice leaf folder a. Leaf is folded into 1. Avoid planting in shaded
(Cnaphalocrosis tabular structures areas
medinalis b. Longitudinal white 2. Remove weeds from rice fields
Masamia transparent streaks on and surrounding borders to
patmalis) the leaf blades prevent build up of alternate
c. Heavily damaged hosts.
leaves become dry 3. Apply only the recommended
amount of nitrogen fertilizer.
Split nitrogen application.
4. Apply only foliar insecticides
when ETL is reached.

151
 g. Green a. The pest sucks leaf 1. Use resistant varieties
leafhopper sap causing the leaves 2. Create crop-free period of at
(Nephotetix to turn light yellow to least 6 weeks between crops.
spp) orange 3. Rogue or pull and bury
infected plants during the
first 6 weeks of crop growth
slightly infected areas.
4. Remove volunteer rice plants
and weeds that look like
alternate hosts.
5. Construct seedbeds away
from artificial light so as not
to attract hoppers.
6. Avoid excessive use of
nitrogen fertilizers.
7. Apply systemic insecticides.
h. Brown a. Directly damages the 1. Grow only two rice crops per
planthopper crop by sucking plant year.
(Nilaparvata sap causing gradual 2. Use resistant varieties.
lugens) yellowing followed by 3. Plant early maturing varieties
sudden drying of to create a rice -free period
plant forming circular during the year.
patches in the field
4. Plow under ratoons after
(hopper burn)
harvest
5. Drain the field for 3-4 days
during infestation.
6. Split nitrogen application into
three..
7. Practice clean culture
8. Spray insecticides when ETL
is reached.

i. Rice bug b. Nymphs and adults 1. Eliminate alternate hosts of

(Leptocorisa feed on grains the pests.
oratorius) during the milking 2. Avoid staggered planting.
stage 3. Spray insecticides before
c. Infested panicles milking stage.
contain shriveled
and unfilled grains
* Source: CBLM Year3

152
List of Friendly and Harmful Insects Integrated Pest M anagement
(IPM )
This method of pest management could minimize the use of
insecticide for a sustainable environment. It is used to justify
economically and ecologically that the application of chemicals is only
recommended when pests reached the economic injury level. Through
IPM, unnecessary application of insecticide is minimized, which can
mean savings for the farmer. Because of the minimal use of insecticide
there is less pollution and, therefore, survival of natural enemies is
encouraged.
Constant monitoring by visual counting, use of sweep nets, and
damage assessment is necessary to determine if use of insecticide is
already recommended.

W hen to apply insecticides

Growth Insect pests Spray insecticide when
stage
Seedling • Caseworm 50% of the leaves damaged
Army worm
• Cutworm
Vegetative Whorl maggot 15% whorl maggot-damaged leaves +
5% leaves damaged chewing insects
at 5 DAT
• Green leafhopper • None in the areas with RTV
• Brown leafhopper • 20 hoppers/hill or 1 hopper/tiller

153
 • Stemborer • More than 20% dead heart or 1%
• Leaffolder white head
• 30% of leaves damaged or cut
Caseworm 30% of leaves damaged or cut
After panicle Brown planthopper 20 hopper/hill or 1 hopper/tiller
initiation
Green leafhopper None in the areas with RTV
Other Pests

Golden Apple Snail (GAS) or Epikuhl. Local names: bisukol

(Iloc.), kuhol (Tag.).
Golden snail is one of the delicacies enjoyed by farmers before. Now
it is a recognized rice pest. It produces numerous pinkish egg masses
visibly seen on levees which usually hatch from 9 to 12 days. This pest
is destructive during the early growth stage of rice plants 14 days from
sowing to 20 days after transplanting. The pest feeds on the vegetative
parts of young rice plants and could wipe out plants in a given area
overnight.

Population of golden apple snail can be prevented by the following:

a. Handpick the golden snails and use these as animal feed.
b. Observe cleanliness and sanitation.
c. If cultural management is not feasible use molluscicide to control
them. Drain water before spraying and always wear protective gear
when using chemicals.

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito M. Guittap, Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

Rat Control

Rats have been a persistent problem of rice growers, especially in

areas near forests and uncultivated lands. They cause estimated yields
losses ranging from 5-60%. Rats attack at all stages of rice growth but
reach their peak during the maturity stage. Damage is greater during
wet season. To control rats effectively, keep the rice fields clean and
employ sustained baiting only when necessary. Make use of available
154
rodenticides in the agricultural supply and always follow the
manufacturer’s instruction in its label.

Diseases and their Control

The most practical way to prevent the occurrence of diseases is

to plant resistant varieties, practice good cultural management
starting from the land preparation, and always remember to have at
least 30 days planting breaks.
Various agents acting singly or in combination under favorable
conditions cause disease in rice plants. These diseases are readily
recognized by their symptoms. Among the major diseases prevailing
are tungro, yellow dwarf, grassy stunt, bacterial leaf blight, bacterial
leaf streak, rice blast, sheath blight, brown spot, cercosporal leaf spot
and stem rot. The table shows rice diseases, symptoms, and their
preventive and control measures.

Rice diseases, symptoms, preventive and control measures.

155
 Disease Symptoms Preventive and control
measures
1. Tungro (Virus) a. Slight stunting of plant 1. Practice clean culture to
growth and reduced tillering eliminate alternate host.
occurs. 2. Rogue diseased plant to
b. Yellowing from the tips of reduce inoculums.
leaves. 3. Use only resistant,
c. Mottling of the infected leaves tolerant varieties if
with pale green to whitish available.
interveinal spots. 4. Minimize the population
d. Panicles are half-exerted or of green leafhoppers by
choked neck. spraying appropriate
e. Grains are usually covered insecticides.
with dark brown blotches. 5. Grow only two rice crops
per year and practice
synchronous planting.
6. Plow under seriously
infected fields.
2. Yellow dwarf a. Color varies from yellow to 1. Control measure similar
(Virus) whitish yellow. to that of the tungro
b. Stunted plant growth. disease.
c. Profuse tillering. 2. Use early maturing
d. Droopy leaves. varieties simultaneously
e. Panicles are poorly developed planted with late
or absent. maturing varieties.
3. Grassy stunt a. Infected plants are severely 1. Practice clean culture to
(Virus) stunted. eliminate alternate host.
b. Profuse tillering. 2. Rogues disease plant to
c. Stiff & erect dark green reduce source of
leaves. inoculums.
d. Conspicuous shortening and 3. Plant only resistant
narrowing of leaf blades varieties.
which are usually erect and 4. Control brown
with small rusty brown dots. planthopper populations
e. Infected plants produce only by using recommended
few panicles which are small insecticides.
and dark brown. Sometimes, 5. Plant early maturing
no panicle is produced. varieties.
4. Bacterial leaf a. Lesions begin at the tip or 1. Minimize seedling injury
blight margins of the leaf and during pulling and
(Xanthomonas develop rapidly parallel to transplanting.
campestris) healthy regions. Entire leaf 2. Plant only recommended
blade becomes yellowish to varieties.
dirty white and eventually 3. Do not prune seedlings;
dies. apply only the
b. Bacterium may enter the recommended amount
growing point of the young of nitrogenous fertilizers.
tiller, causing infection 4. Remove or destroy
known as “kresek”. diseased stubbles and
straws.

156
5. Bacterial leaf a. The bacterium attacks the 1. Plant only the
streak parenchymatous tissues recommended
(Xanthomonas in between the veins of the varieties.
campestris pv. leaves through the 2. Apply recommended
Oryzicola) stomata. amount of nitrogen
b. Appearance of fine fertilizer.
interveinal, long and short
lines that are water-
soaked and grayish.
c. As lesions coalesce leaves
turn yellow orange
throughout the field.
6. Rice blast a. Spindle -shaped lesions 1. Use only resistant
(Pyricularia that are wide at the centers varieties.
oryzae) and pointed towards either 2. Spray recommended
ends appear on the leaf fungicides li ke Brestan
nodes, panicles and grain and Benlate.
leaves die when lesions 3. Practice good water
coalesce. management.
b. Rings of brown to black 4. Apply only
spots develop near the recommended amount
joints of the rachille and of nitrogen fertilizer.
rachis of maturing
panicles. Center of spots is
usually gray or white.
c. Infected nodes turn
blackish and break easily.
7. Cercospora a. Narrow, short brown spots 1. Follow strictly the
leafspot or appear on leaves. Leaf recommended amount
narrow brown spots are reddish brown of nitrogen.
spot with the color fading at the
(Sphaerulina edges.
oryzina Hara)
8. Brown spot a. The fungus attacks 1. Seed treatment with
or Helmin germinating seeds, leaves fungicides like Brestan,
thosporium and developing grains. Benlate or Fungitox or
(Helmin b. The typical leaf spot is hot water treatment
thosporium small, dark, oval or (5254⁰ C) for 15
oryzae) circular with whitish minutes.
centers; evenly scattered 2. Apply recommended
on the leaves. Lesions kind and amount of
coalesce causing entire fertilizer.
leaf to dry up. 3. Practice crop rotation
4. Practice field
sanitation.
5. Practice good water
management.

157
 9. Stem rot a. Lesions are small black 1. Do not allow
(Helmin and irregular on the outer irrigation water to
thosporium leaf sheath near the water flow from infected
sigmoideum) line. field.
b. Infection of the culm 2. Plant short,
causes lodging that results stiffstrawed varieties
to immature grains. resistant to lodging.
3. Apply only
recommended
amount of nitrogen
fertilizer.
10. Sheath a. Spots on the leaf sheath 1. Spray fungicides like
blight are ellipsoid or ovoid and Brestan or Vitigram
(Rhizoctonia greenish gray. Blue on the leaf sheath
solani) b. Center of spots becomes when infection occurs
grayish white with brown at the maximum
margin. tillering stage and at
c. Spots are first observed the booting stage.
near the water line in the
fields.
11. Sheat rot a. Rot occurs on the uppe r 1. Observe clean culture
(Sarocladium most leaf sheath to eliminate all possible
oryzae enclosing the young alternate host plants.
Sawada) panicles. 2. Use recommended
b. Lesions start as oblong or resistant varieties.
somewhat irregular spots 3. Use recommended
with brown margins and insecticides to control
gray centers or the occurrence of
grayishbrown stem borer.
throughout. 4. Harvest at ground level
c. Whitish powder growth and plow immediately
are found inside affected after harvest to remove
sheath causing the larvae of stem borers.
panicles to rot.
d. Young panicles remain in
the sheath or emerge only
partly
e. Browning of grains.

158
Viral Diseases

159
 1. Tungro. The most destructive among virus diseases, this
usually occurs in a lowland ricefield. It is caused by virus which
is transmitted from a diseased plant to a healthy one through
the feeding activity by three leafhopper species: Nephotettix
virescens, N. nigropictus and Resilia dosalis. Nephotettix
virescens is the most destructive vector. Tungro occurs from
seedling to booting stages (Figure 12). It is prevalent in the whole
country except inBatanes during the wet season from July to
November. Figure 13 presents the transmission cycle of rice
tungro.

Source: http:/[Link] FOR ILLUST RAT ION

2. Yellow dwarf. The disease usually occurs sporadically in fields.

Infection often takes place during the late stages of plant growth.
The virus is transmitted by three species of leafhoppers:
Nephotettix cincticeps, N. nigropictus and N. malayanus. Most
leafhoppers acquire the virus by feeding on diseased plants for
1-3 hours. About half the infective individuals of the spe cies can
infect healthy plants within 1 hour feeding. Yellow dwarf is
prevalent from seeding to booting stages.

3. Grassy stunt. This is prevalent in farms employing an

overlapping rice cropping system. The virus may survive in the
harvested rice stubbles. Generally, the disease is less severe
when older plants are infected. The virus is transmitted from
infected plants to healthy ones by the brown planthopper. The
disease usually infects the rice plant during the seedling to
booting stages.

Bacterial Diseases

1. Bacterial leaf blight. (Xanthomonas campestris). It is

widespread in the country especially in areas with high rainfall
and humidity. Infection starts at the tip of leaf margins and may
cover the entire leaf blade. The bacterium enters the leaf
through cuts or wounds and on the natural openings of the leaf.
The systematic form of the disease called “kresek” usually

160
 occurs at seedling stage up to the dough stage. The form of the
disease is known as “blight.” This is prevalent especially after
typhoons.

Source: http:/[Link] FOR ILLUST RAT ION

2. Bacterial leaf streak. (Xanthomonas campestris pv. Oryziccola).

This disease does not reduce yield if low rates of nitrogen are
applied although it may lower yields of susceptible varieties. The
disease may spread throughout the entire rice field by the action
of rain and wind. It attacks the rice plant from tillering to dough
stages. The disease is prevalent after typhoons.

Source: http:/[Link] ILLUST RAT ION

Fungal Diseases

1. Rice blast. (Pyricularia oryzae). This is the most common

disease of rice infecting plants at any stage of growth.
Symptoms are most conspicuous on the leaves (leaf blast),
nodes (nodal blast) and parts of the panicles (neck rot), and
grain. The neck of the panicles becomes most vulnerable to
attack during early emergence of the panicle. Lesions form at
the neck causing the panicles to fall over.
The disease development and severity is aggravated by
high amount of quick acting fertilizers such as ammonium
sulfate, cloudy skies with frequent rains and drizzle, and a
relative humidity of 90% and above usually common during the
months of November to February.

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 Source: http:/[Link] ILLUST RAT ION
2. Cercospora leafspot (Sphaerulina oryzina Hara ). The long axis
of this spot is parallel with the veins of the leaf. This disease is
also known as narrow brown spot. It seldom infects seedlings
or grains. In susceptible varieties, the spot may be slightly
wider in light, narrow centers. It causes harm by reducing the
effective leaf area of the plant. The disease is favored by low
nitrogen level in the soil.

3. Brown spot or Helminthosporium leaf spot

(Helminthosporium oryzae). This disease is probably present in
all rice producing areas. It infects all stages of a rice plant. It
is common in nutrient deficient soil and soils containing a large
proportion of sand or peat.

Source: http:/[Link] ILLUST RAT ION

4. Stem rot (Helminthosporium sigmoidium). Infection of the disease

occurs near the water line usually at the maximum tillering stage
up to the milk stage. Severely infected plants produce poor quality
grains that are light and chalky.

162
 Source: http:/[Link] ILLUST RAT ION

5. Sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani). The disease occurs during the

heading stage to the milk stage. Sheath blight is destructive under
highly humid and warm temperature and in areas where close
planting and heavy fertilization are practiced.

Source: http:/[Link] ILLUST RAT ION

6. Sheath rot (Sanocladium oryzae Sawada). The fungus is

seedborne and infection takes place through the stomata and
wounds. It attacks the leaf sheath enclosing young panicles when
there is an injury which retards the emergence of the panicles. An
abundant whitish powder growth may be found inside the
infected sheath and the young panicle rot. The disease incidence
is common with stemborer, planthopper and mite damage, and
application of high nitrogen.

163
 Source: http:/[Link] ILLUST RAT ION

IM PORTANT THINGS TO REM EMBER

• Methods of controlling pest and diseases o Cultural method

 Proper land preparation
 Plant at the same time with your neighboring
farmers
 Clean culture o Chemical method. Always
read labels before use o Biological method
 Introduction of friendly insects to suppress
pests and diseases
 With the help of predators such as birds,
snakes o Use of resistant varieties
• Always be familiar with Insect pests/diseases, nature of attack and
control measures

• The safety measures in handling chemical are the following:

o Store pesticides locked and out of reach of children o Wear
gloves when mixing pesticides
o Wear mask to prevent inhalation of pesticides. Always wash
hands with soap after spraying
o Do not smoke or eat when using pesticides

• Consider the IPM to avoid wastage brought by unnecessary

spraying of pesticides
• Use varieties resistant to pests prevalent in the locality. The use of
resistant varieties is the first line of defense in pest management
and is compatible with biological control. Change or rotate varieties

164
 every 2 - 4 cropping to disrupt insect pest and disease adaptation,
thereby preventing build up of virulent pathogens and insect pests.

• Adopt a synchronous planting scheme after a fallow period in the

locality.

• Conserve beneficial organisms. There are rich communities of

beneficial organisms in the rice ecosystem in the absence of
natural-enemy killing pesticides. The indiscriminate use of
pesticides reduces biodiversity and disrupts the natural balance of
insect pests and beneficial organisms. Conservation of these
beneficial organisms is safe, economical, and permanent. For
example, long-horned grasshopper feeds on the egg mass of stem
borers while spiders feed on the nymphs and adults of leafhoppers
and plant hoppers.

• Weeds are destructive, they reduce rice yield by competing for

sunlight, moisture, and soil nutrients. Three types of weeds are
grasses, sedges, . and broadleaves.
• The methods of controlling weeds are:
a. Preventive method
b. Physical/mechanical method
c. Cultural method
d. Chemical method
• Pointers for effective use of herbicide:
a. Apply at the right time
b. Use the right dosage
c. Spray during fair weather
d. Distribute spray solution accurately

Process

Activity #1

Proceed to the field to remove weeds in a specific area in the

farm using the appropriate method. Collect samples of weeds to be
described in class how they affect the plants and how to control
them.

Activity #2

165
 1. Prepare a gallon of water, mixed with the recommended dosage
based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and
demonstrate proper spraying. Students’ performance will be
evaluated using the rating scale below.

Activities Rating

5 4 3 2 1
1. prepare a gallon of clear water
2. measure the recommended dosage
3. mix herbicide/insecticide based on
procedure
4. demonstrate proper spraying
5. use personal protective equipment

Legend:
1 = 75-79% 2 = 80-85% 3 = 86-90% 4 = 91-95% 5 = 96100%

1. Collect specimen of insects in the field and name them based on

the description mentioned in this module.

Activity #3

Prepare your own version of a leaflet on integrated pest

management in rice production. Include in your leaflet how to
formulate local remedies to control some insects using some available
low cost substances and plant extracts.

166
 Activity #4

Using your formulated local insect control mixture, validate its

efficiency through a field research demonstration farm in the school .
Involve your farmer-cooperator in the learning activity.

A. Multiple Choice: Choose the correct answer. Write only the letter
of the correct answer on your quiz notebook
1. Weed growth in the rice field cannot be controlled by
a. herbicides.
b. insecticides.
c. flooding.
d. hand-weeding.
2. Weeds, if not controlled, can reduce the rice production to
as high as:
a. 10 - 30 percent.
b. 20 - 38 percent.
c. 24 - 48 percent.

167
 d. 30 - 50 percent.
3. Echinochloa crusgali or bayakibok is a weed belonging to
the type called
a. grasses.
b. sedges.
c. broadleaved weeds.
d. narrow leaved weeds.
4. In irrigated fields, weeds can be controlled with less cost
through:
a. flooding.
b. herbicides.
c. hand pulling.
d. mechanical weeder.
5. When preparing liquid herbicides, remember to.
a. pour herbicides before the water.
b. pour herbicides and water at the same time.
c. never pour herbicide ahead of water.
d. pour water ahead of herbicide.

B. Briefly answer the following questions in your notebook.

1. Why do you measure the required amount of herbicide
with great care before mixing with water?
2. Why do you pour at least ¼ water in the container
before pouring in the herbicide?
3. How does water control the weeds in an irrigated field?

Answer the following questions to find out how much you have learned.
Write the answers on your notebook.

1. Which of the following methods is not appropriate to control golden

apple snail?
a. Cultural
b. Chemical
c. Biological
d. Use of resistant varieties.
168
2. Which of the following insect pests is considered as the most
serious rice pest because it attacks the plant from seedling stage
to maturity?
a. Rice stemborer
b. Rice bugs
c. Planthoppers
d. Maggots

3. When handling and using insecticides always remember to

a. follow recommended dosage.
b. never wear face mask.
c. store pesticides and keep out of reach of children.
d. smoke while spraying insecticides.

4. What is the recommended dosage of most insecticides to be mixed

up into 16 liters of water?
a. 7-10 tbsp/16 liters water
b. 10-11 tbsp/16 liters water
c. 8-12 tbsp/16 liters water
d. 10-13 tbsp/16 liters water

5. Which of the following methods is done by promoting the existence

of natural enemies to control rice pest and diseases?
a. Biological
b. Cultural
c. Chemical
d. Physical

B. Provide the following information

1. What are the methods of controlling golden apple snail, rodents,
and insect pests?
2. What are the safety measures in handling insecticides?

RESOURCES
Herbicide/Insecticides, sprayer, face mask, gloves.

169
 Eradicate – to wipe out
W eeds - plants that grow in places where they are not wanted
Grasses - weeds which have long narrow, two-ranked usually flat
leaves with parallel veins and round stem
Sedges - similar to grasses but of three-ranked leaves, and with
triangular solid stems
Broad-leaved weeds - dicotyledonous plants with broad
leaves
Herbicides - chemical used to control and kill weeds
Insect pests - insects that are harmful to plants
Rodents – rats
Diseases – impairments on the normal health of the plant
Insecticides - chemicals used to control insects
Fungicides - chemicals used to control fungus
M olluscicide - chemical used to control golden snails
Lesion - a well-marked but limited diseased area on the plants
Nocturnal insect - insect that feeds on plants during night time
Dead heart - dried youngest leaf of the plant during tillering stage
W hite head – dried, unfilled white panicle during heading stage
Symptoms - observable characteristics of a diseased plant
PPE - personal protective equipment
LESSON X
HARVESTING, THRESHING, DRYING, STORING, AND M ILLING
OF RICE SEEDS

170
 This lesson is about the maturity indices of rice, methods and systems
of harvesting rice, threshing, cleaning, drying, storing and milling
including health and safety precautions during harvesting.
You will learn these within twenty days.

At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. identify the maturity indices of rice;

2. discuss the systems and methods of harvesting, threshing,
cleaning, and drying rice;
3. identify the materials needed in harvesting, threshing,
cleaning,and drying;
4. harvest, thresh, clean, and dry rice grain efficiently;
5. observe health and safety precautions during harvesting; and
6. consider the value of proper harvesting, threshing, drying,
storing, and milling rice.

171
Harvesting

Harvesting is the process of collecting the mature rice crop from

the field. It starts from cutting, stacking, handling, threshing, cleaning
and hauling. According to some experts great losses in rice production
happen during harvesting and other post harvest activities. Our
definite goal then is to maximize our yield and minimize grain losses.

Like other cultural management of rice, correct timing of harvesting

is crucial in order to have a good quality of harvest and to prevent crop
losses. Grain losses may occur from the damage caused by rats, birds,
and crop lodging and shattering during windy days. Proper timing of
harvesting ensures good grain quality and high market value. Too early
harvesting will result in higher percentage of unfilled or immature
grains which will result in higher grain breakage and lower milling
recovery. Too late harvesting will lead to excessive grain shattering
losses and increased breakage of rice. Timing of harvesting also affects
drying, storing, and even the germination potential of rice seeds.

We can determine the best time to harvest based on the

172
maturity date of a given variety or by examining the panicle if all the
grains are ripened. Rice should be harvested when 80-85 percent of
the grains turned yellow. The grain moisture content ideally is between
20-25% MC. If the crop is too dry, when these are rewetted, they break
when milled resulting in low quality and low milling recovery. The table
below shows the different rice varieties and their maturity date after
planting.

Table of different rice varieties and their maturity period

Variety M aturity date Variety M aturity date
IR 36 110 IR 66 108
IR 42 135 BPIRi10 108
IR 64 113 PSBRc10 106
PSBRc 123 PSBRc 34 124
PSBRc 18 123 -130 PSBRc 28 111-118
PSBRc 82 110-117 NSICRc 112 111-118
NSICRc 122 121-128 PSBRc 84 111
PSBRc 78 111 PSBRc 80 112
PSBRc 88 116 Mestizo 107

In dry season harvest, an optimum time of harvest 28 - 35 days

after heading gives best grain germination and head rice. In wet season
harvest, optimum time is 32 - 38 days after heading.

M ethods of Harvesting Rice

1. M anual is the method of harvesting rice with the use of sickle and
scythe.
2. M echanical is the method of harvesting rice with the use of a
reaper or combine harvesters.

Whatever method is used in harvesting always take note of the following:

• Harvest at the right time and moisture content (20-25% MC).

Too early harvesting results in difficulty in separating grains
from the panicle and immature grains from the head will be
ground during milling.
• Avoid delays in threshing after harvesting, within an overnight
that the harvested rice is stacked specially if it is wet, the grain
quality is affected.

173
 • Use the proper machine in threshing. There are some machines
that allow lots of grain to go with the hay during threshing.
• Clean the grain properly after threshing.

Harvesting could be done through the following:

1. Manual harvesting and stacking, followed by threshing and

cleaning by hand. This includes the use of traditional tools for
threshing such as racks, simple treadle threshers and
animals for trampling. This method has been a thing of the
past due to intensive farm mechanization.
2. Manual harvesting followed by threshing and cleaning with a
threshing machine. All threshing machine now includes a
simultaneous cleaning of the grains.
3. Mechanical harvesting using a rice reaper and threshing by a
threshing machine and by using a combine harvester. The
combine harvester will combine all operations: cutting,
handling, threshing ,and cleaning.

Manual harvesting of rice

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay [Link], Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

List of advantages and disadvantages of common harvesting system

Method Description Advantages Disadvantages
1. Manual • Cutting, • Efficient • High labor cost, skill
harvesting and stacking, • Most effective dependent
threshing bundling, in lodged • Susceptible to grain
handling crop damage
and piling • Less weather • Winnowing/cleaning
by hand dependent necessary
• Threshing
by beating
• cleaning by
winnowing

174
 2. Manual • Cutting and • More effective • Higher capital cost
harvesting and stacking by in wet season • Dependency on
threshing/cleaning hand harvest, wet availability of
by machine • Threshing crop contractor
by machine conditions • Less dependent on
• Higher field size
capacity than
manual
• Lower labor
requirements

3. Standard • Harvests, • High output, • Higher cost

combine harvest threshes, timelines • Less effective in
and cleans attained partially lodged crop
crop • Produces
mechanicall clean grain
y
• Spread straw
• Transport back in the
harvested field, which
grains in will ensure a
convenient good source of
area. organic
material to the
farm.

Note: Avoid burning of rice material wastes such as the hays, hulls,
and other materials. Farm wastes burning is regarded as one of the
big contributors to global warming.

Threshing

Given the high labor requirements of manual threshing, in many

countries, threshing of rice is now mechanized by use of small
stationary machine threshers. Stationary threshing is generally done
in the field or near or at the field side.
In many regions, machine threshers are owned by individuals who
offer custom operations to farmers. This requires that farmers schedule
harvesting dates depending on the availability of the thre sher. Many
threshers are mounted on tractors to quickly move from field to field.
Some are still drawn by a carabao especially on muddy areas.

Guidelines for Threshing

175
 P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay [Link], Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

Timing of threshing is very essential. Ideally, threshing should

begin immediately after cutting . Immediate threshing reduces the
exposure of crops to insects, birds and rodents, disease, and molds.
Crops that are piled over a period of time generates heat that will serve
as an ideal medium for growth of molds, disease, and pests. Piling for
several days will lead to grain discoloration, germinated grains, and
spoilage.
1. After harvesting, thresh the rice immediately. Threshing is the
process of detaching and separating rice grains from the
panicle.
2. Threshing can be performed manually or mechanically. The
manual methods of threshing are treading by feet, flail treading
and beating stalks against tubs, threshing board, or racks.
3. In treading by feet, rice grains spread on the threshing floor is
trampled upon by human feet. The continuous treading action
of one person separate about 14 kg of grain from the straw in
one hour.
4. In animal treading the harvested rice is laid around a stake or
pole with the panicles toward the stake. A team of animals
(carabao, cow) is driven slowly around the stake to trample the
grain off the straw. The palay is raked occasionally until the
grain is completely threshed, and all the straw have been
removed. Many of the grains may be damaged due to the hard
hooves and heavy weight of the carabao.
5. In flail treading, grain separation is done by beating the paddy
with a stick or hinged device called flail.
6. Another method is through the impact of rice heads beaten
against a solid object (hampasan method). A simple way to do
this is to beat the rice panicles with a stick. The method can
thresh 20-60 kg of palay per person per hour.
7. One low-cost mechanical thresher you can use is the
pedalpowered model. It has a low initial cost and one worker
can thresh about 1-2 cavans per hour with this model.

176
 8. Another low-cost model is the throw-in axial flow thresher. This
is portable, weighs about 100 kg and requires a 5-7 horsepower
engine. It has a higher output of up to 600 kg/hour.
9. The most commonly used mechanical thresher are lightweight
which could be drawn by a carabao or a tractor in a muddy field
powered by a diesel engine and could finish threshing harvest
of 2 ½ hectare in one day, if it is dry, and 1 ½ hectare if wet. Be
sure to lay plastic sheet in the area to minimize grain losses.
[Link] the combine harvester, it could finish harvesting and at
the same time threshing with a minimum of 3 hectares per
day.

Factors to consider in choosing the appropriate system of threshing:

a. availability of labor
b. capital outlay of the farm
c. timeliness of harvesting
d. field layout and field accessibility (combine harvester requires a
certain field layout and access)
e. rice variety (some varieties are more prone to lodging)
f. demand for quality rice
g. demand for straw (some threshers damage the straw making it less
available).

Grain Cleaning is the removal of unwanted materials from the grain

such as straws, chaffs, unfilled grains, weed seeds, soil, rubbish, and
other impurities.

1. Clean the grains immediately after threshing. Cleaning is an

essential post-harvest operation since it affects storability and

177
 milling quality of grains. Uncleaned grains are prone to
deterioration during storage.
2. In some mechanical threshers cleaning is carried out
simultaneously with threshing. However, in manual or animal
treading, further cleaning is necessary because the grain is
mixed with straw, chaff, dirt, stones, and other impurities.
3. The most common method of cleaning rice grains in the
Philippines is the use of winnowing basket (or Bilao).
Winnowing sieves called bithay, made either of wire mesh or
bamboo slats are also used for cleaning.
4. Another method is the use of hand operated winnower or
hunkoy. This gadget consists of a paddle-type fan mounted on
a wooden frame to direct air blasts against the grain or foreign
matter that falls from the hopper.

Importance of Cleaning Rice grain

1. Clean grain has higher market value.

2. Clean grain is easier to dry.
3. Clean grain has better storability.
4. It produces better quality of milled rice.
5. It reduces dockage at time of milling.
6. Seed cleaning will reduce susceptibility to diseases and will
improve germination .

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 M ethods of Cleaning

1. W innowing. Lighter materials such as unfilled grains, chaffs,

weed seeds, and straw can be removed from the grain by using
a blower, air fan, or by wind. Recover only the heavier grains.
2. Screening/sifting. Using sifter or a net smaller materials such
as weed seeds, soils particles and stones can be removed by
sieving the grain through a smaller sized screen (1.4 mm or less
sieve opening).
3. [Link] the thresher or mechanical blower to clean the
rice grains and using its blower to remove all unfilled grains ,
weed seeds, and chaff.

P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay [Link], Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

Drying

In tropical country like ours grain drying is not so much a problem.

But in the advent of climate change, extreme weather conditions often
prevail. Stormy weather prevails even during harvest season. This
situation threatens the vulnerability of rice production. A lot of harvest
immediately could turn into a lower quality. After harvest when the
grain is re-wet high temperature occurs and excessive grain moisture
content causes deterioration of rice grain .
To ensure quality grains and to prevent spoilage, clean and properly
dry the harvested and threshed grains immediately. The approximate
moisture content of the crop at harvest time is 20-25%. The right
moisture content (MC) for storage is 14 percent.

Importance of Drying Rice Grains

1. Improves the storability of grains

2. Obtains higher market value

179
3. Prevents pest infestation and damage caused by
microorganisms
4. Proper drying minimizes breakage or improve milling output and
quality

M ethods of drying

1. Solar or sun-drying. Traditionally, this method has been used

by the farmer using nylon net and plastic sheets to sundry the
grains. It is the basis of majority of farmers then to schedule
their harvest due to scarcity of drying materials. With the fast
construction of concrete solar driers and concreting of farm to
market roads, sun drying is now a minimal problem. In solar
drying, spread the cleaned grains in a layer 2-4 cm thin on
various surfaces such as fish nets, canvases, threshing floors or
on pavement. Stir the grains regularly (30 min. interval) to allow
uniform drying. Dry grains under the sun for 1-2 days frequently
turning over the grains for uniform drying. Traditionally,
farmers determine the right moisture content by biting the grain
if it is brittle. This method usually results in a lot of losses
because grains were pulverized and thrown away when vehicles
pass.
2.

Sundrying of grains along the concrete farm to market road and using net.
P hoto Courtesy of Mr. Efrelito Jay [Link], Faculty, College of Agriculture, CLSU

3. M echanical dryer. If harvest occurs during the rainy season,

when sun drying is not feasible, use a heated air dryer. Use
batch dryers, since these are relatively cheaper and easier to
operate. When using mechanical dryers, observe the
recommended drying air temperature by the manufacturer. If
using a mechanical dryer farmers should group themselves and
make a schedule to be able to meet the maximum capacity of
the dryer for more efficient and economical operation. Dry
rice grains 8-11 hours with the use of mechanical dryer to obtain
14% moisture content for safe storage. Do not over dry rice
grain, if the grain is meant to be milled. Moreover, if the grain
is not allowed to cool after drying they are brittle and will break
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 easily if milled immediately. To obtain high milling recovery,
allow to temper overnight before milling.

Storing

Though majority of the farmers don’t store their whole produce, it is a

must to store a certain percentage for their own consumption.
Businessmen engaged in rice grain trading buy the farmers produce
and store the grains in large warehouses. Storing grains is to keep it
for future use. It is better to store it unmilled to maintain its quality
and palatability. Stored rice is affected by moisture, temperature,
insect pests and type of storage facilities. Moisture content greatly
affects the keeping quality of rice. High moisture during storage
generates heat which makes rice grains susceptible to insect pests and
molds as well as yellowing and discoloration. Mold growth in rice
causes loss of luster, bad odor, loss of viability, and the production of
mycotoxins, which poison animals and pose health hazard to people.
Reducing moisture content, however, is not sufficient to guarantee
long and safe storage, because rice absorbs or gives off moisture
depending upon the temperature and relative humidity in the storage
area. Thus, suitable containers and structures should be used. In
order to prevent heavy losses during storing, here are the guidelines to
follow:

1. After drying the rice grains, store them properly if you are not
going to sell immediately. Safe storage involves the preservation
of the quality and quantity of grain for future use. Thus, protect
your harvest from bad weather, pests, microorganisms,
chemicals, moisture, and other types of contamination.
2. Clean sacks before use to remove insect pests.
3. Do not stack the sacks of rice on a concrete floor, it will
accumulate moisture. Use a stacking tray made of wood.
4. Separate old and new grain stocks.
5. Separate and mark different varieties by storing them in
different sacks. Handle sacks with care to avoid damage and
spillage.
6. Cover the stacked bags of rice with plastic sheet or other
covering materials.
7. Clean bodega/warehouse prior to new grain storage and
maintain cleanliness of the surroundings to discourage rodents’
infestation.
8. Visit the storage area regularly to observe any grain damage,
changes in grain temperature, increase in moisture content,
and any indication of grain deterioration.

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 9. Avoid storing fertilizer and insecticides near the rice stock to
ensure safety and maintain market quality.
10. Make use of a bait for rodents if necessary.

Milling

It is one of the thriving rice related business. Rice milling is the

removal of hulls and bran from rice grains to produce polished or white
rice ready for human consumption. The rice bran is a very important
ingredient in feed formulation for animal production. The farmers
utilize it as a direct feed to their farm animals. The rice hull is being
used as a good substitute for firewood in cooking.
Depending upon the equipment used, milling operation involves
cleaning, hulling, grain separation, whitening or polishing, and to
some extent grading.
There are three types of milling in the country under the introduced
technology: the kiskisan, the cono and the combination of rubber-roll-
huller and horizontal whitener. Additional improvement with the
machinery is the attachment of stoner to remove small pebbles being
mixed to the grains during drying. Before, you need to transport your
rice grains to the nearest rice mill to avail its services. Now with the
proliferation of the travelling rice mill, they provide the services to the
doorsteps of their customers.

To obtain high milling recovery, observe the following:

1. Clean and dry grains immediately after harvest. Allow to

temper overnight or longer before milling to minimize grain
breakage.
2. Do not mix different varieties. Mixed varieties adversely affect
the performance of the mill.

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Health and Safety Precautions During Harvesting and other Post
Harvest Activities

Practicing safety precautions will save lives and suffering.

M anual Harvesting

When cutting crop with a sickle, always hold the stems with thumb
pointing upward, away from the sickle/scythe. Be extra careful in
pulling the scythe to prevent injury. Always have a piece of long
sleeved clean cloth, hat, and sunglass, as protections from excessive
heat of the sun

M achine Threshing

1. Become familiar with the machine before the first operation. Read
the manual that came with the machine.
2. Do the pre-operational check-up of the machine before starting
the engine.
3. Do not wear loose clothing that may be picked up by moving
parts.
4. While operating, keep all shields and guards in place
5. Never leave the thresher unattended while the engine is running.
Keep children away from the machine. Keep hands and feet away
from the machine and its moving parts.
6. Do not fill the tank while the engine is moving.
7. Keep all flammable materials (including dry straw) away from the
engine.
8. Do not oil, grease, or adjust the machine during operation. Wait
until all moving parts have stopped before servicing.
9. Do not operate machine with loose peg teeth, bolts and nuts.
Loose peg teeth may be ejected at high speeds, causing injury to
operators and damage to the thresher.
10. Never remove accumulated straw inside the machine during
operation.
11. Never extend hands or feet into the feed opening of the thresher.
12. Never operate your machine in a closed shed or garage.
Exhaust fumes are dangerous to your health.
13. Keep a first-aid kit at hand.
14. Tie up long hair to prevent entangling.
15. Do not wear necklace or other garments that may be wrapped
into moving parts of the machine.

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 Combine Harvesting

1. Review the manuals that came with the harvester. Understand

the controls before operating.
2. Do the operational check-up before operating.
3. When operating around machinery, wear work clothes that fit
and have no loose ends.
4. Do not allow anyone to climb onto the machine while it is in
motion.
5. Keep children at a safe distance from the machine.
6. Do not operate when very tired. Change operators during the
day.
7. Always have a fire extinguisher at hand on engine -operated
equipment.
8. Ensure that the fuel system has no leaks.
9. While refueling, stop the engine and do not smoke.

IM PORTANT THINGS TO REM EMBER

• Harvesting is the process of collecting mature rice crop from the

field.
• Threshing is the process of separating rice grain from the panicle.
• The maturity indices of rice are: a) 80-85% of the grains are straw
colored b) grains have 20-25% moisture content of the grain c)
based on maturity date
• Methods of harvesting are manual or mechanical.
• The choice of selecting the method in threshing depends upon the
availability of labor, capital outlay of the farm, time of harvesting,
field layout, demand for quality, and demand for straw.
• Observe the safety measures in harvesting, threshing, and milling.
• Clean rice is easier to dry.
• Clean rice when properly dried to improve the storability.
• Clean and properly dried rice grains have higher market value.
• Clean and properly dried rice grains obtain good milling quality.
• Store rice grain for future use.
• Observe safety precautions when using chemicals, especially in the
control of pests in the storage barn.
• The moisture content of rice grains for storage is 14 percent.
• Sundrying can be done 1-2 days (fair weather) or 8-11 hours if
mechanical dryer is used.

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 Process

Activity #1

Prepare your materials, proceed to the farm, and identify which

area is ready for harvest. In your assigned area demonstrate how to
properly harvest using scythe and a reaper. Stack the harvested rice
and demonstrate threshing and drying.

Activity #2

Based on your field experience, your understanding on the module

and enhanced by your extensive research on Harvesting and other
post-harvest activities, realign your understanding by preparing a
power point presentation on minimizing postharvest losses in rice
production this will be reported and discussed in the class for possible
suggestions for refinement.

Activity #3

Assume the personality and character of an expert agriculture

technician who has a strong advocacy on minimizing postharvest
185
losses in rice production to improve farmer’s income. Organize a
farmer’s educational forum in your locality and present in a convincing
manner your refined/improved presentation on minimizing
postharvest loses.

Answer the following questions. Write the letter of your answer on your
answer sheet.

1. Which of the following does not belong to the maturity indices of

rice?
a. Based on maturity period.
b. Grains have 20-25% moisture content.
c. Grains are firm and brittle.
d. 80-85% of the grains are straw colored.

2. Which are the four basic operations in harvesting?

a. Cutting, handling, threshing, and cleaning
b. Cutting, stacking, drying, storing
c. Cutting, threshing, cleaning, storing
d. Stacking, threshing, cleaning, storing

3. What is the appropriate material needed for harvesting a ½ ha.

rice field for proper timing?
a. Combine harvester
b. Header pick up
c. Stick
d. Scythe

4. What is the most effective method of harvesting and threshing

lodged rice crop?
a. Combined harvester
b. Manual harvesting and threshing
c. Manual harvesting and threshing by machine
d. Reaper and thresher

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5. Choosing an appropriate system for threshing require the following
factors except
a. availability of labor.
b. demand for hay and straw.
c. field layout.
d. variety of rice.

6. Which of the following materials is not needed in cleaning and

drying rice grains?
a. Blower
b. Canvas and winnowing basket
c. Sickle and reaper
d. 1.5 mm fish net and stirrer

7. Which is the most widely used system of drying rice grain in the
Philippines?
a. Air drier
b. Mechanical dryer
c. Solar dryer
d. None of the above

8. What is the standard moisture content of rice to be stored?

a. 14% c. 18-22%
b. 18% d. 20-25%

9. Below are guides in storing except one. Which is it?

a. Observe good housekeeping before storing in bodega
b. Separate the old from new harvest when piling
c. Store fertilizer near pile of rice grain
d. Store rice grain after drying

10. Which is a more economical and practical way of drying rice

grains?
a. Air drying
b. Mechanical drying
c. Solar drying
d. None of the above

B. Provide the information being asked.

1. What are the materials needed in harvesting and threshing rice?
2. What should you remember when cutting crop with a scythe?
3. Why is drying important before storing?

187
 4. How can you determine the proper moisture (14%) content of
rice grain for storing?

RESOURCES
1. PPE
2. Sickle/Scythe
3. Rack and stick
4. Canvas
5. Winnower
6. Sacks
7. Stirrer
8. Tying material
9. Solar dryer (if available)
10. Thresher

Harvesting - the process of cutting and collecting the mature rice

crop
Threshing - the process of separating rice grains from the panicle
Drying - the reduction of moisture content from newly harvested
Rice grain to a desired moisture content.
Storing - the process of keeping the grains for future use.
M illing - the removal of hulls and bran from rice grain to produce
polished or white rice
M C – moisture content, the condition of dryness of a grain

LESSON XI

RECORD KEEPING

188
 Production records are important in farm crop production since
farmers base many of their everyday decisions on costs of expenses of
labor, materials, and others. The lesson will allow you to learn the
rudiments of record keeping in farm management. It will teach you
how to prepare cost analysis especially in rice farming.
You will learn this within ten days

1. Discuss the importance of record keeping in crop production

2. Enumerate the steps in record keeping
3. Prepare a record book in rice production
4. Explain Cost analysis in field crop production
5. Prepare cost analysis in producing crops

Pre

Let us try to assess your readiness of the subject matter you are about
to read by taking the test below.

A. Direction: Choose the best answer and write the letter in your
activity notebook.

_____1. What record is kept by the farmer that shows the budget of
the project?
a. Cash
b. Production
189
c. Sales
d. Stock

_____2. What record tells the farmer how much she/he gained in the
venture?
a. Cash
b. Cost and profit
c. Sales
d. Stock

_____3. What can be found in the production record report?

a. Expenses paid
b. Profit earned
c. Miscellaneous expenses
d. Manpower needed

_____4. Which record shows the supplies and materials needed for
all activities in the farm?
a. Cash
b. Production
c. Sales
d. Stock

_____5. Which form shows the profit or return of investment in farm

projects?
a. Cash
b. Post and profit
c. Production
d. Stock

B. What is the importance of farm record keeping?

C. What are the different forms prepared in the farm?

190
 Record Keeping and Cost Analysis

Importance of Record Keeping

Record keeping is very important in any venture especially in

agricultural enterprise. It provides substantial information important
in decision-making. Data gathered from farm records also help in
planning and budget preparation. It is a source of data in obtaining
credit, insurance, and in preparing tax returns and reports required
by the government. It is also useful in marketing farm produce and in
other farming activities. Farm records determine the value of the
project. Agricultural managers use them as collaterals in obtaining
loans from banks and other financing entities. Or if the owner wants
to sell the farm, this could be used as document in presenting the
performance of the farm to would be buyers.
To facilitate effective record management, the following records can be
kept.
1. Cash records. This is a record of the cash accounts in a project.
It can be seen in one record or this may be a special cash record
wherein the cash received journal and cash payments journal are
separately recorded transactions.
Sample Combined Cash Record
Cash Received Cash Paid
Date Amount Receip Remarks Amount Receipt Remark
t No. No. s

Marc P8,000.00 091341 Sale of 10 P4,400.00 011231 Payment

h 2, 2 cavans of 1 for 8
2014 palay @ sacks of
P800/cava 14-14-14
n fertilizers
@
P550/ba
g (50k)

Marc 087761 Payment

h 10, P12,000.00 1
P3,400.00 for 4
2014 088712 liters of
3 pesticide
191
 Sale of 12
cavans of
milled rice

@ s
P1,000.00
at 50kg/
sack
Tota P20,000.0 P7,800.0
l 0 0

2. Farm sales record. This is used to record all sales in rice

production. There are two kinds of farm sales record: general and the
classified.
The general form has only one amount column where the value of farm
produce sold is recorded. The other columns are for the other pertinent
information such as date, unit, description, and unit value.
Date Description Quantity Unit Unit Total
Value Value
P P
March 2 rice 50 cavans P 800.00 P40,000.00
March 3 glutinous 5 cavans 1,000.00 5,000.00

The classified farm sales record contains special columns for the main
product of the farm stock record.

3. Stock record. This record shows the stock of supplies and

materials needed by the farm for all farming activities, especially in
large-scale production.
Aside from the date item columns, the stock record has three main
columns the received column, the issued column, and the balance
column. The received column has three sub columns: quantity, unit
price, and the total amount of the materials received. The issue column
shows the quantity used while the balance column shows the
192
 materials or supplies which are unused. The stock record is useful in
determining how much supplies and materials are needed per
cropping .

Here is an example of stock record.

Date Item Quantity Unit Total Issued/Used Balance
Value Value Quantity Unused
Quantity
Mar. Fertilizer 8 bags P800/bag P6,400.00 4 4
3 Herbicide 2 bottles P1,200/b P2,400.00 1 1
Mar.
8

5. Production record. This record determines the annual

profitability of a farm enterprise. It lists the different crops
grown in the farm during the whole year, the amount spent for
the production, the total sales, the remaining stock, and the net
income. This record summarizes the performance of the farm in
each year. It can be used by the farmer in determining which
crop is performing well or which is not. It could be the basis of
the farmer in deciding what crop has to be maintained or which
one is supposed to be changed.

Cropping Description Cost of Total Sales Remaining Net Income

season of the Production stock
commodity
January to Pepper P3,500.00 P10,500.00 500 grams P7,000.00
April
May to Rice P5,000.00 P22,000.00 250 grams P17,000.00
October
November Beans P2,000.00 P8,000.00 90 grams P6,000.00
to
December
Total P10,500.00 P40,500.00 P30,000.00

From the sample above, it may be noted that the total annual income
of the farm for that year gained P30,000.00. However, the amount does
not include its remaining stocks.

3. Cost and Profit Analysis. This record tells the farmer how much
profit he/she will gain for the project undertaken. It contains a
list of all the farming activities that were done in a season and
the expenses incurred per farming activity. It also indicates the
cost of supplies and materials used for the cropping season. The
cost and return analysis helps the farmer get the total cost of

193
 production and estimate the net return he/she will gain
depending on the crop yield or the mode of production.

The following table shows a sample cost and return analysis in rice
production for one-hectare lowland and irrigated rice.

Method of planting: Transplanting (Wet Season)

Variety: HYV
Seeds : 2 bags certified seeds at P1,200.00/sack
Soil condition : High/Medium NPK (Soil Test Results)( RR= 68-
28-45)

Item Labor Cost of Labor Cost of No. of Days Amount

M an/Day (8 M an & Animal Req. at 8
hrs) P /Day (8hrs) hrs./day
[Link] Preparation

Seed and seedbed P200 2 P 400.00

preparation
Wetbed
P300 .5 P 150.00
Plowing
P300 10 P3,000.00
Harrowing and
Leveling
Repair and Dike P300 8 P2,400.00
Cleaning P200
Sub total 4 persons 800.00
P6,750.00
2. Crop M anagement
Sowing and Care P200 2 persons P 400.00
of seedlings
Pulling and P200
bundling seedlings 4 persons P 800.00
Transplanting
Weeding (Manual) P200
P200 15 persons P3,000.00
Irrigation
5 persons P1,000.00
Application of
herbicides P200
Application of 1 person 200.00
insecticides P200 4 persons 800.00
Application of
Fertilizers (Basal and P200 4 persons 800.00
Side dressing

Sub total P7,000.00

194
 3. Other M ajor
Operations
Harvesting,
contract 4,500/ha P4,500.00
threshing,
7 cavan/ha @ P14.00/kg 4,900.00.
winnowing, and
hauling (contractual
basis) @5/cavan 550.00
Drying and hauling
@5/cavan @ 110 cavans/ha 550.00
Sub total P10,500.00

Agricultural Inputs @

Herbicides Machete @
1 liter P 680.00
P680.00 @
Insecticides Karate 1 liter P1,020.00
P1,020/liter
Cymbush 0.5 liter
P850/liter
Fertilizers 4 bags T14 @
P1,100.00/b 425.00

87 kgs. 46-0-0
@ P1,000/bag (1 4,400.00
bag= 50kg.) 28
kgs. 0-0-60 @
P750/bag 1,740.50

420.00

Sub total P8,685.50

Assumption: Average yield per hectare = 5.5 metric tons or 110 cavans.
Price of palay is estimated at P14.00 per kilogram

Total expenses = P35,335.00

Total Income = P77,000.00
Net Income = P41,665.00
ROI (return of investment) = 117.91%
(Net income/total cost of production x 100)

Process

195
Answer the following
1. What is the importance of keeping farm records?
2. What are the different parts of the farm records?
3. How do you compute the ROI or return of investment of your
entrepreneurial activity?

Do the following activities Activity 1

Visit a nearby farm where rice is the main crop. Interview the farmer
how/he/she prepares farm records to know the cost and profit in farm
crop production.
Report the outcome of the interview in class.
Activity 2
Keep and maintain farm records of your school farm project. Follow
the sample given in this material as your guide.

A. Interview a rice farmer in your locality. Prepare a cost and return

analysis of the project. Ask her/him all the necessary details on the
part of the record. Present the output in your class.
B. Visit a nearby farm and interview the farmer. Prepare a
production record of the cropping season. Follow the format below and
report your findings to the class

Cropping Description Cost of Total Remaining Net

season of the Production Sales stock Income
commodity

196
 A Why is record keeping important in farm crop production?
B. Enumerate the different farm records needed in farm project.
C. Visit a nearby farm project and prepare a cost and return analysis
of the project.

Farm record is important to the farmer since it provides valuable

information regarding the financial status of the farm enterprise. It will
tell everyone the picture of the project whether it is gaining or losing.

REFERENCES

CBLM Year 3
Technology and Home Economics III
PHILRICE, Palay Check
Crop Establishment_PhilRice-IRRI [Link] [Link]

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