Crop Production and Principles

Project link As part of the practical assessment, students are required to complete a project on two crops You can choose any two crops from Grassland Potato or root crop Cereal crop Headings for discussion include Varieties Rotation Cultivation practices Establishment Harvesting and yield

Certified Seed Most seed sown for any crop in Ireland is certified seed produced by the Department of Agriculture. Properties of certified seed: Minimum germination rate of 85% Minimum analytical purity rate of 98% Seed must be treated with a fungicide/pesticide Seed must be free from wild oat seed

Winter v Spring Sown Crops Winter variety seeds: Frost resistant Sown September to November Harvested mid-July onwards Longer growing season Higher yield due to longer growing season

Winter v Spring Sown Crops Spring variety seeds: Not frost resistant Sown February to April Harvested August onwards Shorter growing season Lower yield due to shorter growing season

Advantages of Sowing Winter Variety Cereals Labour can be spread over the year, particularly in mixed farming systems where calving/lambing takes place in spring. Winter varieties have a higher yield than spring varieties due to their longer growing season.

Advantages of Sowing Winter Variety Cereals Harvesting takes place earlier for winter varieties in good weather conditions. Losses of spring varieties may result when harvesting in poor autumn weather. Poor weather in spring may delay sowing of spring varieties. This can delay germination, establishment and harvest of the crop and result in a lower yield than a winter variety.

Crop Rotation A system of tillage cultivation where crops are grown in a defined sequence. Each subsequent crop is different from the previous crop.

Advantages of Crop Rotation Prevents a build up of pests and diseases as different pests and diseases are associated with different crops. Prevents the depletion of the soil’s nutrients as different nutrients are used by different crops. Improves soil structure as fibrous roots help bind soil together and stubble and grass ploughed into soil contribute to soil organic matter.

Control of Weeds, Pests and Diseases There are three main methods of controlling weeds, pests and diseases on a farm: Biological control Indirect control Chemical/direct control

Biological Control Biological control is the use of a predator or parasite of a pest. The predator controls the pest by eating, killing or damaging the pest. A common example is the ladybird, which eats aphids.

Indirect Control This is the use of agricultural practices that discourage the establishment of pests and diseases. Indirect controls include: Crop rotation Sowing resistant crop varieties Growth encouragement Timely harvesting Stubble cleaning

Indirect Control Sowing resistant crop varieties helps prevent attack by pests and diseases as these varieties are not affected by the disease. Growth encouragement promotes the growth of healthy crops and prevents the growth of weeds and attack by pests and diseases.

Indirect Control Stubble cleaning involves ploughing and harrowing the land. Harrowing encourages weed germination and kills the weeds. Timely harvesting: over-ripe crops are more susceptible to attack by pests and diseases. Timely harvesting reduces this risk.

Direct/Chemical Control This is the use of chemicals to control weeds, pests and diseases. Herbicides kill plants or inhibit their growth. Fungicides kill or inhibit the growth of fungi. Pesticides kill pests, e.g. insects and rodents.

Herbicides There are two types of herbicides: Selective herbicides: Kill certain species of plant life without harming other species. Effective on broadleaf weeds. If too much of a selective herbicide is applied it will kill all plant life. Total herbicide: Kills all plant species and can be used to clear an area of vegetation.

Types of Herbicide There are 3 ways in which herbicides act Contact herbicide: Kills any plant material it comes in contact with. Is not suitable for perennial weeds as it does not kill roots. Translocated herbicide: Absorbed by plant and moves around the plant killing the plant as it is translocated. Residual or Soil-acting herbicide: Applied to soil and absorbed by germinating weeds, killing them as they grow.

Fungicides Contact fungicide: Kill fungi on application to crop, but only kill fungi with which they come into contact. Systemic fungicide: Translocated by the plant and kill any fungi with which they come into contact. Translaminar fungicide: Translocated from upper leaf surface to lower leaf surface to prevent fungal attack.

Fungicides Protective fungicide: Protect at site of application. Must be applied before the crop is attacked by fungi. Not effective on an infected crop.

Pesticides Used to kill pests such as insects, rodents, snails and slugs. Can be solid, liquid or gaseous form. Can be sprayed on crops and ingested by pest when pest eats plant material. Can also be applied as bait which poisons the pest when eaten, e.g. slug pellets.