Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for - Aseanipm ...

Section 3 • Living Soil, Integrated Soil Nutrient and Crop Managements
learning objectives
• To make participants aware of and understand the hardening of some vegetable seedlings by
pricking-off to improve their tolerance to adverse environment; and
• To learn and do hands-on of improved pricking-off techniques shared by farmers for celery and
lettuce seedlings.
materials
• Seedbeds of celery and lettuce seedlings ready for hardening by pricking-off;
• Office supplies (e.g., Manila papers, notebooks, ball pens, and marking pens); and
• Field materials (e.g., cleaning tools, digging tools, compost).
methodology
• Field walks, hands-on, and brainstorming
steps
1. Divide participants in small groups and ask them to conduct field walks, interview farmers,
and observe vegetable seedlings hardened by pricking-off. List down all observations and
experiences shared by farmers who were interviewed.
2. Go back to the processing area. Brainstorm in small groups on how to improve standard
procedure provided below:
5 Grow celery or lettuce seedlings to about 2 to 3 inches tall;
5 Select a suitable area near seedbed for pricking-off of seedlings;
5 Clean and cultivate area properly;
5 Apply and incorporate compost or any organic matter to soil and level;
5 Uproot seedlings from seedbed and sort them according to sizes;
5 Prick-off seedlings at a distance of 7 to 8 cm between plants; and
5 Transplant seedlings in main field after one month.
3. Present output of small groups to the big group. Conduct participatory discussion to allow
sharing of experiences among participants and facilitators.
4. Synthesize and summarize the output of the small groups into one big group output. Draw up
conclusions and recommendations from the exercise.
131