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

Section 3 • Living Soil, Integrated Soil Nutrient and Crop Managements
Exercise No. 3.25 103
PROPER PLANTING DISTANCE AS A STRATEGY TO
MAXIMIZE CROP PRODUCTIVITY OF ORGANICALLY-
GROWN VEGETABLES
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
One important cultural management practice in growing
organic vegetables is the use of proper planting distance.
Some of the benefits derived from using this practice are
optimized seeding rate, minimized pest (including weed)
and disease incidence, and maximized crop productivity.
Through years of experience in farming, farmers had
adapted the most appropriate planting distance for various
crops in their localities.
In FFSs, these best practices can be shared and learned among farmers through field walks and
brainstorming. These learning experiences can further be enhanced by role-playing, hence this
exercise.
How long will this exercise take?
• Thirty minutes to one hour for field walks and observations of different sowing, planting, and
transplanting distances in adjoining organic vegetable farms of learning field; and
• Thirty minutes to one hour brainstorming session in processing area.
learning objectives
• To make participants aware of and understand the role of proper planting distance in maximizing
crop productivity in organic vegetable production; and
• To learn the best experiences from other farmers on proper planting distance in growing organic
vegetables.
103 Adapted from Callo, Jr., D.P., L.B. Teofilo, and H.A. Tauli (eds). 2002. Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Vegetable IPM, Volume II. SEAMEO
Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. pp128-130.
141
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST
sessions, before sowing
in seedbed and before
planting or transplanting
in learning field; and
ɶ When farmers want to
learn the best experiences
from other farmers on
proper planting distance
in growing organic
vegetables.