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

Exercise No. 3.30 112
CULTURAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN RELATION
TO MORPHOLOGY AND GROWTH STAGES OF
ORGANICALLY-GROWN LEAFY VEGETABLES
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
Organic vegetable crops grown mainly for their leaves are
classified as leafy vegetables 113 . Some examples of leafy
vegetables are pechay, mustard, lettuce, green onion, leek,
and celery. The most important product of a home garden,
for instance, is leafy vegetable. In a home garden, leafy
vegetables are easy to grow organically and do not need
much attention or labor, yet they give highest rate of edible
products. In highlands, leafy vegetables are organicallygrown
commercially by farmers. Commercial growing of
organic leafy vegetables requires intensive labor and capital
investments.
156
Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Organic Vegetable Production
Thus, appropriate and location-specific cultural management practices employed at different
growth stages of crops are necessary for more productive and profitable venture. Innovative
cultural management practices that are more adapted to various stages of organically-grown leafy
vegetables in their localities had evolved in the Cordilleras through farmers’ years of experiences.
These unique experiences can be regularly shared among farmers in FFSsto further improve current
practices. The foregoing exercise was designed to address this particular concern.
How long will this exercise take?
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and
VST sessions, when
participants decided to
organically-grow leafy
vegetables in learning
field or leafy vegetables
are organically-grown in
adjoining fields; and
ɶ When farmers want to
learn innovative cultural
management practices in
relation to growth stages
of organically-grown
leafy vegetables from
other farmers.
• Thirty minutes to one hour for field walks and observations of appropriate cultural management
practices in relation to growth stages of organically-grown leafy vegetables in learning and
adjoining fields; and
• Thirty minutes to one hour for brainstorming session in processing area.
112 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. pp142-145.
113 Bautista, O.K. (ed). 1994. Introduction to Tropical Horticulture. 2 nd Edition. SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
and University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines. pp12-52.