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

Section 5 • Integrated Disease Management
Exercise No. 5.09 189
PROPER METHOD OF SOWING IN SEEDBED
TO CONTROL SOIL-BORNE DISEASES OF
ORGANICALLY-GROWN VEGETABLES
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
There are different sowing techniques used in
organic vegetable production. Some techniques used
by vegetable farmers were very appropriate while
some were less appropriate to their prevailing local
conditions. These inappropriate sowing practices often lead to wastage of seed materials, high
incidence of seedbed diseases, poor quality seedlings and consequently, to very low productivity 190 .
On the other hand, use of appropriate sowing methods can result in production of healthy seedlings,
reduction in cost of production, and increase in productivity and profitability.
In farmer field schools (FFSs), best sowing techniques practiced by some organic vegetable farmers
can only be shared among and learned by most of them to enrich their current practices through
participatory, experiential, and discovery-based learning approaches. Thus, the foregoing exercise
was designed primarily for this purpose.
How long will this exercise take?
• One hour and thirty minutes for field walks, observations, and hands-on exercise in learning
and adjoining fields; and
• Thirty minutes to one hour brainstorming session.
learning objectives
• To make participants aware and understand how proper seed sowing techniques in seedbed can
help control soil-borne diseases of organically-grown vegetables; and
• To learn better practices from other farmers and further improve their skills in proper seed
sowing techniques in seedbed.
189 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. pp241-243.
190 Milagrosa, S.P. 1998. As cited in: 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. 366p.
281
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST sessions,
during seed sowing in seedbed
of learning field; and
ɶ When organic farmers want
to learn better practices from
other farmers on proper seed
sowing techniques in seedbed.