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

Exercise No. 5.10 191
MULCHING AS A MEANS OF DISEASE PREVENTION IN
ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
Mulching is a cultural management practice where plant
residues (e.g., cogon grass, other weeds, rice straws or
pine needles), plastic (e.g., polyethylene sheets) and other
appropriate materials are laid out on vegetable plots or beds
primarily to conserve soil moisture and suppress growth of
weeds 192 . Mulching also minimizes splash soil erosion and
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Field Guide of Discovery-based Exercises for Organic Vegetable Production
soft rot or other soil-borne disease infections 193 . The purposes for and practices of mulching vary
from farmer to farmer, from crop to crop, and from season to season.
In farmer field schools (FFSs), these learning experiences can be shared among organic farmers and
facilitators through field walks, observations, and participatory discussions to enrich everyone’s
experiences of said practice and thus contribute to better plant disease management of organicallygrown
vegetables in their own fields. This exercise was designed specifically to address this concern.
How long will this exercise take?
• Thirty minutes to one hour field walks, observations, and interaction with farmers; and
• Thirty minutes to one hour brainstorming session in processing area.
learning objectives
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST
sessions as part of ‘Other
Cultural Management
Practices in Vegetable
Production’ topic; and
ɶ When farmers want to
learn from other farmers
some improved practices
in mulching.
• To create awareness and appreciation among participants on the role of mulching in pest and
disease management of organically-grown vegetables; and
• To learn and understand other benefits experienced by farmers from practice of mulching in
growing vegetables.
191 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. pp244-246.
192 Bautista, O.K. (ed) 1994. Introduction to tropical horticulture. 2 nd Edition. SEAMEO Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture
(SEARCA) and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), College, Laguna, The Philippines. pp312-314.
193 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.