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

Section 7 • Participatory Plant Breeding, Seed Production, Harvest, and Post-Harvest Management
Exercise No. 7.06 253
DETERMINING MATURITY INDEX IN
HARVESTING ORGANICALLY-GROWN
SNAP BEANS AND GREEN PEAS FOR SEEDS
BaCKGroUND aND raTIoNalE
Maturity index refers to signs expressed by a crop
to show that it is ready for harvest 254 . If crop is
grown for seeds, harvesting should be done at the
stage of physiological maturity that when seeds
have accumulated all food reserves, are at their
state of maximum dry weight, highest vigor and quality level. For any vegetable crop or variety,
big seeds have more food reserves than small seeds, all other factors being equal, hence are better
seed materials. Big seeds produce plants that are more vigorous. They flower early and give higher
yields. For seed production of vegetable crops, seeds are harvested when fruits or pods are overmature
for consumption 255 .
For snap beans and green peas, pods are harvested when yellowish or in most cases when they are
already starting to dry up. In middle elevation areas of Benguet and Mountain Province, majority
of vegetable farmers grow snap beans and green peas due to their adaptability to relatively warmer
temperatures. Many farmers depend on legume vegetable seeds produced in their own fields. Thus,
quality of their seeds depends on the proper timing of harvesting and storage.
In FFSs, innovative experiences in determining proper maturity indices of various legume vegetables
must be shared among farmers to further improve their existing practices. The foregoing exercise
was specifically designed to achieve this purpose.
How long will this exercise take?
• Thirty minutes to one hour for field walks and observations of proper maturity index for
organically-grown legume vegetables intended for seeds in adjoining and learning fields; and
• Thirty minutes to one hour for brainstorming session in processing area.
253 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. pp303-305.
254 PCARRD. 1985. National Technoguide on Indigenous Vegetable Backyard Gardening. Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources Research and
Development (PCARRD), Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. pp41-43.
255 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. pp167-174.
377
when is this exercise most
appropriate?
ɶ In FFS, TOT, and VST sessions,
before harvesting of organicallygrown
legume vegetables intended
for seeds in learning field; and
ɶ When farmers want to learn from
others better ways to determine the
right maturity index of organicallygrown
legume vegetables intended
for seeds.