SOIL FERTILITY AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED) Lesson note

PROPOSED LESSON PLAN/NOTE FOR THE EIGHT WEEK ENDING 4^th NOVEMBER, 2022

2022/2023 ACADEMIC SESSION

SUBJECT: AGRIC SCIENCE

TOPIC: SOIL FERTILITY AND MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

CLASS: GRADE 8

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 22

AVERAGE AGE: 12+ YEARS

GENDER: MIXED

PERIOD: 7^th AND 8^th PERIOD ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY RESPECTIVELY

TIME: 1:20-2:00

DURATION: 40 MINUTES

DATE: 31/10/2022

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: By the end of the lesson the students should be able to;

1. explain Organic Manures;

2. discuss Fertilizers (Inorganic Manure);

3. explain Mulching.

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR/ PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: Students have already studied part of this topic in week five.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS/TECHNIC: Questions, simulation, visual.

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Pictures showing manure, fertilizer.

INTRODUCTION: Questions posed to the students include

Question 1: What are manures?

STEP1: ORGANIC MANURES

Soil fertility can be maintained in two basic ways:

(a) Addition of Organic Fertilizer: Organic fertilizer is any nutrient containing materials derived from either plant or animal origin, or both. Examples include:

Green Manure: It is derived solely from plants. It involved planting leguminous plants like mucuna beans, stylosanthes, groundnuts, soyabeans or any other type of edible brown or white beans which are later ploughed into the soil at flowering stage. Sometimes, the edible parts of the crops are harvested before they are plough in. These rot and release nutrients to the soil.

Farmyard Manure: This is derived from both plant and animal sources. It is simply materials in the form of dung from pen/poultry houses, cattle ranches, piggeries, sheep and goat houses etc which when added to the soil decompose and enrich the soil fertility. It is therefore waste from the farm. It contains nutrients mainly in organic form, but this quickly changes into form a form in which plants need. Poultry manure is the richest source of nutrients, followed by goats, pigs, cattle and horses.

Compost: Composting is a method of decomposing household refuse or waste which are of plant and animal origin. Compost improves soil structure and reduces rapid temperatures, it also conserves soil structure, prevents soil erosion and adds more nutrients to the soil. It consists of a mixture of animal waste, plant materials in the form of straw, leaves, stems, pieces of broken roots, and decaying seeds and fruits. When this mixture rots, it becomes a ready source of plant nutrients.

 There are two methods of composting which include: (a) Pit method (b) Heap method

STEP2: ADDITION OF INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

These are chemical fertilizers which are manufactured industrially. When added to the soil is capable of releasing essential nutrients required by the crop to support normal plant growth and development. They are substances that are added to the soil to improve its quality by supplying the elements that are required for the growth and nutrition of plants. They are classified into two main groups:

Simple or Single Element Fertilizers: This fertilizers are those which supply one major nutrient at a time to the soil. The fifteen chemical elements that are needed for normal plant growth, reproduction and development are grouped into four:

(i) C, H, O

(ii) N, S, P, K, Ca, Mg (macro)

(iii) Fe

(iv) Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo (macro)

All these elements occur naturally in the environment below the soil, in water and in man-made media. Examples of simple fertilizers in use are:

(i) Ammonium Sulphate and Urea, each of which supplies the major nutrient (N) at a time.

(ii) Single Superphosphate (SSP) which supplies phosphorus (P).

(iii) Muriate of potash (MOP) which supplies potassium (K).

Compound or Mixed Fertilizers: This involves supplying fertilizers in commercial quantities as mixtures or as compound fertilizers. We may have two, three or four types of simple fertilizers mixed together as N-P-K, N-P-K-Mg, N-P or N-K. This fertilizer supplies three nutrients namely, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Micronutrients like Zinc (Zn) are also supplied as fertilizers.  

Fertilizers are packed in bags which are then labeled to show the contents and weight. They are kept away from any form of moisture before use. For instance, If a bag is labeled 15-15-15, it means that for every 100kg, in the first bag, there are 15kg of N and 15Kg P and 15Kg K

METHODS OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION

(a) Broadcasting: This method of applying fertilizer is done by spreading a predetermined quantity of it evenly on the surface of the soil. It could be done by hand or with a spoon like object. This method is wasteful in that, it may spread to where it is not needed.

(b) Banding: Banding is another method whereby the fertilizer is placed at a determined distance to a crop and at a predetermined depth. It should not be allowed to touch the leaves or stems of the crop involve to avoid burn (scorch) of the plant.

(c) Ring application: This method involves spreading a determined quantity of fertilizer in the form of a ring around crop. It should not be allowed to touch the leaf or stem of the crops involves to avoid burn (scorch) of the plant.

(d) Foliar Application: The fertilizer is available in liquid form and is sprayed on to the leaves of the crop with a sprayer. The liquid is under pressure inside the spraying pump in order to apply the fertilizer uniformly to the leaf surfaces.

(e) Row Application: The fertilizer is placed on the soil surface along the row at a predetermined distance from the crop plants, which have already been planted in rows.

(f) Fertigation: In this method, the fertilizer is applied to the crops along with the irrigation water. This is only done for irrigated crops.

STEP3 MULCHING

 The surface soil is covered with straw or any other cut vegetable material. It reduces the loss of moisture by evapo-transpiration from the soil. This can subsequently be ploughed in to rot and release nutrients to the soil. Nowadays, polythene sheets are also used for mulching.

EVALUATION:

1. explain soil fertility.

2. discuss ways of maintaining soil fertility.

SUMMARY:

1. Soil fertility refers the ability of the soil to supply all the essential plant nutrients in adequate amounts as required by the crops.

2. Soil fertility can be maintained in two basic ways: Addition of Organic Fertilizer, Addition of inorganic Fertilizers.

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Describe how you would prepare compost. How is it incorporated into the soil? How similar or different is it from green manure?

2. Fertilizers are chemical compounds. They are grouped as simple or compound fertilizers. Show how the groups justify what each fertilizer contains as nutrients.

3. Describe how fertilizers are applied to crops.