Papillion Agri-Consultants

13/10/2020

Cabbage

14/05/2019

28/08/2018

23/02/2017

Sweet Potato Production
Time of Planting
Where there is irrigation and no frost dangers, planting can be done throughout the year.
However where rainfall is less than 1000mm it should be done early with the onset of the rains..
Varieties
Improved varieties include brondal and cordner.
Local varieties include chizou and chigogo.
Soil Requirements
Well drained sandy to loamy soils.
Soil pH from 5 to 6.3.
If pH goes below 5.0 then liming will be necessary.
Climatic Requirements
Prefers high temperatures of 24 to 29ºC.
Vines are killed by winter frost.
Requires relatively high light intensity. Requires 750- 1000 mm of rainfall / year
Planting
Planting is done on mounds of about 20 cm to 30 cm high. Intra row is 20 cm and inter row is 90 cm, but for low rainfall areas wider spacing is recommended.
It can also be done on ridges or flat land
Two thirds of the cutting should be in the ground and one third exposed. Plant at a 45-degree angle for increased yields.
40 000 cuttings are needed per hectare and cuttings should be 5 to 7 nodes long. Terminal cuttings produce the highest yields.
The cutting should be at an angle of 45º and should have between half and two thirds in the soil.

Fertilisation
60 kg nitrogen per hectare in natural region 1 and natural region 2. Apply in splits, half at planting and the other half a month later.
Also apply 300 kg per hectare of compound D.
They respond well to organic manuring.
Propagation
Usually propagated by vine cuttings, slips or roots.
Propagation material should be taken from a vigorously growing disease free stock.
Vine cuttings should be 30-40 cm.
Irrigation
When rainfall is less than 750 mm during the growing season or if the distribution is poor supplementary irrigation is required.
Overwatering must be avoided at the later stage of growth since it causes extensive vine growth at the expense of root development.
W**ding
W**d at 4 to 8 weeks after planting.
Herbicides like Naptalam, Alachlor and Sencor can be used.
Harvesting
Lifting can start about 120 days after planting though some cultivars take up to 240 days.
Roots are suitable for lifting when the cut surface dries to a white colou.r
The plough or potato harvester may be used to harvest but they cause damage so forks or spades are more advantageous.
After harvesting the roots are left on the land for 2-3 days to suberise.
Yield Potential
19t per hectare fresh yield.
High yielding varieties can reach up to 50t per hectare.
Storage
They do not store well after harvesting so it is advisable to dig up tubers when they are required.
After harvesting and curing the tubers can be placed in a basket and covered by grass or banana leaves and placed in a pit lined with grass.
Insect Pests
Sweet potato weevil
The weevil tunnels tubers resulting in secondary bacterial and fungal infection.
The adult female bores into the stem or root and deposits an egg in the hole.
After hatching the larva moves to a storage root which enters and feds upon the root tissue until it pupates.
Use healthy material and get rid of infected tubers for control.
Rotations can also control pests.
Carbaryl can also be used to control the pest.
Nematodes
They attack roots and they are controlled by using resistant varieties.
Sweet potato butterfly
Prevalent in dry season.
The caterpillar feeds on leaves leaving only skeletons of primary midribs.
Complete defoliation can occur
Diseases
Sweet Potato Mosaic Virus Disease
It causes vine clearing chlorosis, puckering, leaf strapping, leaf curl and stunting.
Control is by burning all affected plants
Scurf
Charcoal rot
Tuber rot

23/02/2017

Cassava
Scientific name: Manihot esculenta Crantz
Shona name: mufarinya, mujumbura
Ndebele: Umjumbula
Climatic requirements
Cassava is a drought tolerant starchy, root crop which yields well under marginal conditions.
It grows well in areas with an annual well distributed rainfall of 750 – 1000 mm but can tolerate low rainfall.
It prefers high temperatures of 25- 29˚C.
Soil requirements
Performs best in deep well drained, light textured soils of intermediate fertility.
Has high tolerance to acidity and optimum pH is between 4.5 and 6.5
Seed
It is propagated from stem cuttings
Seed rates
A plant population of 10 000 plants per hectare is economic and gives a good crop Stem cuttings for seed should be 25 – 30 cm long i.e. 5-7 nodes
Spacing and depth of planting
It is planted on ridges about 1m apart but may be planted on flat land in deep sand soils..
Spacing is 80- 100 cm within and between ridges.
2/3 of the cutting must be buried in the ground and the remaining part exposed above the ground.
Soil fertility and fertilizer management
Applied 300kg/h of Compound C (6:17:15).
Optimum N application is 60kg/ha .
Yield potential
High yielding improved varieties can yield up to 50t/ha (fresh weight)..
W**d management and Control
It requires 2 hand w**ding. First at 3-4weeks and then at 7-8 weeks after planting. Diseases
Cassava Mosaic Disease is a potential threat in areas with white flies and farmers should use healthy planting material or plant a range of cassava cultivars to mitigate against disease outbreaks.
Insect Pests
Cassava Green mite and Cassava Mealy Bug are potential threats to cassava. There is need to use tolerant varieties.
Termites are also a problem especially during dry season.
Harvesting and storage
Most varieties mature at 12 months after planting however some can be harvested as early as 9 months.
Harvested tubers are highly perishable and can not be store for more than 2 days in fresh form.

02/01/2017

Tomato
Production

General Recommendation:

SOIL PREPARATION AND REQUIREMENTS:
The soil should be dug to a sufficient depth, if necessary use of a ripper to loosen the soil first and then plough and disc. With animal draft power Soils, must be reasonably moist for a good depth to be achieved. Tomato can give good results when grown in well managed sandy loams and heavy clay loams from a hard pan and a deep well drained soil. A soil with an effective rooting depth of about 60 cm is highly recommended as tomato plants tend to have deep roots.

IRRIGATION:
The availability of water is crucial for successful tomato production. Irrigation may also be used to cool plants during periods of higher temperature. Tomatoes require a regular irrigation as shortages of water to the plant can be detrimental during fruit development. Shortage and then excessive irrigation at this stage of fruit development can also cause fruits to crack from the bell button. Apply 10-15 mm per week for the first third to half of growing season and thereafter 25 mm until finish.

PLANTING TIMES:
Tomatoes are a summer crop but can be grown throughout the year in Green houses during winter periods. Hot, dry winds can cause excessive flower drop while continuous moist, rainy weather conditions result in the occurrence and spread of foliar diseases, hence the good performance in dry areas under irrigation.
It is recommended to transplant seedlings, that are well hardened and are prepared to stand the harsh environmental conditions in the fields. The soil should be pre-Irrigated up to field capacity before transplanting and Irrigated again as soon as possible after transplanting with a 15-mm irrigation cycle. Do not plant seedlings in hot soil it will just burn them.

W**D CONTROL:
Mechanical w**d control should be very shallow and not close to the plant, as this will prevent damage to the plant. Hand- hoeing needs to be done very carefully especially with tomato production.

Fertilizers Recommendation

Basal:
Use Vegetable Blend or Compound C at 600-800kg/ha incorporates before planting. (Tomatoes is a heavy feeder of plant nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium)
It also responds well to organic manure such as compost or well decomposed cattle and chicken manure. The manure also helps improve the soil structure and its water holding capacity as well as its drainage.

NB: It is highly recommended that Soil test be done as the amounts of fertilizers to be applied is greatly influenced by the fertility status of the soil.

Top dressing

Week 1 SEVEN (7) DAYS after Transplanting Planting to first flower:

MAP TECH 50 kg/ha (Stimulates rapid growth of plant, roots, early flowering and fruit set)

Week 2:

MOP 50 kg/ha (improves plants ability to absorb phosphorous and other micro nutrients)

Week 3:

AN 50kg and Calcium Nitrate 25kg/ha
(AN source of nitrogen promotes rapid plant growth, better flower and fruit set as Calcium control of tomato BLOSSOM END ROT)

Week 4:

Potassium Nitrate 50 kg and Calcium Nitrate 25kg/ha (tomato requires high level of potassium adequate levels of potassium results in improved colour, taste, firmness)

Week 5:

Potassium Nitrate 50 kg and Calcium Nitrate 25 kg/ha


ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING (IMPOTANT)

Tomatoes also require micronutrients for growth and development. Deficiencies of these can also cause deformed fruit, fruit cracking, malformation and uneven ripening. These micronutrients are found in the below mentioned products.
Please note that these micronutrients cannot substitute your normal crop fertigation program

Omni boost at 4 kg/ha (in a case where one is using a tractor mounted boom)
Kelp –p- max at 4 litres /ha (in a case where one is using a tractor mounted boom)
Omni boost at 150 g / 16 litres of water (using a knapsack)
Kelp-p-max at 150 g / 16 litres of water (using a knapsack) these two products are mixed together on your first application on the second application USE Omni boost only as prescribed above in all cases whether by a boom spray on knapsack.
Product needs to be used when the plants are not stressed and when day temperatures are cool i.e. Early morning or late noon. (Repeat fortnightly)

Pests Control:
Nematodes:
Tomato is attacked by nematodes causing the roots to develop galls and reduce the size of the root and its efficiency. Plants stunt, reduction of fruit set, yield and quality will be compromised. Plants can also drought symptoms and wilt or even die even when moisture is adequate.
Control: Practise crop rotation
Nemacur 10G prior to transplanting incorporate granules into planting station @ 2g/hole or
Fernamiphos 1.8 litres /200 l drench using a 30 cup at the base of every plants soon after transplanting.
Cutworm:
Cutworms are night feeder that’s when they cut off stems of young plants at or near ground level.
Karate or Fenvalerate at 100ml/100l water (Drench using 30 cup at the base of transplanted seedling soon after setting in irrigation)
Aphids and Hooper’s
Dimethoate 40 EC at 80ml / 100l water (Full cover spray)
Malathion 50 EC 30g/16 lt (Full Cover Spray)
Whitefly:
Imdachlopride at 50ml/100 l water (Full Cover Spray)
Semilooper:
Thionex at 60 ml/100l water (Full Cover Spray)
Methamidophos at 60ml/100l water
Carbaryl WP 85 at 150 – 200 g/100 l water

Leaf miner:
Dynamec at 60ml /100l water (Full Cover Spray)

Red spider:
Amitraz at 60ml/100 l water (Full Cover Spray)
Abamectin at 60ml/100 l water (Full Cover Spray)

Diseases Control:

Powdery Mildew:
Wet table Sulphur at 200g/100l water
Benomil at 60ml/100 l water

Early Blight:
Bravo at 60ml/100ml water
Copper Oxychloride at 100g/100 l water and whenever it rains alternate with Dithane M45

Late Blight:
Alternate Diathane M45 and Copper Oxychloride at 100g/100 l water

Damping Off:

Use Seed that has been treated with a seed protector i.e.
Apron Star or Gaucho at 10g/4kg Seed (most seeds are treated by seed houses)

Bacteria Canker:
Copper Oxychloride at 300g/100 l water

Bacterial Wilt:
Drenching Copper Oxychloride can only reduce the spread of the disease

Fusarium Wilt:
This disease cannot be controlled by any Chemical except planting varieties that are resistant.

15/05/2016

Okra
(Abelmoschus esculentus)
Varieties
There is only one improved variety that is available on the local market and this is the American variety Clemson Spineless.
Uses
• The cooked pods are used as relish and are consumed with the staple sadza.
• The seeds have a high oil content that can be extracted for household and industrial uses.
Climate
• It is best grown in hot areas or during summer either as a rain-fed crop or under irrigation.
Soils
• It can be produced on well drained sandy loam soils with an optimum pH range of 6-6.8 (CaCl2).
Fertilizers
Basal fertiliser:
• Apply 450-750 kg/ha Compound C or Compound D per planting station. Cover the fertiliser with a bit of soil before placing the seed and covering it..
Top dressing
• Apply 290 kg/ha ammonium nitrate split 2-3 times starting 3 weeks after seed emergence and at three week intervals thereafter.
Spacing
• Inter row spacing of 60-90 cm and in row spacing of 20-30 cm depending on the size of the variety being grown.
Time of Planting
• In the highveld plant from August to December under irrigation. December to April during the rainy season.
• In the lowveld planting all year round is possible where irrigation is available.
Crop Establishment
• 8-10 kg of seed will be enough to plant a hectare.
• Direct seeding is the most common method.
• Raising seedlings in the nursery as transplants in seedling trays is another possible method.
• Pre-soaking seeds in water a day before planting increases the germination percentage.
Harvesting
• Harvest the young pods 5 to 10 days after flowering while the pods are still tender and not fibrous.
• Harvesting can continue once per week for more than two months.
• Yields of up to 2-3 t/ha are obtainable.
Diseases
Powdery mildew
• This disease is common in okra especially when the plants are fully mature.
• The symptoms are white powder on the leaves and stems.
• It is controlled by the fungicides Dithane M45 at a rate of 20 g/10 litres of water.
Cercospora leaf spot
• This is observed as brown spots on the leaves with the middle part of the spot being white.
• It is controlled by spraying with Dithane M45 at a rate of 20g/10 litres of water.
Pests
Aphids
• The symptoms are curled leaves and growing tips resulting in re****ed growth.
• They are controlled using Dimethoate 40 EC at a rate of 10 ml/10 litres of water, or Malathion 25 WP at a rate of 20 g/10 litres of water.
Root-Knot Nematodes
• They infect the roots of the plant affecting movement of water and minerals within the plant.
• Symptoms are stunted growth and swollen galls on the roots.
• Control is best by observing crop rotations at 4 year intervals excluding other nematode sensitive crops

28/08/2015

SOME OF ZIMBABWEAN IRISH POTATO VARIETIES

Potato varieties can be grouped according to their use thus processing or table potato. Processing potatoes are preferred to have high dry matter content and yellowish flesh. Currently Pimpernel is the major processing variety. Garnet, a recent release, is meant to complement Pimpernel in the processing industry. The other varieties can also be used in the processing industry when Pimpernel is in short supply.

Potato varieties can also be grouped according to their maturity periods, thus early varieties or late maturing varieties. BP1 is one of the early maturing varieties taking 14-15 weeks to mature and the rest of the varieties are late maturing (17-19 weeks).

NB. There are also other varieties which are not listed below.

a) Montclare

It is a late maturing variety, 17-19 weeks, with high resistance to late blight. Tubers are white skinned and white fleshed and have an oval to pear shape. Under favourable conditions the varieties forms extra large tubers. It is an uneven sprouter. It has abundant purple flowers that rarely give berries.

Montclare yields well at all plantings. The variety shows resistance to late blight but is susceptible to viral diseases.

b) BP1

A medium to early maturing variety and it takes taking 14-15 weeks to mature. It is the earliest maturing commercial variety available on the market. Haulms are upright and produce dense foliage. It produces abundant blue heliotrope flowers and under favourable conditions gives a few berries. Tubers are white skinned and fleshed, oval, smooth with shallow eyes and are of excellent quality. It has medium sprouting habit.

It is a good yielder, as either summer or winter crop in all regions of the country. Performed exceptionally well in the 1991/92-drought period and is moderately resistant to late blight.

c) Pimpernel

Late maturing variety 17-19 weeks. Haulms are upright with a red tint. It rarely flowers, when it does, it gives a few purple flowers, and under favourable conditions a few berries. Pimpernel has red skin and yellow-fleshed tubers. Tubers are oval, small to medium with deep eyes. Has mild resistance to late blight and is fairly tolerant to viral diseases.

Pimpernel is not a very high yielder, but it has good processing qualities. The variety is normally grown under contract with processing companies.

d) Amethyst

Presently, it is the most widely grown potato variety in the country. It is a late maturing potato variety. Amethyst has upright haulms with a dense canopy. Leaves are numerous, small and dark green colour. It has got abundant purple flowers and under favourable conditions, it gives a lot of berries. It has acceptable resistance to late blight. Tubers are white skinned and white fleshed, flat oval with shallow eyes and ruset skin. Sprouting is quick.

Amethyst is a consistent high yielder in both summer and irrigated plantings. The variety performs well in all regions.

e) Garnet

It is a late maturing variety, 17-19 weeks. It has thin tall haulms with narrow leaves and white flowers. Tubers are round and medium sized. The variety is white skinned and yellow fleshed. It has high resistance to late blight. Garnet combines high yield and good crisping qualities

Garnet is a good yielder recommended for production under both rain fed and irrigated plantings.

f) Jasper

The variety was released in 1993. It is late maturing variety with vigorous growth and upright haulms. It has reasonable level of resistance to late blight. It is a very high yielder especially as irrigated winter or spring crop. Tubers are white skinned and white fleshed, round oval with shallow eyes. The skin is slightly rough but the tubers are good looking. Sprouting is medium. It is a fairly firm potato.

28/08/2015

IRISH POTATO

1.1 CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS

The potato is a cool climate crop that performs fairly well under warm day temperatures with cool nights. The optimum temperature range is from 16 to 20oC. Temperatures above 32oC result in poor tuber initiation. Planting when temperatures are high results in delayed tuber initiation. The potato plant is very sensitive to frost. It is therefore important to take protective measures against frost or to avoid cropping during the frost period. The risk of frost damage is high around June and July in most parts of the country. A minimum of 400mm of well-distributed water is required to grow the crop to maturity. Potatoes are very sensitive to water stress and this might result in mishapened tubers and very low yields.

1.2 SOIL REQUIREMENTS

Although potatoes are shallow rooted, a soil depth of at least 600 mm is preferable. Potatoes do very well in medium textured loamy soils with high organic matter levels. The crop can perform fairly well in most soil types provided there is good fertilisation, drainage/water retention and aeration. The potato tolerates pH range of 4.2- 5.8 on a CaCl2 scale but the optimum pH ranges from 5.0 - 5.5. If the soil is to be limed, this should be done a season before the crop is planted because high pH promotes the development of Common Scab. On soils with very high pH use of acidifying fertilizers is beneficial.

1.3 LAND PREPARATION

Large clods should be destroyed to create a fine tilth as clods and stones reduce root-soil contact and cause deformation of the growing tubers. In the end, the soil should be fine, loose and without compact layers that impede root pe*******on. In cases where the crop is being planted on virgin soil or green-manure lands, the land should be prepared at least several months in advance, preferably while moisture is still available to allow for the decomposition of organic matter. An application of 100 kg/ha Ammonium nitrate will assist the breakdown of organic matter. In areas where eelworms are suspected, the soil should be fumigated or use any other nematicide available.

26/08/2015

How to calculate Plant Population per hectare

1. The Plant population of any field is given by multiplying the between plants spacing with the spacing between the rows.
2. The total area of a hectare is 10000 square metres.
3. Divide 10000 by the result of multiplying the between plant spacing and the between rows spacing as given in as shown below

Plant population =

10 000
_____________________
between plants spacing (m)x between rows spacing row (m)

Example:
If the between plant spacing of potatoes is 30cm and between row spacing is 90cm what is the plant population per hectare?

1. First convert cm to m
30cm =0.3m, 90cm =0.9
2. Multiply between plants spacing and the between rows spacing
0.3m x 0.9m = 0.27 sqm
3. Divide area of 1 hectare by 0.27sq m
10000 sq m / 0.27 sq m = 37037
4. Therefore the Plant population of potatoes per ha is 37037

Go on and Calculate your plant population and make the right decisions in farming.