ASPARAGUS PLANTING GUIDE

Sandy loam or clay loam soil is best suited in planting asparagus. Select a field with soil rich in organic matter. It has beneficial effect to the plants when the soil is fertile. Considering that asparagus can occupy the field much longer as long as the field is not soil deficient. Initial steps should be taken to put the soil in uniform shape and better soil type. A good soil cultivation facilitate proper distribution of water to the field and its absorption that makes the soil soft, pliable, preferable and in good tilt.

Avoid using top soil that is lack of deepness with elevated water table that affects the development of roots of the plants with better firm stand.

Cultivate the land thoroughly. A thorough plowing and harrowing in 3 repetitions during the cultivation period will give even distribution of soil in the field. Soil elevation in some portion of the land is corrected. A plain surface has greater advantage in irrigating the land. Equal distribution of water can be attained.

Make the planting area free from unnecessary debris and emerging weeds. See to it that the soil is always in good tilt, smooth and finely cultivated. Remove all the weeds that are nuisance to the plants. The soil should have a pH level between 6 .0 to 7.0. If the soil analysis showed deficiency with pH level less than 6.0 will mean that it is acidic and need to be fertilized thoroughly to restore its fertility. Any deficiency can affect the growth of the plants thereby reducing the opportunity to have higher yield.

Lime is necessary to restore the pH level in normal condition. It should be done openly until the deficiency is corrected. Even if asparagus highly tolerate salt, it is best if the percentage of salt concentration in the soil is much lesser.

Construct drainage canal in between the rows to have the field ready outlet in case of water-logging.

It is best suited in temperate climate. Consistent wet weather condition is not appropriate during planting. It enhances the development of soil-borne disease and favorite haven for harmful insects.

Establish nursery for the seedling for transplanting to the field. Another option is direct seeding but healthy plants can’t be determine and most seeds might not germinate properly those reducing the plant populations in the land.

Using seedling is most appropriate to prepare healthy and robust plants. Fertilize the seedlings in the nursery to keep them in good shape and reduce mortality rate. 

Another method of planting is by using one-year old crowns directly planted to the field only if enough crowns can be procured to support the entire field.

Best planting period is 4^th quarter of the year to first quarter of succeeding year. Weather condition is not too wet and too dry for the seedlings to survive during transporting. If 1 year old crown are used, it should be placed in a furrow with fine soil around it.

A raised bed for the plants is recommended to avoid too much concentration of water in the field. Water will confine in the lower portion of the raised beds. The raised beds should have width measurements of 40 to 72 inches as recommended. 

The in- row spacing in raised beds should be 6 to 12 inches.   Asparagus are broadly adaptable to changes in weather condition. Accommodate population of 50,100 young plants or more in 1 hectare area.

Don’t over-water the plants to prevent soil-borne disease to take over the field. Extra care in irrigating the land should be correctly observed. Procure drains and water pump. Make it ready during the time of rainy days or to be used to remove accumulated concentration of water in the field during irrigation.

During hot and dry weather, water the plants to replace the moisture lost in evaporation. This is also to remove the accumulation of salts in the soil that can affect the growing plants. Frequent irrigation is necessary to maximize the development of fern during hot weather condition especially when the fern is in maximum size.

Stop irrigation during wet season. Moisture level in the soil is enough for its growth. After the first harvest, water the field as the fern growth will increase to be more productive. Avoid cutting back the water distribution abruptly. It causes the reduction of the spear yield and the size of the plants during the next harvest. Soil moisture should be maintained before harvest. After enough harvest is done, water requirements to the field will slowly reduce.

Weeding is necessary to protect the plants during period of growth. Weed prevention is costly if not taken seriously. The plants will be in constant threat. Remove the weeds by cultivating the raised beds. This is to allow the furrows and rows of plants weeds-free. In choosing a field for planting, it is most recommended to look an area that is easy to handle to remove weed concentration. Constant cultivation of the field will ensure that the pre-emergence of weeds are controlled.

Before the schedule planting, irrigate the entire field to allow the weeds to germinate. After its germination, start the final cultivation. Apply post-emergence herbicide to the soil then starts the transplanting. Another weeds control can be done before the start of first harvest. Apply pre-emergence herbicide during the cutting period. The effect of the herbicide is effective by watering the entire field.

Sort out a way to protect the growing spears against the wind. If affects its spear growth as it bends nearer to the ground. Wind barriers made of polyethylene plastic sheets will do. Tie to wood and bamboo poles. Wind can dry-out the cells on the side of the spear thereby losing its marketable appearance.

The use of herbicides and fungicides should be done based on manufacturer’s direction and rate of proper application to be effective. Use insecticides to eradicate army worms, aphids, cutworms and others. Use fungicides to prevent the common disease to harm the plants like fusarium wilt and root rot. Late prevention will cause the reduction of the size of the spear and low-yielding ability.

The effect of the disease to the plants is minimized by selecting good and tolerant variety of asparagus. The seeds planted in the nursery are pure, clean and healthy. That one year crowns were raised in a field free from soil-borne diseases. That good irrigation practice is applied.

An infected soil has damaging effect to young growing plants. It causes stunted growth and easily withered. The plants are unhealthy without any chance to have better yield. Avoid excessive harvesting of matured asparagus in order to prevent weakening the stand of the crown easy for the disease to control.

Most of the diseases in the field are the result of excessive irrigation, repeated heavy rainfall and poor drainage system. Accumulated water in the furrow below the raised beds will harbor many kinds of diseases. Proper and effective control of the soil-borne diseases can be done by good sanitation. 

Remove all infected plants from the field and destroy or burn them. There should be wide row spacing easy for mobility and cultivation. There should be a good irrigation system that can remove excess water in the field. One good remedy is to construct small internal drainage canals in between the rows of plant as an outlet for water-logging.

Once the planting field of asparagus is established, a yearly application of phosphorus and potassium is recommended. Based on soil analysis, effective application of right fertilizer can be done better. Application of fertilizer will depend on soil condition and the physical growth of the plants. If the plants are unhealthy, application of fertilizer is mostly needed.

Broadcast foliar fertilizer to the plants based on the established rate of application. Application of complete fertilizer (14-14-14) NPK has wider benefits to have robust and healthy plants. Whatever deficiency the soil has should be restored by the application of proper fertilization activity during the early growing period of asparagus. Any visible sign of soil deficiency should be attended to. 

The yield and size of the spear will show how fertile is the soil. Consult an expert agriculturist in your area that can give additional knowledge to restore soil deficiency accordingly and effectively.

Chop matured ferns in the field and placed in the bed in bunches for transport to designated shade or storage area. Cut the spears in an angle near the surface of the soil. Do the cutting early in the morning to avoid stress of the cut spears especially in hot weather. Cut the spears 10 inches long. This will subject to another cut of 9 inches when packed.

Use cutting knife intended for asparagus harvesting. Cutting is done manually. Harvest the spears early in the season every 3 days. Cutting during warm weather will do (not hot) and done daily after the initial cutting. Any deformed spears in unmarketable size should be removed to allow regrowth for marketable grade.

Don’t harvest the spears in the bed for too long. It should be done fast to avoid feathering. It will reduce carbohydrates contents in the crown.

Sort out all the hauled spears in the shade.  Conduct   grading, trimming, cooling and then packing ready for transport to market. Cool the harvested spears immediately after the initial and succeeding harvest to avoid toughening. Any delay will result to soft rot on the tip of the spear and started to decay.

Avoid placing the spears in high temperature area in order to preserve its natural sugar, freshness, flavor and stored vitamins. Extra care should be observed during harvesting to avoid error in cutting or unintentional trampling of plants.

DRACAENA PRODUCTION GUIDE

        

It is shrubby, herbaceous and evergreen plant. It grows 2 meters tall. As they grow, they will start forming a clump where the suckers are produced. Its stem is slender. It has strap-shaped sheathed leaves. They are flexible arranged in spiral.

The taller the plant the chance of bending is possible. They will bend if there is strong wind. It can be affected also during heavy rainfall because of top heavy foliage unless there is support that can hold them. If there is none, they can easily topple down.

It is best grown in pottery or clay pot. It has been used as ornamental plants. It can be propagated by cutting, the easiest way to raise them. The shoot tip or top cutting will root fast in the planting medium. In 4 weeks’ time there will be a solid foundation of its rooting system. Place in tap water, the tip cutting of the shoots will start to grow in 12 days. The cuttings should be in diagnosed cuts below the node of the plants. See to it that it is healthy, clean and disease-free.

Place layer of wax at the top of the stump were the cuttings was taken for purpose of preventing the entry of water and micro-organisms that will cause disease to the plant.

The dormant buds along the stem will sprout slowly. New shoots will form in a month. After 6 months it can be harvested as shoot tips cuttings. This will be subject to further propagation where the new sets of dormant buds will start to grow.

During your potting, place 3 plants in the same planting medium. It grows denser or thicker after several months after potting. In the pot, it should contain equal measures of sawdust and burst rice hull. Sand and coconut coir dust can also be used. Pure soil has limited use. It should be mix in the same quality with coconut choir dust.

The leaves of the ornamental plant are very sensitive to bright, indirect light. Using fine-mesh net is helpful to reduce heavy light penetration. It can also prevent direct exposure to sunlight. Too much heat will cause leaf burns. The leaves will become yellowish and brownish. The cuttings should be rooted in a spade away light exposure. The new transplanted rooting cutting will remain in the shade more or less 7 days before they are slowly exposed to bright light.

During dry months or hot days, water the rooted cuttings regularly once daily. Don’t use the heavy chlorinated water or salty water as it affects its growth and the color of the leaves.

Fertilize the plants one week after transplanting to clay pot. Use 1 tablespoon complete fertilizer (14-14-14) in every 1 gallon of water. Do it 3 times every month. Additionally, fertilize it with 1 tablespoon urea (46-0-0) every 1 gallon of water once in a month. You also have to use complete controlled release fertilizer with the rate of ½ teaspoon per pot for height of 6-inch plants only 1 every 3 months. You can increase the frequency according to the height and the size of the plants in the pot.

In case of insect infestation, spray the plant systemic insecticide or meticide and spray it to the affected plants. Most infestation is common during dry season. To give complete protection, application of insecticide is necessary to ensure the plant will grow insect-free. Additionally, by washing it regularly, it helps prevent the pests to live in the leaves of the plants.

Always keep the surroundings of the placed cuttings clean free from weeds and other damaging grasses. 

Apply fungicides if you find the presence of fungus in the soil. The disease mostly appeared during wet days. It is important not to expose them heavily in the rain as root rot and stem rot are common causes for the plants to die. If there is weak or unhealthy plants in the pot, reduce its population and remove them. It will only affect the healthy one if allowed to remain in the pot.

If all this given procedures is honestly followed you can have a nursery of good and healthy ornamental most sought by buyers for their landscaping needs and indoor placements.

BANGUS PRODUCTION GUIDE

Bangus production is one of the many profitable business anyone can try. It is easy if you have initial knowledge and knew the trade how to raise them. For those who has not an idea yet, seek professional assistance from producers of bangus in your area so that you can be given enlightenment how to start.

You need earthen pond of 1 hectare in size. Maintain the deepness of the water to one meter. The water should be free from floating debris. It should be clean and fresh. It should not be clouded by any impurities to increase the oxygen content in the water. Fingerlings cannot survive for long if lacking the normal distribution of oxygen in the pond.

The pond should have inlet and outlet. The purpose is to remove the dirty water and replace them if needed. A pond near the river is the best place in raising bangus. You don’t have to worry about the reduction of water level in the pond because you are ready to have good source of water to be taken if the need arises. 

Considering that the level of pond is much higher than the water level in the river, you need portable generator as part of your irrigation system to haul the water up to the pond. Construct 1,000 square meters breeding pond and 1,000 square meters rearing pond to have continues supply of fingerlings. You can’t rely on buying fingerlings from nurseries at all times as it entails additional cost in your part. An estimated 15,500 fingerlings is needed to be stock in the pond.

Procure breeder fish from known hatchery. Select a pair of breeder ready for mating. You need 60 breeders, 25 males and 25 females to be able to have enough fingerlings to supply your pond if you intend to increase another hectare (additional) aside from the initial one hectare you will establish.

It is most recommended that your pond has partition, an earthen dike at the center. It should be solid and firm to serve as walkway easy for the broadcasting of feeds considering that  one hectare lot is quite large to manage. Another economical option is to place bamboo poles as catways (walkways) in the ponds erected in strategic location you believed the best area to be placed.

If the mating pairs started to breed, collect the eggs daily and transfer it to the 1,000 square meters rearing pond properly covered by fish net to prevent all kinds of predators especially birds to consume the fingerlings.

Manage your 1 hectare pond properly that contains the initial stocking of 15,500 fish for rearing. Apply better cultural method to ensure high survival rate of the fingerlings. Install paddle wheels in the pond to aerate the water for proper distribution of oxygen. Feed the fingerlings regularly using commercial fish feeds. As an experienced grower, initiate what particular preventive measures are needed to protect fingerlings from disease.

Close supervision is necessary to be ready to handle any sign of problem that may occur during the growing period of the fish. As long as you follow the right procedures of raising the fish, you can harvest in 4-5 months (normal harvest). If you intend to make the fish bigger for better competitive price in the wet market, 7 months is the best. The normal costs involved in raising a 1 hectare  pond of bangus covers the procurement of fingerlings, commercial feeds, electricity for operational use, paddle wheels, irrigation supports, labor of construction and maintenance cost until harvest time.

Your continued learning of the mechanics and methods of raising them will be your guide and insurance that the next season to raise bangus will be perfected to earn more. Don’t discourage of any failure. Business is full of success and error. It is a fact that you have to accept. Don’t give up easily instead fight for your fears and doubts. Giving up will only lose you more financially and emotionally.

CATTLE RAISING GUIDE

Beef is one of the protein we eat to give the body the necessary support to stay healthy. Although meat consumption is urgently needed by us but it has limitation based the frequency only enough to keep the system going. There are many beef meat products in the market. Too much consumption will elevate the dangerous cholesterol level.

A good beef meat has more lean than fat meat. One problem faced by cattle raisers in a big scale operation is the supply of feeds. For small cattle raisers, they can’t afford to depend on commercial feeds. What they did is to improve pastures in their lands to have a healthy grasses and legumes as the source of forage they can afford. For fattening purpose, the cattle needs enough nutrients to fatten. A balance diet is important to be able for the cattle to gain weight.

As small scale raisers, what you can do to make your cattle competitive to market.

-Look for an ideal location where to raise your cattle. There should be favorable climate. The location should have sufficient source of cheap feeds. The area should not be too far from the market in order to minimize cost in transporting cattle to slaughter house.

-Unfavorable climatic condition will result to heat stress and it will affect their feed intake that will affect the fattening operation as you can’t reach the desired weight of the cattle to be profitable. Weight loss will affect the quality of the meat.

-A cattle placed in cool environment will increase their food consumption during the day. It is favorable for the raisers to have their cattle to gain weight.

-Even small investor in cattle rising needs sufficient capital for additional commercial feeds aside from the regular intake of grasses and legumes.

-The raiser should have full knowledge on how to effectively raise cattle. He should have enough understanding on how to do the proper nutrition, control of disease, select the right species of cattle, enough feeding ground and alternative feed processing.

-The cattle raisers should have establish marketing outlets to them protect against price fluctuation and manipulation that will be a disaster to cattle raisers.

-Lean meats demands high price in the market. Good fattening process is important to maintain profitability. Look for dealers of cattle fattener that can guarantee you with lower price especially if you are regular buyers to them.

-In selecting cattle variety, look for healthy cattle to serves as your stockings that has good body formation, healthy and has enough vigor. Never buy sickly stocks as it is costly for you to procure enough feeds for his recovery.

-See to it that cattle should be given commercial feeds that contain vitamins and minerals, protein and energy booster. This is to produce more meat, less bones and give less fat content. A low quality meat from the cattle that are bony, narrow body frame and thick skin will not demand better price in the market.

-To give you enough time to fatten the stocks, buy yearling above 2 years to produce better, meaty and leaner quality of meat. If you thoroughly know how to fatten cattle, you will shorten your fattening activity, cutting your expenses in raising them.

-Prepare dry area where the cattle can be down and take rest for a while.

-Be sure to give the cattle with fresher feed in clean bunkhouse. Feeds cattle regularly. Clean water should be available.

-Regulate the contents of the bunk only up to their desired appetite. Excess feed in the feeding trough will become stale wasting portion of the costly feeds instead of saving it.

-As the cattle has delicate digestive system. Make a gradual rotation of feeds from roughage to concentrate feeds.

-Check the condition of the cattle. If there is visible sign of parasite infestation then use de-worming tablet for the animal to maintain its normal body weight. Too much infestation in the intestines will reduce their weight losing chances to fatten them quick.

-Maintain better feedlot condition. It should be clean to prevent the outbreak of diseases and insect habitation in the area. Better sanitation programs and disinfection process will reduce the carrier of the disease to maintain their presence in the feeding ground.

-Place your feeding trough in higher ground. It should have better waste disposal facilities to maintain cleanliness around the area. There should have better drainage system to remove obstruction of waste materials from the feeding area.

The success of the fattening process to have meatier, juicy and leaner meat will depend on your full knowledge on how to correctly handle them. Increasing weight gain will increase your profitability in selling them to market.