9

Technology & Livelihood education

Agricultural Crop Production

Learner’s Material
Lesson UNDERTAKE NURSERY WORK
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Introduction

After learning the tools, materials and equipment used in nursery

work, it is necessary that you‘ll be oriented on how different activities in the
nursery is done. Practices follow proper guidelines based on authority
requirements and workplace procedures. Interpersonal relationships
between and among co-workers and possible customers are also assessed in
this lesson to make the venture not only a success but socially stimulating
as well.

Assessment criteria:

1. Instructions and directions in workplace procedures are clearly

followed.
2. Nursery work is appropriately and environmentally followed based on
guidelines.
3. Appropriate manner of interacting with customers and other staff is
observed.

What to know:

Rice Corn/Maize Cassava, Camote cuttings and taro

1. What are the two types of plant propagation?___________________

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2. What is the difference between sexual and asexual propagation?

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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 3. If you are to choose between the two methods, which one is best and
why?__________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

COMMON NURSERY WORK

Establishing a nursery needs a considerable amount of time and

planning. An ideal plant nursery does not only supply the best planting
materials that you need but can be a source of livelihood as well. In order to
attain this, the project must be well planned from site selection, water
supply, soil/media preparation, labor and other factors. These can influence
the effort that will be required in maintaining the project.

A. Selecting the ideal site

The site of the nursery is important to ensure efficient production of good

quality planting materials and proper nursery management. The factors to be
considered in choosing the ideal site are:
1. An adequate source of water supply – The site should be near a
natural source of water (river, spring) or a deep well can be
constructed to assure adequate water supply will be available year
round
2. Soil – A good source of sandy loam or loamy soil should be as close
as possible to the site. This is important especially if a large number of
potted seedlings will be produced. Farm manures, fully decomposed
rice hull are good materials that will be needed in case clayey soils are
predominant in the area.
3. Accessibility – The site must be close or near a main road to minimize
transportation cost. It must also be near or close to sources of
production inputs (agricultural and farm supply stores).
4. Topography – Ideally the site should be relatively flat with a 1-2%
slope. The gradual slope prevents waterlogging.
5. Availability of additional labor- There will be instances when additional
manpower is needed, thus additional labor is a necessity.

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 6. Ownership of the farm or site – In case the area/site will be rented,
terms and conditions should be clear before putting up the nursery.
7. Location – The site must be away from strong winds. Windbreaks are
necessary in case strong winds occur regularly

PROPER USE OF NURSERY TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

For the safe use of the tools and equipment the following is required;

o Conduct checks on all tools and equipment before using them

to identify unsatisfactory or faulty items.
o Always use sharp tools with caution and concentration to avoid
cuts to hands and fingers. Secateurs, scissors and knives may
be used for the propagation and maintenance of plants.

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 o Use correct lifting methods when you are lifting plants, tools
and equipment. Team lifts anything that is too heavy for one
person.
o Do not overload wheelbarrows and trolleys with soil or plants.

o Wear protective gloves when sorting and neatly stacking pots,

pot trays and propagation trays as they tend to attract spiders
and other insects.
o Always return tools and equipment to the designated safe
storage areas after use. Keep walkways or working areas
uncluttered by equipment when temporarily not in use.
o Be aware of vehicle and trailer movement at all times in and
around the nursery areas.

NURSERY HYGIENE

Keeping the nursery clean and tidy is important not only for its
appearance and organization but also helps to reduce the emergence of
weds, infection, fungus and pests.

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Procedure and practice

Sorting, weeding and pruning of potted and newly propagated

seedlings should be done regularly. This is done in order to avoid nursery
pests and diseases. These activities may prevent spread of diseases and
pests once early emergence is detected.

Here are suggested ways:

At the end of each week activity:

 wash down working benches

 clear dead plants away quickly (burned or buried into the soil
 wash out kidney trays and seed soaking containers after us.
 wash used tools including soiled trays
 remove and pack unused moss, coir dust and soil

At the end of the day:

 clean up pots and trays under tables

 remove unused sterilized soil from potting table
 put things away in their storage places
 remove rubbish
 store used moss, compost, coir dust and soil in closed bags

Always:

 wash used pots and trays and tools, equipment in diluted

bleach, vinegar or detergent
 keep cigarettes and food away from production areas
 separate recycling
 compost left over foods and seed flesh into the worm farm or
composting bin
 compost, water soak and rot seedlings or burn infected plant
parts quickly

QUALITY CONTROL

Quality control embraces every detail of nursery operation from

simplest area lay-out to most complicated management practices.
Standards for every component should be set and made clear to all nursery
workers for them to perform to the highest level of standards. In doing so, it
is not far that plants grown in the nursery are of high quality and
customers‘ satisfaction is guaranteed.

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CARE OF SEEDLINGS AND GROWING PLANTS

Water and Irrigation

The regular supply of clean water is essential to plant growth. Plants

are made out of more than 90% in water. When grown in containers,
nursery plants have only a limited volume of substrate and do not have the
ability like mature plants to search for water from below the soil surface.
The amount of water seedlings require depends upon the following:

a. Seedling age. More water is required after germination when the

seedling is young and at pricking out but this requirement reduces as
the seedling grows in age. The amount of water should be reduced four
weeks before the seedlings are planted out. At that stage, the soil can
be left to dry out completely and the plants to wilt for the day. The
process should be repeated several times.

b. Amount of sunlight. If the area is exposed to sun, more water is

needed and vice versa. However, do not keep the area shady for too
long to reduce water use.

c. Soil type. A sandy soil losses water faster than a soil with high clay
content hence sandy soil needs more frequent watering. However a
clayey soil becomes hard and cracks when it dries out.

The substrate should be watered thoroughly so the water should be

directed to the soil and not the leaves except to dust the soil lightly. A
watering can or hosepipe with a nozzle should be used to ensure uniform
distribution of water and one should water the whole bed and not just the
plants in the centre of the bed. Low water pressure is good but one should
ensure that water gets to the bottom of the container to avoid a dry and
hard bottom, which will affect the growth of the roots as they get to the
bottom of the container.

Water should be clean to ensure seedling health so water from such

sources as kitchen waste should not be used. Too much water can damage
the plants just as much as not enough water because of water clogging
which hinders the roots to breath. Avoid direct use of hosepipes while
watering the seedlings as this may wash away the soil. Use a watering can
or an empty tin can with holes at the bottom.

The illustration below shows how watering is done using a simple tin
can with holes at the bottom.

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 This is used to reduce the power of water drops which causes soil
erosion. It helps distribute water evenly. As already mentioned watering in
principle should be done twice a day early in the morning and late in the
afternoon after 4.00 P.M. when the sun is not too hot. If this is not possible,
then water once a day in the evening.

During rainy season, watering may be done once or none at all.

Avoid under watering and over watering. Use adequate amount of water,
e.g. 20 liters for 1,000 seedlings

Weeding

Weeds are a threat to healthy seedlings‘ development. They compete

with seedlings for nutrients, water and light hence they must be eradicated
or controlled. With your hands or a dibble gently pull out unwanted growth
(rouging). This should be done whenever weeds are observed.
Remove all the weeds around the beds with a small fork or dibble and
don’t leave any rubbish around unless you are sure that this can be converted to
compost.
If your soil is full of weeds, it will rob your plants off of available
nitrogen. If this is a problem, you will need to add more nitrogen to the soil
when initially potting up in the form of worm castings, seaweed extract or
compost.

Adding more fertilizer

To determine when to add more fertilizer, use the date of potting up as

your starting date and add on 3 or 6 months (depending on your fertilizer
release time frame). If the plant is showing signs of low nitrogen then you
could do one of three things.

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  Make a shallow hole into the pot and add 4 to 5 granules of
slow released fertilizer. Example is Osmocote.
 Apply worm castings directly to the surface and water well.
 Apply seaweed water solution to the leaves (foliar spray) or soak
in seaweed solution once in every week until plants recover.

Deficiency symptoms:

 Trace or micro nutrients are necessary for healthy plant growth.

A plant will show symptoms of deficiency early on or during
vegetative stage. This should be remedied promptly to ensure
proper plant growth and development.

Hardening off/Hardening - Hardening is to expose the seedlings to harsh

conditions to make them strong so that they will be able to survive under
harsh climate in the field after planting out. It is also a gradual preparation
of seedlings for field conditions.

The process is done:

 When the seedlings grow and reach the planting size, the
shade should be removed to expose them more to
sunlight.
 Reduction in watering intensity (quantity) and frequency-
water. It is done twice a week and later once a week
 Before planting out, root pruning should be carried out
frequently or re-arrangement of pots to allow more
adoption to stress.
 Good preparation for out planting results in good field
survival. Therefore hardening off should be done 2 – 3
weeks before planting out time.

Postponing planting

If it‘s not possible to plant when the seedlings are ready for planting
out (reached right size for planting-1.5 ft) or the seedlings are not bought;
cut the tips of the plant to suppress further growth so that they will not be
overgrown during next season planting.

Root pruning

Root pruning is the cutting of roots to control root system

development beyond the container. Why root prune? When seedlings have
reached to a certain size, their roots become longer than the depth of the
pots. If the roots are left without pruning, they penetrate into the ground
and develop the root systems. Once the root system develops under the
ground, it is hard to move the pots, and if the roots are cut when the

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seedling is old, the seedlings will be weakened hence periodic root pruning
is required before the root system reaches into the ground. The period and
interval of pruning depends on different species and other conditions. Root
pruning should be done regularly preferably every 2 –3 weeks. Prune when
seedlings are the height of the span of your palm and when their roots have
started to penetrate into the under surface

Procedure:

 Water the seedlings properly before root pruning.

 Using a sharp knife or wire or scissors to cut the long roots
underneath the container. You can also uplift the containers
(wrenching) to cut overgrown roots.

Below is a root pruning using a pruning shears.

Water the seedlings well after root pruning. This helps the plant
withstand moisture stress.

o Note that to reduce root pruning, you can place the seedlings on a
bed of stones or on polythene sheet and this reduces root
development.
o If the seedlings are in a raised bed, prune the roots by using a
bolo, knife underneath the bed right after watering .

Seedling protection

Seedlings are delicate and susceptible to attack by various pests and

diseases as well as weather conditions. Such damages can seriously
weaken or kill the seedlings. It is important that the damages be dealt with

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immediately. Damage and disasters in the nursery may be categorized as
follows:

a. Weather conditions

This is damage caused by the adverse weather conditions. We can

either regulate watering or shading to comply with prevailing weather
conditions.

b. Human

This is the stealing and/or intentional damaging of seedlings by human

beings. Fencing and security are such options to overcome this.

c. Livestock and wild animals

Livestock and wild animals browsing or grazing on seedlings, fencing can

offset this. Rodents such as field mice/rates frequently cause serious damage to
seedlings in the nursery as well as in the field by eating them. To control these,
cleaning the nursery helps to reduce their population.

d. Insects Common insect pests in the nursery are:

1. Thrips (Stenchaetothrips biformis)- There is laceration of the tender

leaves and it the plant sap is sucked. Young seedlings show yellow
(or) silvery streaks on the leaves. Terminal rolling and drying of leaves
from tip to base and causes damage both in nursery and main field.

You can spray any insecticide available in the market in order to

control infestation.

2. Green leafhopper (Nephotettix virescens)- The symptom of damage is

yellowing of leaves from tip to downwards. Vector for the disease is
rice tungro virus and the plant is characterized by transitory yellowing.

To control its infestation, apply neem cake at recommended dosage

based product recommendation.

3. Rice case worm (Nymphula depunctalis)- The caterpillars feed on green

tissues of the leaves and leaves become whitish papery.

To control, spray monocrotophos .

4. Paddy stemborer (Scirpophaga incertulas)- It causes drying of the central

shoot known as “dead heart” and the panicle becomes dried known as
“white heads”.

To control, spray any of the following insecticides: quinalphos

25 EC,,phosphamidon 40SL and profenophos50EC.

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 5. Swarming caterpillar (Spodoptera mauritia)- The larvae cut the seedlings
in large scale. If severe infestation happens, cattle grazing appearance
will be seen in the rice field. They feed voraciously and transfer from
one field to the other.

They can be identified by the following:

o egg –laid in masses on leaves and covered with grey hairs.

o larva-caterpillar is cylindrical dark to pale green with lateral lines
along the body.
o pupa - Pupates in an earthen cocoon in soil
o adult - Moth is medium sized stoutly build. Dark brown with a
conspicuous triangular spot on fore wings.

To control: Drain the water and spray chlorpyriphos 20 EC 80ml

+ 20 liter of water.

Common diseases

Although there are various diseases which attack seedlings in the nursery,
damping off and wilt are described here since they are the most common fungal
diseases in the country.

Damping Off

This is a fungal disease caused by Pythium spp.,Rhizoctonia salani.

The severity of the attack usually increases with increase in soil moisture.
Damping off can occur before germination, after germination and during
pricking. The fungi attack the seedlings at soil level and causes rotting.

Conditions favorable for the spread of the disease are;

o high sowing density

o over watering
o using soil with partially decomposed material

Powdery mildew

First, small white powdery patches are formed on the leaf surface and
later the whole surface of the leaf is covered with white powdery mycelial
colonies. Damaged leaves gradually defoliate. This affects the growth of
young seedlings. Control-fallen diseases leaves should be buried in soil or
burned and the young seedlings sprayed with Benlate.

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 Wilting

This is a dying bark of the main shoot of a seedling. It is mainly caused

by overcrowding. Separating the seedlings or immediate planting out can
help control it.

Control measures: Practice optimum sowing density and use of appropriate

amount of water.

TYPES OF PLANTING MATERIALS (PROPAGULES)

The planting materials or propagules can be prepared through seeds and by
asexual means. The asexual means of propagation in most instances is preferred,
but there are plant species that do not lend themselves to this method of
propagation. Some species can only be multiplied through the use of seeds.

METHODS OF PLANT PROPAGATION

A. Propagation by seed – The use of seed is the most practical and even the
cheapest way of propagation. Fruits like jackfruit, pili, papaya, guyabano and
plantation crops like coconut and cacao are commercially propagated by
seeds. Rootstocks that are used in grafting are propagated by seeds.
Advantages of using seeds
a. Most practical and cheapest way
b. Stronger anchorage (for fruit trees grown from seed) which
makes the tree resistant to strong winds

Disadvantages of using seeds

a. Fruit trees take a longer time to bear fruits.
b. The resulting plant does not retain the characteristics of the
parents because of gene segregation.
c. Plants tend to grow into large trees.

Seed Quality/Viability
Seeds can be categorized into two types based on the initial moisture
content during extraction and the way viability is influenced by reduction in
moisture while at storage. They are:
1. recalcitrant seeds – here the moisture content is initially high and
the loss by drying below the critical level (20%) will lead to rapid

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 loss of viability. Examples are mango, lanzones, santol, jackfruit,
rubber and oil palm
2. orthodox seeds – these seeds can be dried to prevent respiratory
processes and placed in air tight containers to exclude oxygen.
Refrigeration and the use of desiccants in ordinary room storage
will ensure viability to be extended for a year.

Germination Test
One way of assessing the viability of seeds is by performing germination
test. Most seeds especially fruits and plantation crops are enclosed by a hard
seed coat or a mucilaginous material that prevents the entry of water into the
seed. Water imbibition or absorption is the first step in seed germination.
Mucilaginous materials normally contain germination inhibitors. To stimulate
seed germination, the following steps can be done.
1. Scarification – This procedure can be done chemically (dipping in
sulfuric or hydrochloric acids for less than minute; mechanically
(soaking the seeds in plain water until the seed swell); dipping in
boiling water for around 5 seconds; use of nail cutter to remove a
small portion of seed to allow water to enter; physical cracking or
rubbing the seed in sandpaper.
2. Removal of the mucilaginous substance by soaking the seeds
(papaya) overnight ; rubbing with fine sand for cacao and santol

B. Vegetative or Asexual Propagation

The planting materials used here are vegetative propagules obtained from
roots, stems leaves and asexually propagated seedlings.
The advantages in the use of vegetatively propagated materials are:
1. they produce true-to-type plants
2. suitable for plant species that do not normally produce seeds or
may also produce seeds but are difficult to germinate
3. trees are smaller compared to those propagated by seeds and they
bear fruits much earlier
4. highly useful for species with distinct maleness and femaleness (
example: rambutan)

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 Kinds of vegetative propagules

1. Runners- these are specialized growing stem parts that arise from the leaf
axils of the plant and form roots of their own that render them excellent
propagating materials like strawberry and black pepper
2. Slips- leafy shoots that arise from axillary buds produced at the base of the
plant

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Parent plant B. New plant

3. Suckers – adventitious roots that arise from underground stems below the
ground.\
Separation of banana sucker from the mother plant

Trimming roots from

sucker

6. Corms – underground solid stem structures that contain nodes and

internodes; the corm can be further divided into several seed pieces
7. Root cuttings – these are used in propagating breadfruit
8. Leaf bud cuttings – these are derived from axillary buds in stem and leaf; the
stem bearing buds are cut into pieces and inserted in a rooting medium
(example: blackpepper)
9. Stem cuttings – these can be used in propagating grapes, vanilla
10. Asexually propagated materials produced from layerage, marcotting,
graftage, budding

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PRACTICES AND OPERATIONS IN A NURSERY

The nursery is a facility where planting materials are grown, cared and
maintained until the propagules are ready to be transferred to a permanent site for
commercial growing.The common practices or operations in a nursery include the
following:
1. Preparation, use and maintenance of germination or rooting beds to be
used only for germinating seeds or rooting of cuttings
2. Potting or the transfer of young seedlings to individual containers like thick
black plastic bags in various sizes. The size of the plastic bag varies with
the size of the seed; black plastic bags for atis (sugar apple) are smaller
compared to the ones to be used for coconut or rambutan. This practice
provides an advantage of giving the seedling the vigor and the condition
for robust root ramification and development
3. Care and maintenance of seedlings ready for transplanting. Normally
seedlings are ready for transplanting when they have attained around 30
cm in height and at least 3-4 mature leaves but this varies with species
and variety. For specific crops, the basis is age in months. They are as
follows:
a. Papaya - 2 to3
b. Jackfruit and guyabano - 4 to6
c. Guava - 3 to 4
d. Lanzones – 6 to 8
e. Cacao – 3 to 6
f. Coffee – 6 to 10
g. Coconut – 6 to 9

4. Management of light (solar energy in nursery)

Some form of shade is needed by some seedlings while in the early
stages of growth and development and also those that are in the rooting
beds. Crops that can be exposed to direct sunlight after transferring to
polybags or thick plastic bags include mango, coconuts and citrus. Those
crops that need 25 to 50% partial shade include coffee, cacao, rambutan

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 and lanzones.
The shade can be provided naturally in conditions provided by the
canopy of coconuts and artificial structure like nets, bamboo slats or used
plastics in improvised screen houses.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF NURSERY WORK

Every endeavor is an individual position when it comes to adopting

and implementing eco-efficient practices. Your plant nursery operations
may be just beginning this process, while others, already benefiting from
incorporating initial, easy-to-apply strategies and procedures, are now
prepared to implement the next level to achieve further gains.

Plant nurseries are increasingly considering environmental

performance as part of their planning and operational procedures. Adopting
eco-efficient agricultural practices will not only benefit the environment,
they will also improve business operational efficiency and reduce costs.

Guidelines:

The guidelines include safety equipment, personal protective

equipment, safe work methods and operating procedures and the safe use of
tools in a safe environment.

1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required where there is a risk

of injury or contamination to you or others.

Equipment for use with chemicals or nursery materials may include:

o respirator for dust or gas particles

o waterproof boots
o waterproof gloves made from vinyl, rubber, or synthetic material
o waterproof pants and jacket
o waterproof wide-brimmed hat with non-absorbent headband
o clean overalls or outer clothing
o pace shield or goggles with side shields

Appropriate clothing is required for all nursery work and this includes:

 strong, sturdy, comfortable, closed in shoes or boots

 long pants and long sleeved shirt
 wide brimmed sun hat

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Other necessary items of protection include:

 sunscreen lotion
 leather gloves
 sunglasses
 vinyl gloves – latex gloves are not recommended as many
people have or develop allergies, in the form of skin rashes.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

The information on a MSDS outlines the composition of the material,

its safe storage, use and application. The MSDS should always accompany
chemicals and substances including soil or potting mixes. Users should be
made aware of the MSDS and adhere to any recommended safety directions.

Working with soil

There had been reported cases respiratory type illnesses from

exposure to potting mix mainly from the use of bagged potting mixes.
Nevertheless, as a precaution it is imperative to keep soil mixes moist at all
times including when moving it from one place to another. This reduces the
amount of air borne dust particles. Also, workers are required to use
disposable vinyl gloves when handling potting mixes.

Potting and sowing materials

Some other materials used in propagation mixes also have fine

particles. When using these materials, a respirator must be worn and the
substances need to be moistened when blending to reduce air borne particle
movement.

Problem potting/sowing materials are:

Chemicals
 Perlite ( fine silky dust)
 Cocoa peat ( dust)
 Soil
It is always best to avoid the use of chemicals as much as possible
and rely on alternative methods to control pest and diseases such as
integrated pest management. However, sometimes it is necessary to
use horticultural oils, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers and additives.

If using chemicals:

o Always read the label before mixing and follow safety directions.
o Gloves and appropriate clothing must always be worn when
mixing and applying and respirators will be necessary when
spraying chemicals.

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Some chemicals used are:

 Clonex –Rooting hormone

 White oil or neem oil-used as fungicides
 Iron chelates or iron sulfate-is used to enhance plants once it
shows yellowing or iron deficiency symptoms.
 Ozmocote fertilizer- a type of slow release fertilizer

These are not dangerous substances however always follow directions

when applying them and be aware that even though substances may be
organic or plant-based there may still be a need to wear protective gloves
and even a respirator.

OHS LIGESLATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND CODES OF PRACTICE

Running a nursery is like managing a farm crop production. From

time to time, you will probably hire workers to help run your farm
operations. It will become a business enterprise involving ―employer-worker‖
relationships. As the employer, you are responsible to ensure the health
and safety of all people working on your farm. Just as you need to know
crop management, you also need to know what is required by government
occupational health and safety legislation. The legislation can be used as
farm management tools which can help you farm more safely and more
profitably.

Accidents in the nursery

All farms have dangerous machinery and work situations. People of

all ages, who work and live on farms, are at risk of injury. Children are
especially vulnerable to hazards on farms because it is their home, as well
as, a place of work. Young, inexperienced workers are at a higher risk for
injuries than older experienced workers. Performance changes which occur
with aging can result in reduced balance and reaction time, vision and
hearing impairment. These and other changes affect the aging farmer‘s
ability to work safely. Working alone and time pressure also increase the
risk of injury. When these injuries occur, especially at critical farming
times, they can reduce farm revenues. Losing a limb and the resulting loss
of productive work time can devastate both the short and the long-term
profitability of a farm operation. The Occupational Health and Safety Act
will apply to all workplaces, including farms.

In our country the agency that is in-charge to take the lead in the
conduct of Occupational Safety and Health System (OSHS) is the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The agency should monitor
the following:

o Prevention- Executive Order 301 (OSHC)

o Enforcement- Administrative Code of 1987
o Compensation Rehabilitation-Presidential Decree 626 (Environmental
Certificate Compliance)

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 o Updating of Health & Safety Standard and Other Related OSH
Policies- Adm. Code 1987

The DOLE is the lead agency of the government in the administration

and enforcement of laws, policies, and programs on occupational safety and
health.

The legal basis of its mandate is the Presidential Decree No. 442 ,
Labor Code of the Philippines. The OSHS was created in 1978 under these
standards:

A set of mandatory rules on OSH which codifies all safety orders and
patterned after the standards of other developing countries.

Objectives:

Protection of workers from occupational risks and hazards

Coverage: All workplaces, except safety in mines

Rule 1000 General provisions:

Objective: To protect every worker against injury, sickness or death.

Scope: Applies to all places of employment except mines

Under the rule:

Duties of employers:

o Furnish safe healthful working conditions

o Give job safety instruction
o Comply with OSHS
o Use approved safety devices

Duties of workers

o Cooperate with management

o Report unsafe condition
o Use all safe devices

Hazardous Workplaces

o Exposure to dangerous environmental elements, contaminants

or work conditions
o Construction work, logging, fire-fighting, mining, quarrying,
blasting, stevedoring, dock work, deep sea, fishing and
mechanized farming
o Manufacture or handling of explosives and pyrotechnic
products
o Use or exposure to power=driven or explosive materials

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 o Exposure to biological agents as bacteria, fungi, viruses,
protozoa, nematodes and other parasites

Eminent danger

A condition or practice that could reasonably be expected to cause

death or serious physical harm before abatement under the enforcement
procedure can be accomplished.

Government Agencies Covered:

The following government agencies are: Department of Health, Local

Government Units such as provinces, towns, cities and its barangays,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Education,
Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of
Transportation, Department of Transportation and Communication,
Department of Energy, National Economic and Development Authority,
Department of Science and Technology and Department of Agriculture.

NGOs , Labor and Employer groups:

They are Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM),

Occupational Health Nurses Association of the Philippines (OHNAP),
Employees Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), People Management
Association of the Philippines(PMAP), Trade Union Congress of the
Philippines (TUCP), Federation of Free Workers (FFW), Association of Safety
Practitioner of the Philippines (ASPPI), and World Safety Organization
(WSO).

Academe:

Among colleges and universities are University of the Philippines

College of Public Health (UPCPH), University of the Philippines School of
Labor and Industrial and Relations (UPSOLAIR), De la Salle University
(DLSU), Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) etc.

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION

As a functioning member of society, it is necessary to learn

interpersonal relations, from fleeting interactions with street vendors to
customers who might visit your plant nursery and become interested with
your plant collections. Properly communicating and effectively dealing with
other people is something you will want to give a great amount of attention.
It is but high time for you to develop it right away since it can boost yourself
in improving the business you are in now.

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 In order to succeed with your interpersonal relations, you must be
able to speak authentically, passionately, and confidently and be able to
convey your personal thoughts and ideas articulately. Not only do you need
to convey your thoughts, ideas and emotions, but you need to be good at
deciphering and understanding the messages of your customers.

Let us start with listening. Listening has been identified as one of the
most frequent problems in dealing with others, business negotiations, and
employee/employer disputes. Listening is not a passive activity. When you
take part in any conversation, you become an active participant and as such
you have a responsibility to receive as much as you give. The good news is
that effective listening is a learnable skill but it does not require mental
focus, patience, and a little bit of practice. Here are the steps to become a
good listener.

1. First, you must physically hear the other person. If you cannot hear,
politely move to another environment, insist that the other person speaks
louder, or perhaps have your hearing checked by a professional if you
feel you have a hearing problem.

2. Second, you must decipher what you have heard. Most deciphering is
done unconsciously; however, it is beneficial to pay close attention to
pitch, accents, rhythm, and tonality of any voices that you come into
contact with.

3. Understand what you have heard and deciphered, which means that you
can make sense of the words that were spoken. Some conversations may
be very easy to understand while others may be very difficult.

4. Once you have heard, deciphered, and understood the information that
has been given, you must acknowledge these three things by responding
in kind. Responding is simply giving observable feedback to the other
person. Typical responses are small gestures like a head nod, a smile, or
a strong eye contact.

5. The final step of being a good listener is the ability to remember and
recall the information that is presented to you. Do you have trouble
remembering name of person you just met? Are you occasionally
reminded of something you supposedly said but don‘t recall?

Another major component of interpersonal relations is body language.

According to social scientists, verbal communication skills account for only
7% of the communication process. The other 93% consists of nonverbal and
symbolic communication called body language. Body language is the sum of
messages expressed by other than verbal means and includes posture, hand
gestures, facial expressions, and voice tonality. Smell and anything else is
perceived by the five senses.

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 Another vital communication skill in dealing with people especially if
you are in business is how to write your thoughts, ideas creatively and
correctly.

Don‘t you know that writing well is a learned skill that benefits from
practice? The practice of good writing involves planning, researching,
drafting, reviewing, and revising. Writing for different purposes may have
different products‘ too; from asking information about a new product in the
market, an order, to anything that your nursery project needs.

Good writing shares common characteristics:

1. Clarity: Well chosen words and structured sentences help convey the
intended meaning. The reader should not ask, ―What does this mean?‖

2. Coherence: Information presented and arguments used should flow

logically. Writing should be easy to understand.

3. Conciseness. State the information simply. Do not use words that are
merely there to impress.

4. Correctness: Verify your facts. Document sources accurately. Check for

accurate spelling, grammar and sentence structure in your work. Use
standard pattern.

5. Completeness: Good writing represents critical thinking. Analyze

completely and support your position.

6. Context: Write appropriately for the audience (peers, customers and /or
clients, teachers, and classmates.

What to process:

A. The class will be divided into groups. Each group will plan on how
to put up a plant nursery. You are going to answer the following as part of
the plan.

1. Which among the factors are you going to consider in your plan?
Why?__________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. What method of plant propagation will you concentrate in the

project?
Why?______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

B. Why are interpersonal relations and communication important in plant

nursery operations ?
_______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

What to reflect on and understand

1. Visit a nearby plant nursery in the area be it backyard or

commercial. Inspect the availability of water, the location of the area and
other factors considered in choosing the site. Write an observation. Make a
short presentation of your visit during class discussion.

2. Note the following plant propagation techniques that are available

in the nursery.

a. Seed propagation
b. Cuttings
c. Grafted seedlings ( shield, bark, marcotting and others)

3. Conduct an interview.

Ask the following:

a. What are the most common media used in the nursery?

b. What kind of planting materials are most sought by customers?
c. What techniques of plant propagation are highly sought by most
customers?

Share the result with your classmates during class discussion.

What to transfer

Germination test
The viability of seed is commonly measured by performing germination test.
Seeds with more than 80% viability are considered of good quality. If the %
germination is below 70%, then there is a need to make or adjust the seeding rate.
In some seeds, dormancy (the inability of seed to germinate even if conditions like
sufficient water, favorable temperature and sufficient gas or oxygen are provided) is
a problem. Seed dormancy is normally caused by a hard seed coat (physical

23
dormancy) or an immature embryo (physiological).
In this activity, students will perform a procedure using the germination test to
determine the best method of breaking dormancy in ampalaya (bitter gourd) or ipil-
ipil.
The objective: To determine the best method of breaking seed dormancy in
ipil-ipil.
The materials are:

 15 sets of petridishes
 1 roll of tissue paper
 1 plastic wash bottle
 1 Sand paper (fine)
 1 bot. 500 ml. commercial grade muriatic acid
 3 250 ml. beakers
 1 small ( 10 cm. diameter) strainer with handle
 1 mouth open kettle (for boiling water)
 10 popsicle sticks for the whole class.
 seeds: 125 of seeds of ipil-ipil

Procedure:
1. Fifteen (15) sets of petri dishes will be provided for each class which will be
divided into three (3) groups. The three (3) groups will serve as replicates.
2. Each group will randomly collect 5 sets of 25 seeds of ipil-ipil that will be used
in each treatment which means 25 seeds will be used for each treatment.
3. Wipe clean by using clean toilet paper each petri dish. A total of 5 sets of petri
dish will also be provided for each group.

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4. The following are the treatments:
Treatment 1 - Control (No manipulation will be made)
Treatment 2 - Mechanical scarification to be done by rubbing each
seed 10 times in a fine sand paper. Here only one person
should do the rubbing to minimize variation.
Treatment 3 - Immersion of seeds in boiling water for 5 seconds
Treatment 4 - Immersion of seeds in commercial grade muriatic acid
for 20 seconds
Treatment 5 - Immersion of seeds in 50 ml plain water for 12 hours
5. Detailed procedure for each treatment
For each group, on a masking tape, label each petri dish with the
following:

RIT1 RIIT1 RIIIT1

RIT2 RIIT2 RIIIT2
RIT3 RIIT3 RIIIT3
RIT4 RIIT4 RIIIT4
RIT5 RIIT5 RIIIT5
5a. Treatment 1
a. Carefully line 3 layers of tissue paper in the inside of the of the
bottom part of petri dish
b. Using the wash bottle, wet the tissue paper until sufficient moisture
moves in the tissue paper
c. With clean hands (wiping hands with 70% ethyl alcohol) put 25
seeds of ipil-ipil in the wet tissue paper). Give enough space
between seeds.
d. Add water if necessary.
e. Cover the petri dish with the petri dish glass cover.
f. Check the set up daily for 7 days. Add water when water is lacking.
Do not “shake or move” the set up.
5b. Treatment 2
a. Follow step a to b in 5a.
b. For this treatment, rubbing 25 seeds in sandpaper will be done by
only one student.

25
 c. With clean hands, carefully place the “rubbed” ipil-ipil seeds into the
petri dish and then add sufficient water.
g. Cover the petri dish with its glass cover.
h. Check the set up daily for 7 days. Add water when water is lacking.
Do not “shake or move” the set up.
5c. Treatment 3
a. Place 25 seeds in a strainer with a handle.
b. When water starts to boil, allow it to boil for another 30 seconds
and then put the strainer with the seeds in the briskly boiling for 5
seconds. Immediately remove after 5 seconds.
c. Carefully place the seeds subjected to boiled water in the petri dish.
d. Follow procedure d to f in 5a.
5d. Treatment 4
a. In a 250 ml beaker, place 25 ipil-ipil seeds and then carefully pour
50 ml of muriatic acids prepared in another beaker.
b. Count 20 seconds and after wards, transfer the muriatic to the other
beaker.
c. Use a popsicle stick to avoid seed to be carried with the acid being
poured.
d. Carefully place the seeds subjected to muriatic acid using the
popsicle stick in the petri dish then add sufficient water.
e. Cover the petri dish with the petri dish glass cover.
f. Check the set up daily for 7 days. Add water when water is lacking.
Do not “shake or move” the set up.
5e. Treatment 5
a. In a 250 ml beaker, place 25 ipil-ipil seeds and then carefully pour
50 ml plain water prepared in another beaker.
b. Place in a safe place and allow the seeds soaked in plain water for
12 hours.
c. After 12 hours, remove the water and use another clean popsicle
stick to transfer the soaked seeds to the petri dish lined with three
(3) layers of tissue paper and then add sufficient water.
d. Cover the petri dish with its glass cover.

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 6. Check the set up daily for 7 days. Add water when water is lacking. Do not
“shake or move” the set up.
7. After seven days, count the number of normal or healthy seedlings that
germinated. Infected or blackish seedlings should not be considered as
normal. Use the following formula to compute for the % germination:

% Germination = Number of healthy seedlings that germinated x 100

Total number of seeds tested (25)

8. Enter the data in the Table (Table 1)below.

Table 1. Average or mean per cent (%) germination

________________________________________________________________
Treatment Replicate Mean
I II III

___________________________________________________________________

Treatment 1-Control

Treatment 2-Use of sandpaper

Treatment 3- Boiling water

Treatment 4- Muriatic acid

Treatment 5-Soaked for 12 hours

in plain water

___________________________________________________________________

Based on the results shown in the table, answer the following questions:
a. Which treatment produced the highest percentage of germination?
b. What conclusion can be made from these results?
c. State possible reasons why no germination (if there is) in some or
one treatment.

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Post Test
A. Scoring rubrics for seed germination.

Response Criteria Score

Completes all steps. Work has a control, logical
and clear procedures, data are recorded and
Exemplary thoroughly analyzed. Graphs are present. 6
Prediction made. Conclusions thorough and
thoughtful.
Competent Completes all steps. Experiment may lack control,
procedures lack thoroughness. Data are recorded,
analysis not complete. Conclusions too brief. 5
Completes nearly all steps. Control missing,
procedures lacking or illogical. More than one
Satisfactory variable present. Data recorded but poorly 4
analyzed. Conclusion does not accurately sum up
experiment.
Nearly Completes most steps. Procedures missing. Data 3
satisfactory recorded but not analyzed. Conclusion missing.
Fails to Most steps missing. Data recorded but
complete procedures do not indicate its origin. Conclusion
missing. 2
Fails to Directions not followed. Nearly all steps missing.
begin Doesn‘t show understanding of how to develop
effectively experiment. 1
No attempt Did not attempt to work 0
mode

B. Enumerate the different factors to consider when selecting the best site
for a nursery.
1. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
3. __________________________________________
4. __________________________________________
5. __________________________________________
6. __________________________________________
7. __________________________________________
8. __________________________________________
9. __________________________________________
10. __________________________________________

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C. Match Column A with Column B

A B

______1. These are a threat to healthy A. Swarming caterpillar

seedling development
______2. Method applied when seedlings B. Cuttings
attain a stage where roots
become long.
______3. Technique that exposes plant to C. Damping off
harsh environment to become
strong
______4. This is a fungal disease caused by D. Air layering
Pythium spp.
______5. A disease of seedling which E. Crown
shows dying bark of the main
shoot.
______6. Method of plant propagation which F. Division
comes from any part of the stock
plant. (stems,leaves or roots)
______7. Plant propagation technique wherein G. Pruning
roots are induced on the stem of a plant
using a rooting media or saw dust
_______8 An insect pest that voraciously eats H. Wilting
palay.
______ 9. A method of plant propagation best I. Hardening
used in flowering plant such as
gladiolus.
______10. Method of plant propagation where J. Suckers
shoots are separated from the mother
plant. K. Weeds

Glossary

Accessibility- easily reached through transportation or near a road where

clients or customers could easily buy the products
Coherence- a logical, orderly, and aesthetically consistent relationship
of parts.
Conciseness- expressing much in few words but clear.
Context- part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or
passage which determines its meaning.
Latex- an emulsion of rubber or plastic globules in water, used in paints,
adhesives, and various synthetic rubber products
Microclimate- the climate of a small, specific place within an area as
contrasted with the climate of the entire area.
Mound- a pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris heaped for protection
or concealment
Supplement- any material that is added to the media that can promote
growth to plants

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References

__________2001,Good Nursery Practices; A Simple Guide, Nairobi Kenya,

2001, First Ed.
__________1986,Health and Safety for Greenhouses and Nurseries.
Horticultural Educ.
Keats C. hall, 1984, Manual on Nursery Practices, Forestry Project Dept. 2nd
Edition
__________2001,Prince Edward Island Farm Safety Code of Practice, First
Ed.
__________1988, Trees in Newcastle; Nursery Operations and Practices,
Hustle Central Rivers.
Lantican, R. M. 2001, The Science and Practice of Crop
Production,published SEAMEO, SEARCA and UPLB, College, Los
Banos, Laguna
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02114.jpg
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AAAAAAB2I/6_rDVYpQuaw/s1600/nursery2.jpg
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/hort/info/fruit/graft/bark1.gif
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http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/2007/01/22/2003536302.jpg
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02114.jpg
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mg/ac306e03.gif
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/propagation/budding/38.jpeg
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/hort/info/fruit/graft/bark1.gif
http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/hort/info/fruit/graft/cleft.gif

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