LG - LU2. Plant Health Management - Compressed

18 Oct 2022
Urban Farming Professional Course

Technical Skills & Competency (TSC):
Plant Health Management and Disease Control - LNS-GNM-2014-1.1
Soil and Media Assessment and Remediation - LNS-GNM-3017-1.1
Landscape Irrigation Management - LNS-GNM-2013-1.1
Skyrise Greenery Maintenance - LNS-GNM-2022-1.1
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learning
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18 Oct 2022
LU2: Plant Health Management
Learning Outcome (LO) Abilities (A)/ Knowledge (K)

• SGM K1 - Characteristics of plant species used in skyrise greenery
LO1: Identify plant nutritional • PHMDC K4 - Nutrition deficiencies in plants and their remediation
• PHMDC K10 - Types of fertilisers and other chemical and biological substances used to provide plant nutrition
deficiencies to appraise
• PHMDC A3 - Recognise nutrition deficiencies in plants symptomatically
requirements. • SGM A2 - Monitor health of skyrise greenery using sensors and/or through visual inspection of plants
• SGM A4 - Maintain nutrition levels of the hydroponic solution by the addition of prescribed chemical mix
LO2: Identify pest and diseases • PHMDC K1 - Visual identification of pest infestations or diseases directly or symptomatically
infestations in plants by • PHMDC A1 - Recognise pests or disease infestation and the extent of infestation in plants directly or through symptoms
recognising them directly or
symptomatically.
• PHMDC K2 - Characteristics of common pests
• PHMDC K3 - Invasive and noxious plant species and their characteristics
LO3: Recognise pests, plant
• PHMDC K5 - Space requirements of plants for optimum health and growth
diseases and inva-sive species
• PHMDC K6 - Impact of pests on plant health and growth
to determine remediation
• PHMDC A1 - Recognise pests or disease infestation and the extent of infestation in plants directly or through symptoms
measures.
• PHMDC A2 - Assess extent of spread of invasive species amongst plants to support the determination of remediation measures
• PHMDC K7 - Regulatory and legislative compliance requirements for pest and disease control
• PHMDC K8 - Tools and equipment used in removal of infestation
• PHMDC K9 - Application of chemicals to treat plants for pests, diseases and invasive species
LO4: Implement treatment for • PHMDC A4 - Report unrecognised or uncommon pests or diseases to supervisors
pests, diseases and invasive • PHMDC A5 - Perform pruning, cutting or other techniques to isolate or remove infested portions to prevent the spread of pests and diseases.
species to maintain plant • PHMDC A6 - Use biological agents as instructed to treat plants for pests and diseases
health. • SGM K8 - Application of chemicals and biological agents in pest and infestation management
• SGM A5 - Apply biological agents or chemicals to remediate pests or infestation
• PHMDC A7 - Apply chemicals as instructed to treat plants for pests and diseases, or to remove invasive species over an extensive area
• PHMDC A8 - Avoid off-target damage in the application of chemicals
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18 Oct 2022
LO1: Identify plant nutritional deficiencies to appraise requirements.
Common types of crops in Urban Farms
What is the first thing that comes to mind

when you hear the words CROPS?
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18 Oct 2022
i. Common varieties of crops
Corn field
i. Common varieties of crops
Wheat field
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18 Oct 2022
ii. Characteristics of crop varieties
What are some characteristics of these

locations where the crops are grown?
ii. Characteristics of crop varieties
1) Open field
2) Mono crop- Wheat or Corn
3) Generally flat ground
4) Lack of buildings
5) Large growing areas
What benefits do these areas support? What are some issues of an open field?
1) Heavy machinery 1) Less control of environmental factors

2) Specialised machinery for open areas 2) Pest and disease
3) Economy of scale 3) Mono crop failure
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18 Oct 2022
Urban areas
Questions to think about
What is considered “Urban” ?
What are some characteristics of Urban areas?
What kind of crops do you think that fit in these areas?
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Urban areas
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18 Oct 2022
Urban areas
PARKROYAL on Pickering Tree House Condominium
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Crops in Urban areas

Common plants Characteristics
Small shrubs Short
Herbs Easy to maintain
Vegetables Well draining
Chilli
Climber plants Trees- 3 to 5m,
Tomatoes Specific planting area
Pumpkins and maintenance
Dragon fruit
Funan Lifestyle Mall (Photo: Funan)
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18 Oct 2022
Crops in Urban areas

Rooftop forest crops
150+ varieties of vegetables and herbs, mainly
for cuisine
Herbs
Lemon balm
Rosemary
Thyme
Oregano
Vegetables
Wasabi Lettuce
Sorrel
Society Garlic
Lettuce
The rooftop Food Forest in the heart of the city. (Photo: 1-Arden)
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iii. Crop anatomy and life cycle
Crop Anatomy
General plant anatomy
Roots- Uptake of water and nutrients. Structural

anchorage
Shoot/Stem- Transportation of water and nutrients

to leaves and other parts of the plant
Leaves- Site of photosynthesis and food

production
Flowers- Sexual reproduction of plants
Fruits- Dispersal of seeds
Seeds- Next generation of plants
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18 Oct 2022
Crop Anatomy
Roots generally found underground
Function: To draw water and nutrients for the

plant
Structure and Stability of the plant
Storage of starch
Fine root hairs

Fine root hairs are responsible for the uptake of
nutrients and water
Roots have indeterminate growth unlike leaves and

flowers.
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Crop Anatomy: Leaves

Leaves found above ground
Function: Site of photosynthesis and food

production
Plants transpire from the leaves and cool off
Chloroplast
Responsible for photosynthesis and food
production
Causes plants to look “green”
Stomata
Site of gaseous exchange and water evaporation
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Crop life cycle
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Determining
crops for
Urban areas
Areas of concern
Location
Amount of light
received
Type of crop based
on climatic
conditions
Pest and disease
pressures
Nearby
industries/buildings
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Nutritional Needs
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i. Crop nutritional needs
What conditions do plants need to survive and be healthy?
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i. Crop nutritional needs
What conditions do plants need to survive and be healthy?
Water
Nutrients
Light
Disease free
Pest free
Good Climatic Conditions
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ii. Sunlight and Natural Light
Different Spectrums of light

• Light basics
Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR)

Visible Spectrum (Lux/foot candles)
Photosynthetic photon Flux (PPF)
400-700 nm
400-700 nm
Solar Radiation (w/m2)
Full Spectrum of Light
250-1,000,000 nm
Sunlight
Non- Visible Spectrum

Infrared light (700-1,000,000 nm)
Ultraviolet light (250-400 nm)
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ii. Sunlight and Natural Light
Light for plants

What happens if there is insufficient light for our plants?
Pale colouration
“Leggy” plants
White asparagus Leggy plants on the left and healthy plants on the right
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iii. Common nutritional deficiencies

iv. Symptoms of nutritional deficiencies
vii.Types of chemical/biological nutritional substances
Food for plants
What is the optimal pH for most
plants?
What nutrients will be tied up if the

pH is 9 and above?
What nutrients will be tied up if the

pH is 5 and lower?
Why do Blueberry plants need a pH

of 5.5 and lower?
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Food for plants vii.Types of chemical/biological nutritional substances
Fertilizer deficiencies
Deficiencies of nutrients can be
diagnosed just like a doctor would
to a patient.
We are on our way to becoming

budding plant doctors.
We can look to the roots, leaves,

flowers and fruits to understand the
changes occurring to the plant in
relation to nutrient deficiencies.
Leaves are often used to distinguish

changes. Mature plants have mature
leaves,
Image: Pinterest
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Food for plants
Nitrogen deficiency
Leaves experience chlorosis in the

mature leaves first
Chlorosis: General yellowing of leaves

due to lack of chlorophyll
Symptoms:
1) General overall yellowing
2) Starts from mature leaf
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18 Oct 2022

Food for plants
Phosphorus deficiency
Deficiency is first experienced by
mature plant parts
Shoot growth would be inhibited or

prevented if phosphorus is deficient.
Symptoms:
1) Purple to bluish colour develops
on shoot and leaves
2) Starts from mature plant parts
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Food for plants
Potassium deficiency
First symptoms are dead spots on the
leaves due to dead cells.
Plants without potassium tend to wilt

more easily as it is required for
regulating stomata.
Symptoms:
1) Appearance of tip burn of leaf edge
2) Starts from mature leaves
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Food for plants

Calcium deficiency
Symptoms:
1) Chlorosis on the outside margin of the

leaves
2) Leaves are stunted and misshapen
3) Appears on young leaves first
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Food for plants
Iron deficiency
Interveinal chlorosis: Yellowing

between the veins of the leaf. Leaf
veins remain dark green.
Symptoms:
1) Interveinal chlorosis
2) Starts from young leaves first
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Food for plants
Magnesium deficiency
mature leaves first
Mature leaves exhibit interveinal

chlorosis as magnesium is transported
to the young leaves
Symptoms:
1) Interveinal chlorosis
2) Starts from mature leaves first
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Food for plants
Copper deficiency
Experienced by young leaves first
Symptoms:
1) Necrotic spots can be found on
copper deficient plants.
2) Excessive branching and curling of

leaves
3) Chlorosis of leaves
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Food for plants
Sulfur deficiency

younger leaves first
Rare deficiency due to acid rains and

air pollution.
Symptoms:
1) Chlorosis in the younger leaves
which distinguishes it from nitrogen
deficiency(mature leaves first)
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Food for plants

Boron deficiency

younger leaves first
Symptoms:
1) Damage at the tips of leaves.
2) Damage of flower and fruit

formation
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v. Use of sensor/visual inspections to monitor health
Sensors for plants

Types of sensors that we can use for plant health
Electroconductivity meter (EC)

EC: 2.5 – 3.5 ms/cm2
pH meter
pH: 5.5 – 6.5
Soil Moisture
SM%: 45%-50%
Daily Light Integral

Light: >15 mol/d/m2
Temperature EC and Soil Moisture pH and temperature PAR Light Sensor

Temperature: 25 – 30 degree celcius Sensor sensor
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Hydroponic Solutions in Media
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i. Nutrient mix and amounts to required to address deficiency
Types of fertilizer
Types of fertilizer
Organic
From natural sources,
Manure,Vermicomposting, Organic
waste from industries Agricultural
waste
Generated via microbial action
Inorganic
Specific types of fertilizers created
Generally water soluble and easily
used in fertigation
Generated via chemical processes
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Food for plants

Elements
Non mineral elements
Hydrogen H
Carbon C
Oxygen O
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Food for plants

Elements
Non mineral elements
Hydrogen H
Carbon C
Oxygen O
CHO makes up 96% the mass of a plant!
Where do we get these elements from?
Oxygen, Carbon dioxide and Water!
O2, CO2 and H20

O2 and CO2 from leaves
H2O from root uptake
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Food for plants

Fertilizers Nitrogen N
Macronutrient Elements
Nitrogen N
Phosphorus P
Potassium K
Calcium Ca
Magnesium Mg
Sulfur S
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Food for plants

Fertilizers Nitrogen N
Elements
Nitrogen N
Important for proteins
Amino acid
An amino acid is the smallest unit

of a protein
Proteins important for enzymes

that are important for
photosynthesis, etc.
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Food for plants

Fertilizers: Nitrogen N
Proteins
Nitrogen N Amino Acid
3D structure
Amino Acid chain

Amino acids bind together to form long chains
These chains then create connections between each
other to form a 3D structure
This 3D structure is now called a protein which could
link to other proteins and has a function.
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Food for plants

Fertilizers: Nitrogen N
Proteins
Nitrogen N
As a fertilizer,
Nitrogen is important for

chlorophyll.
Green colouration turns

yellow when there is a lack
of nitrogen
Leaves without nitrogen turn

yellow
Chloroplast
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Phosphorus P
Important for DNA/RNA
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Phosphorus P
Important for Energy!

Required for almost all
biological processes.
Bonds broken = energy gain
Bonds formed = energy

stored
Without energy, plant growth

will be stunted, blooming and Adenosine Triphosphate ( ATP )
root growth will be affected.
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Potassium K
Not part of any organelle or
structural part of a plant.
Has a role of a regulating

chemical
Facilitate water movement in

and out of leaves
Regulates carbon dioxide

and water levels in plants.
Regulates starch formation
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Potassium K
Regulates carbon dioxide

and water levels in plants.
Without sufficient
Potassium, we will see that
the plant may not be able
to uptake carbon dioxide
or transpire.
Results in the plant wilting

or cell death or dead
spots on leaves.
Stomata
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Calcium Ca
One of the most important
plant nutrients. Widely
debated that it should be a
macronutrient.
Key in structural
component of cell wall
Regulates signalling
between cells
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Calcium Ca
One of the most important plant
nutrients. Widely debated that it
should be a macronutrient.
Key in structural component of cell

wall.
Cements cell walls together with

pectins as the middle lamella.
Calcium is crucial to the whole plant!
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Magnesium Mg
Centre of chlorophyll
molecule
Essential for photosynthesis

and plant growth
Activator of enzymes for ATP

production
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Magnesium Mg
Magnesium is found in the

porphyrin ring and is essential
for photosynthesis.
Without magnesium plants will

not be able to photosynthesize
and leaves will appear chlorotic
or yellow
Chlorophyll
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Elements
Sulfur S
Component of two important

amino acids
Cysteine and Methionine
Molecular level, Sulfur based

amino acids create bonds that
influence protein structures
Flavour in plants!
Citations: Solomon, Berg & Martin (2011) Biology 9th Edition
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Micronutrient elements
Boron B
Chlorine Cl
Copper Cu
Iron Fe
Manganese Mn
Zinc Zn
Molybdenum Mo
Nickel Ni
Sodium Na
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Copper Cu
Key component in oxidation

and reactions that occur
during photosynthesis
In enzymes that build amino

acids into proteins
Lignin synthesis
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Food for plants

Fertilizers
Iron Fe
Carrier of electrons
Important in respiration and

oxidation-reduction
reactions.
Used to make chlorophyll

but not in the molecule.
Nitrogen fixation
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LO2: Identify pest and diseases infestations in plants by recognising them directly or symptomatically.
Plant diseases
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i. Common Types of plant diseases.

ii. Uncommon Types of plant diseases and Virus
Plant disease and management
Plant disease
What is plant disease?
Disease in plants is an injurious
physiological process, caused by the
continued irritation of a primary causal
factor, exhibited through abnormal
cellular activity and expressed in
characteristic pathological conditions
called symptoms.
~H. H. Whetzel
Main Symptoms of Diseases

Necrosis (Cell death)
Hypoplastic ( Dwarfing or stunting
growth)
Hyperplastic ( Overgrowth, crown gall
or club root)
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iii. Symptoms of plant diseases
• Plant disease and management

Sources of plant diseases
Pathogens
Fungi
Bacteria
Viruses and Viroids
Nematodes
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Plant diseases: Fungi
• Citations: Solomon, Berg & Martin (2011) Biology 9th Edition
• Westcott, C., & Horst, R. K. (2013). Westcott's plant disease handbook. Dordrecht: Springer Reference.
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White Rust
One of several species of the fungus Albugo
Identification: Often found on the underside of

infected leaves and found in blister-like
masses
Stems and leaves can become deformed due

to the fungus attack
When rain droplets hit the leaves, the

disturbance causes the fungus to release and
spread its spores.
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Anthracnose
Caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum
Identification: Deep dark water-soaked

lesions on leaves develop
Lesions turn into gelatinous masses of

spores and eventually rot
Anthracnose attacks stems, leaves and

fruits
Anthracnose develops when the climate is

wet (humid) and cool (23-29 degree C)
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Powdery mildew
Caused by many different fungi species in
the order Erysiphales
Identification: Powdery mildew is seen as

white powdery spots on the leaves and
can be found on any part of the plant
It grows well in high humidity

environments and moderate
temperatures.
Powdery mildew affects the

photosynthetic ability of the plants as it
shields the leaves from the sun
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Downey mildew
Identification: Downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola)

can be identified as yellow to white patches on the
upper surface of older leaves
On the underside, the leaf is covered with white

to grayish, cotton-like fungi. It is most often found
after rain or heavy dew. Sunny weather tends to
cause it to dissipate.
As the disease progresses leaves may eventually

turn crisp and brown and fall off even though the
plant has ample water.
What does this plant disease look like?

The start of Magnesium deficiency?
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Fungi plant pathogens account for almost

70% of all plant diseases so the list shown
here is just a small portion of the entire
list of plant diseases for fungi.
The ones shown are mainly the most
common ones, especially those that are
seen in Singapore due to Singapore’s
humid weather
You can further your knowledge of plant

disease by doing your own research.
This is one such example of a link that

you could try in your free time
https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-
problem-solver/plant-disease/
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Plant diseases: Bacteria
Bacteria do not penetrate directly into plant

tissue. They require natural plant openings
or wounds
Wounds are a result of mainly three factors.

1) Insect/Pest Damage
2) Other Pathogens
3) Tools- Pruning and harvesting.
Bacteria require conducive environments to

multiply;They require
1) High humidity
2) Crowding
3) Poor air circulation
4) Plant stress
5) Excessive nutrition
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Black Rot
Bacteria can live in soil substrate, crop

debris, seeds and plant parts
Black rot in Brassicas by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris
Weeds in a greenhouse could be a
reservoir and refuge for bacteria. Pests Identification: Symptoms appear at any
living in the weeds could even help growth stage as yellow.
transport bacteria to crops.
V-shaped lesions extend toward the
base of the leaf resulting in wilt
Bacteria can spread via seeds, wind,
water and animals/people
May appear as drought stress,
overwatering or excessive fertilizer
application
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Identification: Initial symptoms appear
Bacterial canker
as systemic infection.
Lower leaves and stems affected first

causing leaf curling, wilting, chlorosis
and shrivelling
Advanced stages include poor

growth, wilting and plant death
Stems may turn brown- a sign of

necrosis, resulting in stems breaking
Fruits may not develop and if they do,

they have “bird eye spots”- white to
yellow spots with brown centers
Bacterial canker in Solanaceous by Clavibacter michiganensis pv. michiganensis
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Identification: First disease to show up as it is
Leaf Spots
seed-borne
Symptoms are the appearance of round water-

soaked spots on leaf tissue
They expand until they are confined by veins

which give them the angular look
The wet-looking spots dry out and turn yellow-

brown. Dead tissue may fall off giving the “leaf in
hole” appearance
These spots may also appear on stems and

petioles which form a white crust
These spots may result in internal decay of fruit

Leaf Spots in Cucurbits by Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans and may cause fruit deformation
Westcott, C., & Horst, R. K. (2013). Westcott's plant disease handbook. Dordrecht: Springer Reference.
Bacterial diseases in vegetable crops. (2019, April 10). Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://ausveg.com.au/bi os ec urity-agrichemic al/crop-protect ion/ ov erview- pests-dis eas es-dis orders/bact erial-dis eases /
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Soft Rot
Identification: Symptoms are the appearance of

water-soaked spots on the plant material.
After some time, the spots enlarge, and the

interior tissue becomes mushy and discoloured.
The discolouration could be cream to black

coloured and tend to have an odorous smell
This is commonly seen in tubers, fruits and

vegetables
Soft rot in lettuce caused by mainly Pectobacterium carotovorum

Westcott, C., & Horst, R. K. (2013). Westcott's plant disease handbook. Dordrecht: Springer Reference.
Bacterial diseases in vegetable crops. (2019, April 10). Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://ausveg.com.au/bi os ec urity-agrichemic al/crop-protect ion/ ov erview- pests-dis eas es-dis orders/bact erial-dis eases /
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iv. Symptoms of plant viruses
Plant diseases: Viruses

Viruses are responsible for billions of dollars in

agricultural losses and lower crop quality every
year
They stunt the growth of plants and deform the

foliage and may cause spots or mottled patterns
on plant parts
Insects are important vectors as they feed on plant

tissue and assist the spread of the viruses. Without
insects, viruses cannot penetrate the thick cell of
walls
Viruses cannot be transmitted through seeds
There are no known cures for most viral diseases

so infected plants are usually burned to prevent
further spread of the virus.
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Plant diseases:Viruses
Potyviruses
Responsible for important diseases in a
wide range of plant species worldwide
Identification: Symptoms include crinkling of

leaves, severe stunting, browning of the
leaves, mosaic appearance, necrotic areas
as streaks
Transmitted by aphids and

occasionally leaf to leaf contact
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Plant diseases:Viruses
Criniviruses
Identification: Symptoms include severe
outbreak of yellowing in tomato plants
The yellowing of the leaves likened to that

of nutritional disorder or pesticide
phototoxicity
Transmitted by several whitefly

species
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v. Detecting plant diseases through visual observation and nonvisual signs
Plant diseases: Nematode
Parasitic nematodes feed on all parts of the

plant: Roots, stems, leaves, flowers and seeds
Nematodes use a short stout stylet to

withdraw the contents of the plant cells.They
cause lesions and cause the host plant to die
Identification: Some nematodes “trick” plant The enlarged growths are called root galls
cells to enlarge and grow, forming nutrient- caused by root-knot nematodes
rich feeding cells for the nematode (circled red)
Nematode attacks on plant parts make them Nematode attacks are often mistaken for
fertility issues or other plant diseases
susceptible to attacks from other plant
pathogens
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LO3: Recognise pests, plant diseases and invasive species to determine remediation measures.
Pests
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i. Common Types of plant diseases
Common Plant diseases
Wilting and loss of leaves

Leaf decolouration (Yellow, Brown, Black and pale light green)
Leaf spots
Leaf rust
Plant deformation
Stunted Growth
Powdery mildew
Soft Rot
Sooty Mold
Parasitic plants/ Parasitic pests
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ii. Impact of pest on plant overall health and growth
Pests and pest management

• Pest identification and pest management
Impact of plant pests?
Main impacts
Death of plant
Damage of plants
Stunted growth
Secondary effects
Sooty mold
Bacterial/ Viral attack on plant
Loss of product quality
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What kind of pests are there?

Insects
Mammals
Birds
Mites
Gastropods (snails and slugs)
• Prakash Kumar, Manoj Kumar Sharma. Nutrient Deficiencies of Field Crops : Guide to Diagnosis and Management. CAB International; 2013. Accessed February 1, 2021.
http://search.ebscohost.com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2415968&site=ehost-live
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• Pest identification and pest management

What kind of pests are there?
Insects
30 different orders of insects
Recap: ORDER
Classification of organisms before their
family name.
This streamlines the difference between

the identity of a one organism group to
another.
E.g Beetle vs Praying Mantis
• Prakash Kumar, Manoj Kumar Sharma. Nutrient Deficiencies of Field Crops : Guide to Diagnosis and Management. CAB International; 2013. Accessed February 1, 2021.
http://search.ebscohost.com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=2415968&site=ehost-live
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iii. Symptoms of pest infestation
Pests and pest management

• Damage identification
Damage identification of plant material
There have been several symptoms of pest

damage
1. Mechanical damage
2. Sap sucking spots
3. Boring damage
4. Boring damage- Leaf mining
5. Stunted plant growth
6. Secondary effects
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iv. Inspecting plants for infestation extent
• Damage identification
Mechanical damage
Physical damage to leaves
Big holes
Small holes
Presence of waste material (frass)
Main sources
Rodents
Caterpillars
Snails
Grasshoppers
Cockroach
Flea beetle
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Sap sucking damage

Tiny dots on plant (stippling)
Yellowing of plant material
Browning of spots (Dead cells)
Main sources
Hemiptera
Aphids
Bughoppers
Thysanoptera/Thrips
Spider mite
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Boring damage
Damage of plant material through pest eating through
the material.
Plant material or lignin material
Main sources
Beetles
Termites
Caterpillars
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Boring damage- Leaf mining damage

Serpentine lines on leaves
Spots or blotches
A form of boring damage
Leaf is not completely destroyed but exposed

to further damage from other sources, fungi
and bacteria.
Leaf is not marketable due to appearance
Main sources
Leaf miner diptera/ true flies
Leaf miner lepidoptera/ moths
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Stunted plant growth

Unusual growth of plant leaves and stem
Disfigured leaves
Main sources
Aphids
Mealybugs
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Secondary effects
Black sooty mold
Caused by honeydew
Causes plants to be unable to photosynthesize
Main sources
Aphids
(Can reproduce by parthenogenesis)
Whiteflies
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Inspection- Active scouting
Scouting under leaves, flowers and fruits for presence of

pests
Daily Inspection of the whole plant
Other signs
Eggs- Can be found on netting or plants
Frass/ Waste/Wood debris from pests
Waste along pathways/ Claw marks- Rodents
• Photo credit:SFA Singapore Food Agency
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v. Biological and chemical treatments in line with SFA regulations
Methods to remove pest infestations
Physical
Use of physical methods like traps and picking by
hand
Biological
Release of biological predator or beneficial bacteria that
target specific pests
Chemical
Utilization of chemicals that target and kill the pest via
various modes of action
89
Biological Control of Pest
Usage of natural predators as biological

control
Ladybugs
Lacewings
Wasps
Lacewing Parasitic Wasp
Biological Sprays
BT- Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacteria based)
Ladybug and Larvae
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18 Oct 2022
Chemical Control of Pest in line with SFA

guidelines
Pesticides refer to any substance ( or mixture) an not

strictly chemicals used to destroy, prevent or control
(plant) pests.
Pesticide may include plant regulator, defoliant or insect

growth regulators
Types of pesticide
Systemic- Eaten or digested (e.g BT, Neem)

Contact- death through direct contact and absorbed into
the internal body ( e.g Amitraz, Malathion)
91
How do we control populations of pests?
Last resort in Integrated Pests Management

Chemical Control: Pesticides
Neem oil
Bacillus thuringiensis
Summer oil
Chlorpyrifos
Pyrethrins
1. Systemic
Eaten by insect via plant material or sprays
2. Contact
Contact on the exoskeleton of the insect
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18 Oct 2022
SFA regulations for pesticide use
All pesticide and chemicals used must be approved

under National Environmental Agency’s (NEA) Registration number
jurisdiction.
Approved chemicals come with a registration

number and the guidelines must be strictly followed
when utilized.
Pre-harvest interval (PHI) is the period from

application of the pesticide to the day of harvest
E.g 5 days: From the day of application +5 days then

you may harvest the products for selling
93
Application of chemical agents

Pressurized spray tanks
Compatible with fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers
Different spray patterns based on the nozzle head for

various application methods
Ergonomic for handling and ease of use
Can be utilized for small plots and landscape areas
For prevention of off-target damage

While spraying, aim at the direction that is the same as the
wind direction.This would prevent the pesticide from
affecting off-targets due to wind drift.
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18 Oct 2022
Invasive Species
95
i. Common invasive species
Invasive species
Plant
Animal
Insects
Water hyacinth
Red-eared slider Common Myna
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18 Oct 2022
ii. Minimum space requirements for optimal plant growth
Minimum space for plants to grow

Factors to consider
Air circulation
Water distribution
Space for the plant to grow
Nutrition for plants
Drainage for excess water
Space between plants

Leafy vegetables: Distance- 10 to 20 cm apart; Depth- 10 to 15 cm
Fruiting vegetables: Distance- 20 to 50 cm apart; Depth- 20 to 30 cm
97
iii. Impact of invasive species on plant health
Invasive species impact on natural

ecosystems
No active predators or natural enemies
Overgrowth and competition of invasives
Natural resources of native plant species reduced
Impact- reduction of native species health
Case Study
Water hyacinth (native to amazon basin) grown to
feed pigs in Singapore ( 1893 )
Leaked to Kranji reservoir, draining nutrients and

affecting native plants and growth
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18 Oct 2022
iv. Symptoms of invasive plants
Symptoms of invasive plants
Presence of the invasive plants in your

grow area
Overgrowth and expansion of the
invasives
Death and lack of intended species of
plants in the grow area
99
v. Using visual inspection and nonvisual signs to determine extent of inspection
Inspection- Active
scouting
Scouting near the host plants

for presence of invasive
plants
Search for invasive plant

parts- fruits, roots, leaves,
seeds
Other non-visual signs Koster’s curse

Some invasive plants may
produce smells that could
signify their presence
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18 Oct 2022
vi. Biological and chemical treatments in line with SFA regulations
Biological and chemical treatments
All pesticide and chemicals used must be

approved under National Environmental
Agency’s (NEA) jurisdiction
Removal of plant related invasives: Herbicides
Removal of insects related invasives: Bacillus

thuringiensis, Neem oil.
101
Treatment Plans
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18 Oct 2022
Regulatory and Legislative compliance for treatment

i. SFA regulations
Recap
SFA regulations for pesticide use
All pesticide and chemicals used must be approved

under National Environmental Agency’s (NEA) Registration number
jurisdiction.
Approved chemicals come with a registration

number and the guidelines must be strictly followed
when utilized.
Pre-harvest interval (PHI) is the period from

application of the pesticide to the day of harvest
E.g 5 days: From the day of application +5 days then

you may harvest the products for selling
103
Methods to remove infestation

Recap
Methods to remove pest infestations
Physical
Use of physical methods like traps and picking by
hand
Biological
Release of biological predator or beneficial bacteria that
target specific pests
Chemical
Utilization of chemicals that target and kill the pest via
various modes of action
104
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18 Oct 2022
Common biological and chemicals agents to treat pests, diseases and invasive
species
i. application of agents
Application of chemical agents

Pressurized spray tanks Recap
Compatible with fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers
Different spray patterns based on the nozzle head for

various application methods
Ergonomic for handling and ease of use
Can be utilized for small plots and landscape areas
For prevention of off-target damage

While spraying, aim at the direction that is the same as the
wind direction.This would prevent the pesticide from
affecting off-targets due to wind drift.
105
Common biological and chemicals agents to treat pests, diseases and

invasive species
ii avoiding off damage
How do we control populations of pests?
Last resort in Integrated Pests Management

Chemical Control: Pesticides
Neem oil
Bacillus thuringiensis
Summer oil
Chlorpyrifos
Pyrethrins
1. Systemic
Eaten by insect via plant material or sprays
2. Contact
Contact on the exoskeleton of the insect
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18 Oct 2022
Factors affecting performance of chemical and biological agents in dealing

with pests, diseases or invasive species
Factors affecting chemical and biological

agents
Pesticides contain two types of chemicals: Inert and

Active ingredients
Inert ingredients help to enhance the application

and effectiveness of the pesticide
Active ingredients are the control of the

pest/disease/invasive species
Pesticides can undergo degradation (chemical

breakdown) , deactivation, photodecomposition (UV
related), Hydrolysis (Breakdown by water),
temperature breakdown and pH.
107
Factors affecting performance of chemical and biological agents in dealing

with pests, diseases or invasive species
Factors affecting chemical and biological agents

Degradation (Chemical)
Occurs when the Active ingredient reacts with chemicals in the soil, leaf or wherever the pesticide lands on. Temperature
also affects the rate of reaction. Every 10 °C increase, rate of reaction doubles.
Deactivation
When the pesticide adheres strongly to a soil particle, plant part or other substance, it will no longer be available to react
with pests.
Photodecomposition (UV)
Ultraviolet (UV) light is a very high source of energy that can cause the breakdown of chemicals.
Hydrolysis
This process involves the addition of a water molecule which breaks down the pesticide chemical.Water is introduced when
the pesticide container is opened.
Temperature
Every 10 °C increase, rate of reaction doubles. Pesticides sprayed closer to the plant canopy are more exposed to ambient
temperatures which fluctuate more which may speed the rate of pesticide breakdown.
pH
If slightly acidic pesticides are added to alkaline surfaces, neutralization of the pesticide will occur and this will affect the
function of the pesticide.
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18 Oct 2022
Application and calibration of tools and equipment for plant health care
Main tools and equipment for plant health

care
Electro conductivity (EC) meters- EC for

fertilizer
pH and temperature sensors- pH of medium
PAR light sensors- Light for plants
Some sensors can be digitally calibrated

while some sensors require a
recalibration after several uses.
The pH and temperature sensor is one such
sensor. It requires known buffer solutions ( 4
and 7) to recalibrate it for accuracy.
After prolonged usage of tools, they have to be EC and Soil Moisture pH and temperature PAR Light Sensor
cleaned for dust and dirt that may affect the Sensor sensor
effectiveness of the sensors.
109
Group Activity – 1 hour
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18 Oct 2022
Learning Objective:
• Able to familiar with the plant health management
Instructions:
Form a group of 5 with not more than 5 members in any group.
Discuss on the following topics
• Common types of crops
• Nutritional Needs
• Hydroponic Solutions in Media
• Plant diseases
• Pests
• Invasive Species
• Treatment Plans
Share your findings to the class
111
Case Study – 2 hours
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18 Oct 2022
Learning Objective:
• Able to manage the plant health
Read the case study below and answer the following questions:
Case study: Plant

pest, disease and
invasive
identification
Identify the plant
symptoms and
choose the most
likely causes of the
plant damage or
symptoms
113
Case study: Plant pest,

disease and invasive
identification
Identify the plant Leaf Miner Stippling/ sap sucking damage Bacterial Leaf spots
symptoms and choose
the most likely causes of
the plant damage or
symptoms
White rust fungus Koster’s curse invasive Mechanical damage
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18 Oct 2022
THANK YOU
End of
LU2. Plant Health
Management
115
58

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18 Oct 2022

Urban Farming Professional Course

To be the leader and trusted To provide learning that transforms

 Respect and teamwork  Passion for lifelong learning  Play to win

LU2: Plant Health Management

Learning Outcome (LO) Abilities (A)/ Knowledge (K)

LO1: Identify plant nutritional deficiencies to appraise requirements.

Common types of crops in Urban Farms

What is the first thing that comes to mind

i. Common varieties of crops

i. Common varieties of crops

ii. Characteristics of crop varieties

What are some characteristics of these

ii. Characteristics of crop varieties

1) Heavy machinery 1) Less control of environmental factors

What is considered “Urban” ?

What are some characteristics of Urban areas?

What kind of crops do you think that fit in these areas?

PARKROYAL on Pickering Tree House Condominium

Crops in Urban areas

Funan Lifestyle Mall (Photo: Funan)

Crops in Urban areas

iii. Crop anatomy and life cycle

Roots- Uptake of water and nutrients. Structural

Shoot/Stem- Transportation of water and nutrients

Leaves- Site of photosynthesis and food

Flowers- Sexual reproduction of plants

Fruits- Dispersal of seeds

Seeds- Next generation of plants

iii. Crop anatomy and life cycle

Function: To draw water and nutrients for the

Fine root hairs

Roots have indeterminate growth unlike leaves and

iii. Crop anatomy and life cycle

Crop Anatomy: Leaves

Function: Site of photosynthesis and food

iii. Crop anatomy and life cycle

Crop life cycle

i. Crop nutritional needs

What conditions do plants need to survive and be healthy?

i. Crop nutritional needs

What conditions do plants need to survive and be healthy?

ii. Sunlight and Natural Light

Different Spectrums of light

Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR)

Non- Visible Spectrum

ii. Sunlight and Natural Light

Light for plants

iii. Common nutritional deficiencies

What nutrients will be tied up if the

What nutrients will be tied up if the

Why do Blueberry plants need a pH

iii. Common nutritional deficiencies

We are on our way to becoming

We can look to the roots, leaves,

Leaves are often used to distinguish

iii. Common nutritional deficiencies

Leaves experience chlorosis in the

Chlorosis: General yellowing of leaves

iii. Common nutritional deficiencies

Shoot growth would be inhibited or

2) Starts from mature plant parts