Page 133 - Agriculture_Form_3

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

(d) Summarise your observations, activities done, challenges, and a key lesson
learnt from this activity in your portfolio.

Exercise 8.2
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
1. In different parts of your school farm there areas with clay soil and other
with sandy loam soil. Which site would you choose for growing pigeon peas?
Explain the reasons behind your choice.
2. Heri grows pigeon peas in a swampy area. He complains about getting very
poor yields. Based on what you have learnt from this chapter, explain what
could be the possible cause of poor yield in Heri’s field. What practical steps
can Heri take to improve the next harvests?

3. Your agriculture teacher asks you to prepare a piece of land for planting
pigeon peas. Outline the steps you would follow and the importance of each.

Variety selection and pigeon pea sowing

Choosing the right variety of pigeon pea is an important step in achieving
good yields. Adaptation of pigeon pea varieties differes with soil and climatic
conditions of an area. Existing differences in amount of rainfall, soil type, light,
and temperature among regions of Tanzania cause variation in performance
between varieties. Some varieties mature early and hence useful in areas with
short rainy seasons whereas others grow slowly but give higher yields, resistance
to pests and tolerate drought. Some are suitable for harvesting as fresh peas,
while others are best for dry grains.

In Tanzania, some of the recommended varieties include Mali, Tumia, Kiboko,
Karatu-1, Ilonga-10-2M, Ilonga-10-1M and Komboa. These varieties are known
for their high yield potential, drought tolerance, and good pea quality. New
varieties are introduced from time to time. It is therefore, important to consult
agricultural workers, or certified seed suppliers to find the most suitable and up-
to-date variety for their area.
After selecting a variety, sowing must be done carefully. Sowing begins at the
start of the rainy season, when the soil has enough moisture. Pigeon peas can
be sown by either row planting or broadcasting. Row planting involves placing
seeds in straight lines and proper spacing. It is the most recommended method
because it makes weeding, pest control, and harvesting easier. On the other hand,

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