Page 85 - Agriculture Form Two

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Pest management
Round potatoes are affected by various pests, from the field to storage. The most
common pests affecting potatoes are weeds, pathogens (fungal and bacterial),
nematodes, and insect pests. These pests can cause significant destruction of the
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crop. Therefore, it is essential to provide appropriate management based on the
crop in question.

Weed management

Keep the round potato field weed-free. Weeds should be removed to avoid
competition with the crop for water, light, nutrients, and space, leading to
reduced yields. Weeding should start 3-4 weeks after planting (1-2 weeks after
germination), depending on the weather or when weeds appear. A hand hoe is
recommended for weeding as it can remove all weeds. This weeding should be
done before the round potatoes start to set to avoid damage to small potato tubers.

Additionally, non-selective herbicides can be used to kill perennial weeds before
land preparation or before planting. Use another type of herbicide immediately
after transplanting. If possible, cover the soil with mulch to suppress weed
growth. Combine different methods to control weeds instead of relying on a
single method. You can seek advice from an agricultural extension worker on the
type of herbicide to use against the available weeds on your farm.

Activity 5.7
Visit the school field where the round potato has been planted and do the following:

(a) Identify the types of weeds in your school’s field for the round potato;
(b) Recommend methods of weeding depending on the weeds found on the
farm;
(c) Under the guidance of your teacher, apply a selective herbicide to one
section of the field while using hand hoe weeding in another section; then,
(d) Compare the effectiveness of the two methods.

Insect pest management

Effective insect pest management involves strategies to control insect pests that
can harm crop yield and quality. Whiteflies and potato moths are among the
important insect pests in the round potato crop. They transmit pathogens causing

Student’s Book Form Two 77

04/10/2024 18:07
Agriculture form 2.indd 77 04/10/2024 18:07
Agriculture form 2.indd 77