Growing food : a guide to food production

THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES USED IN AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE A Plant Growth 1 a Plant Propagation 1 b Plant Population 4 c Leaf Area Index 5 d The Root System 6 e The Nitrogen Cycle 6 B Arid Regions 8 a Plant/Soil/Water Relationships 8 b Plant Reaction to Stress 9 c Crop Management in Arid Regions 10 C Soil 11 a Saline Soils 15 b Soil Analysis 18 c Acid Soils/pH value 20 d Trace Elements 23 D Fertiliser 29 E The Plant 36 a Annual/Biennial/Perennial 36 b Botanical Classification/Taxonomy 36 c Cultivar/Variety 38 d Photosynthesis/Respiration 39 e Transpiration 39 f Wilting 39 g Shade Plants/Sun Plants 40 h Vegetative Reproduction 40 i Determinate/Indeterminate 42 j Day length/Photoperiodism 42 k Growth Period 43 l Tuber 44 m Rogue Plants 45 n Volunteer Plants 45 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS F The Seed 45 a Germination 46 b Seed Rate 52 c Hybrids 52 d Composite Varieties 53 e Inoculation/Nitrogen Fixation 54 f Seed Treatment (Dressing) 57 g Vernalisation 59 G Crops 59 a Cropping Calendar 59 b Break Crops 61 c Catch Crops 62 d Climbing Crops 62 e Companion Crops 63 f Cover Crops 63 g Pioneer Crops 64 h Smother Crops 64 i Shade Crops 64 H Farming Systems 65 a Rotation 65 b Mixed Cropping 66 c Alley Cropping 68 d Green Manure 69 e Mulch 70 f Silage 72 g Hay 72 h Land Area Measurement 74 I The Harvest 76 a Maturity 76 b Yield 76 c Haulm 77 J Insects 78 K Diseases 81 L Weeds 88 M Tools 92 N Irrigation 93 O Storage 100 SECTION 2 DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAIN FOOD CROPS Barley 107 Buckwheat 110 Maize 113 119 Oats 125 Rice 128 Rye 133 Sorghum 135 Teff 140 Wheat 143 152 Chickpea 155 Cowpea 158 Field pea 161 Groundnut 164 167 Lentil 171 Lima Bean 174 Mung Bean 177 Pigeon Pea 179 Soybean 182 186 Castor 190 Linseed 193 Niger Seed 196 Sesame 198 Sunflower 201 vii A Cereals 105 Millets B Legumes 150 Broad Bean (Horse Bean or Field Bean) Haricot (French) Bean Vetch (Grass Pea or Chickling Pea) C Oilseeds TABLE OF CONTENTS 188 205 Irish Potato 208 Sweet Potato 212 Taro 215 Yam 217 Cabbage 222 Carrot 225 Cucurbits 228 Okra 231 Onion 234 237 Tomato 240 Avocado 244 Banana 247 Citrus 253 Guava 256 Mango 259 261 Watermelon 264 Amaranth 268 Bambara Groundnut 271 Buffalo Gourd 273 Leucaena 275 Lupin 278 Tepary Bean 282 284 viii E Vegetables 221 Cassava/Manioc D Root Crops F Fruits 243 266 Papaya (Pawpaw) Winged Bean (Four-angled Bean) TABLE OF CONTENTS 204 Peppers G Under Exploited Food Crops SECTION 3 288 310 313 ix 317 Bibliography 324 Index 327 TABLE OF CONTENTS A Naming and Classification of Food Crops B Seed Purchase Procedures C Conversion Tables and Statistics D Some Issues to Consider When Planning or Assessing Agricultural Development or Rehabilation Programmes