Pre Harvesting Practices

Pre Harvesting Practices
Outline
• Pre- and Land Preparation Practices

• Fertilizer Application
• Use of Pesticide and Agrochemicals
• Integrated Pest Management
• Weed Management
• Water Management
• Other Cultural Practices
Optional Practices before land preparation:
• Liming when the soil pH goes below 5.3

• Should be done at least 1 month before planting
by broadcasting and plowing under of about ½ to
2/3 of the recommended rate. The remainder of
the requirement should again be broadcasted
before harrowing
 Liming is profitable because its residual

effects extend to four succeeding crops.
Land Preparation
• Plow the field at the right moisture content

• Prepare the land thoroughly at least 14 days before
planting.
• A well prepared or well pulverized soil will:
 Provide uniform germination
and good root development
 Minimize weed problem
 Provide better water
retention in the soil
Source: www.usm.edu.ph
Fertilizer Application
 Prior to land preparation, soil samples should be

analyzed for pH, nutrient status for appropriate
fertilizer recommendation and soil characteristics.
 Soil analysis should be done every 2 years and
carried-out by an accredited laboratory.
 Use only fully decomposed organic materials.
 Use only the registered commercial fertilizers
5
 Observe appropriate method and time of application of
the recommended combination and amount of fertilizers
based on the result of soil analysis.
Basal - Apply all organic, ½ of N and all P and
K fertilizers before planting.
Sidedressing - The remaining ½ N will be

applied at 25-
30 DAP before hilling up
 Cover the fertilizer with a thin layer of soil about 2 cm
to prevent contact with the corn seeds and exposure
to air and sunlight
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Fertilizers should be stored separately from pesticides in a
clean and dry area (preferably slightly elevated above
ground on pallets).
Storage area of fertilizers should be isolated from corn
drying and storage areas to prevent contamination due to
leaching, runoff or wind drift.
A complete set of records of fertilizers and fertilizer
preparation should be kept. (source of fertilizer materials,
composting procedures, dates, amounts and methods of
application, person responsible for the application)
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Use of Pesticide and Agrochemicals
Pesticide (insecticide, fungicide,

bactericide, rodenticide, etc.) and
agrochemical (adjuvant, detergent,
disinfectant, plant growth regulators,
etc.) usage during corn production
and post harvest handling should
comply with the regulations set by
the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority
(FPA) as follows:
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• Only trained/certified pesticide applicators are allowed to
carry out pesticide application in the farm.
GAP
• Use registered pesticides and

agrochemicals according to the
manufacturer’s recommendation.
• Pesticide and agrochemicals should
be clearly labeled and stored in
original container and kept under
lock and key. Warning sign should
be displayed at the storage area.
• Empty pesticide container should
not be recycled for other usage.
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• Records of purchase, application and disposal of the
pesticides and agrochemicals must be kept (log records,
GAP
procedures, or instruction manual)

• Spraying equipment should be regularly maintained to ensure
that the equipment operates at its optimum condition so that
right application rates are delivered and unnecessary leakage is
avoided
• Withholding periods or pre-harvest intervals should be
strictly observed.
• Farm personnel involved in the use of pesticide and
agrochems should wear appropriate protective clothing and
safety gadgets.
10
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control the

incidence of crop pests.
• Practice crop rotation to minimize built-up of insect pests
and diseases. The continuous planting of the same plant
species within a piece of land leads to the build-up of insect
pests and diseases.
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Suggested IPM Strategies
• Conduct field monitoring at all crop stages to determine the

level of infestation of insect pests – appropriate control
• Release Trichogramma sp. at 100 trichocards/ha or about

200,000 adults/ha) at 25 and 35 DAP
• At high infestation of corn borer, detasselling at 45-55 DAP.

Retain or leave one undetasseled row per 2-3 detasseled
rows. Collect the tassels, and if possible bury or burn them.
• Plants showing virus and fungal (downy mildew) infection

should be uprooted and buried or burned
• Apply only pesticide if necessary following the
recommended use.
• For rodent control, clear the area of weeds and set-up rat
baits particularly on rat infested areas. Put one bait station in
every corner of the area planted. Continue field monitoring
for presence of rodents and increase the number of baiting
stations if necessary.
• If baits are used, put warning signs
Pest Occurrence in Different Growth Stages of Corn
Source: Pocket Reference Manual for Corn IPM, 1987

Disease Occurrence in Different Growth Stages of Corn
Source: Pocket Reference Manual for Corn IPM, 1987

Weed Management
• Weeding operation should be done at the first 35-

45% of the corn life cycle (critical period)
• Practice appropriate weed control measures like
using appropriate cultural practices such as proper
land preparation, off-barring and hilling-up and/or
using herbicides.
• Ensuring proper tillage operations provides head-
start of corn plant against weeds.
• Spot weeding
16
• Chemical method – use of selective herbicides
 Spraying of pre-emergence herbicide (optional, e.g.

Atrazine)
 At 23-30 DAP, 1st spraying of Round-up herbicide for
glyphosate tolerant corn.
 At 43-50 DAP, 2nd spraying (optional or spot)
spraying of Round-up herbicide for glyphosate
tolerant corn.
Water Management
• Maintain the water requirement to avoid moisture stress

particularly during flowering up to the maturation stage.
At these stages, the crop is more susceptible to aflatoxin
contamination.
• The corn field should be irrigated moderately even at the
time of planting to seed germination and during the early
growth and development of corn plants.
 The average daily water consumption of corn is

approximately equal to field evaporation (4 to 5mm/day).
GAP Corn Inspection Procedures - Clarence F.

18
Other Cultural Practices
• If detopping of corn plants is to be practiced, this should

be done after physiological maturity has been attained.
• Follow the other recommended cultural practices of corn

including the maintenance of the recommended row and
plant spacing to avoid overcrowding.
• 75 cm x 25 cm = 53,333
• 70 cm x 25 cm = 57,143
• 75 cm X 20 cm = 66,666
• Conduct regular monitoring at all crop stages to provide
measures to problems that may arise.
References
• DA-BAFPS, 2007. Philippine National Standard Code of Good Agricultural Practices for Corn
( PNS/BAFPS 20: 2007) 9pp.
• Presentation of Ms. Norma Malimban of DA-BPI, Manila during the TWG Quality Corn
management Workshop on GAP Corn Module Development, Panglao Island, Bohol on 2-3 Sept
2009
Thank You
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Pre Harvesting Practices

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Pre Harvesting Practices

• Pre- and Land Preparation Practices

• Liming when the soil pH goes below 5.3

 Liming is profitable because its residual

• Plow the field at the right moisture content

 Prior to land preparation, soil samples should be

Sidedressing - The remaining ½ N will be

Pesticide (insecticide, fungicide,

• Use registered pesticides and

procedures, or instruction manual)

• Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control the

• Conduct field monitoring at all crop stages to determine the

• Release Trichogramma sp. at 100 trichocards/ha or about

• At high infestation of corn borer, detasselling at 45-55 DAP.

• Plants showing virus and fungal (downy mildew) infection

Source: Pocket Reference Manual for Corn IPM, 1987

Source: Pocket Reference Manual for Corn IPM, 1987

• Weeding operation should be done at the first 35-

 Spraying of pre-emergence herbicide (optional, e.g.

• Maintain the water requirement to avoid moisture stress

 The average daily water consumption of corn is

GAP Corn Inspection Procedures - Clarence F.

• If detopping of corn plants is to be practiced, this should

• Follow the other recommended cultural practices of corn

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