CROP PRODUCTION

The method relies on the use of vegetative structures such as stems, leaves or roots to perpetuate the parent plants. The vegetative parts contain or develop buds which give rise to new individuals.

Advantages of using vegetative materials for planting.

I) Crop originating from vegetative materials mature faster than those from seeds. 

II) The crops show uniformity in such qualities as disease resistance, seed size, colour, keeping or storing quality and chemical composition.

III) It is possible to produce many varieties of compatible crops on the same root stock.

IV) Use of the vegetative materials is easier and faster, especially where seeds show prolonged dormancy.

V) The resulting plant has desirable shape and size for ease of harvesting and spraying.

VI) It facilitates the propagation of crops which are seedless or those that produce seeds which are not viable or have long dormancy.

Disadvantages.

i) Vegetative propagation does not result in new crop varieties.

ii) Keeping the materials free of disease is difficult.

iii) Materials cannot be stored for long.

iv) The materials are bulky and therefore difficult to store and transport.

Plant parts used for vegetative propagation

(i)Bulbils.

These are tiny sisal plants produced in the inflorescence almost at the end of the plant growth cycle.

(ii) Splits.

These are plantlets divided from the existing mother plant with complete leaves and rooting system.

(i) Crowns and slips.

These are materials used to propagate pineapples. Crowns are born on top of the fruits and are broken off and prepared for planting. Slips are born at the base of the pineapple fruit, they take 22 months from planting to maturity.

Crowns and slips are planted in the nurseries first before transplanting to the main seedbed.

(ii) Suckers.

These are small plants that grow from the base of the main stem. They have adventitious roots which grow quickly when planted to form a new plant.

(iii) Tubers (stem and root tubers)

These are underground structures or food organs which are short and thick. They sprout and produce roots for growth.

(iv) Vines.

These are soft wood cuttings which produce roots easily upon planting to give rise to new plants. They are cut from the mother plants and planted directly into the field.

(v) Cuttings and setts.

Cuttings are portions of plant parts which are cut and then planted. They may be from stems, roots or leaves. A stem cutting must have a bud which develops into a shoot. The root cutting must have an eye.