PAPER

LEAFY VEGETABLES CULTIVATION

This paper was created as a scientific paper for “Dispatch Expert on Agriculture for
Myanmar” on December 7- 8th, 2018 at Central Agriculture Research and Training Center
(CARTC) Zayatkwin, Hlegu Myanmar

By

Dewi Padmisari S

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL TRAINING CENTER (NATC) LEMBANG)

AGENCY FOR AGRICULTURE EXTENSION AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (AAEHRD)

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

2018
 PREFACE

We always present the presence of Allah SWT for His blessings, mercy, guidance and
blessings, so that the author can complete this scientific paper entitled "Leafy Vegetables
Cultivation". The author also expressed gratitude to all parties who have helped during the
process of making this paper.

The general purposes of this paper is after learning participants will be able to cultivate leafy
vegetables. The spesific purposes of this paper are (1) Participants will be able to cultivate
leafy vegetables on yield, on pot/polybag and with verticulture system (2) Participants will be
able to cultivate leafy vegetables with simply hydroponic system.

The finding shows that cultivation on leafy vegetables divide into two method (1)
Conventional Method (on yield, on pot/polybag and with verticulture system) and ; (2)
Hydroponic Method (Wick System, Floating Raft System, Ebb and Flow System, Nutrient
Film Technique (NFT) and Deep Flow Technique (DFT), Drip Irrigation System, and
Aeroponics). Cultivation method with simply way like on polybag and wick system very
interisting for common participants.

Lembang, December 2018

Author,

Dewi Padmisari S, SP., M. Sc

NIP. 19780410 200212 2 001

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION 1
2. OBJECTIVE 1
A. GENERAL 1
B. SPECIFIC 1
3. CULTIVATION METHOD 1
A. Conventional Method 1
B. Hydroponic Method 2
4. CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES 2
A. Conventional Method on Yield 2
a. Land Preparation and Medium 2
b. Nursery 3
c. Planting 3
d. Fertilization 4
e. Pest and Diseases Control 4
f. Pruning 4
g. Watering 5
h. Weeding 6
i. Harvesting 6
B. Conventional Method on Polybag 6
a. Medium and Polybag Preparation 6
b. Nursery 7
c. Planting 7
d. Fertilization 7
e. Pest and Diseases Control 8
f. Pruning 8
g. Watering 8
h. Weeding 9
i. Harvesting 9
C. Verticulture Method 10
a. Place Preparation 10
b. Medium Preparation 11
c. Seed Preparation 11
d. Planting 11
e. Plant Maintenance 11
f. Harvest and Post Harvest 12
5. LEARNING HYDROPONICS 12
A. Working Principal of Hydroponic System 12
B. Hydroponic Cultivation 12
C. Hydroponic Type of Plant 13
D. Hydroponic Advantages and Disadvantages 13
a. Advantages 13
b. Disadvantages 13
E. Hydroponic Growing Method 14
a. Wick System 15
b. Floating Raft System 15
c. Ebb and Flow System 15
d. Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and Deep Flow Technique (DFT) 16

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 e. Drip Irrigation System 17
f. Aeroponics 18
F. Nursery (Seeding) in Hydroponic 19
G. Planting in Hydroponic 19
H. Plant Maintenance 20
I. Harvesting 20

REFERENCES

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 TABLE LIST

Table 1. Harvest Periodes of Leafy Vegetables

Table 2. Pest and Diseases Controls for Leafy Vegetables

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 FIGURE LIST

Figure 1. Land and Medium Preparation for Plant Cultivating on Yield

Figure 2. Nursery for Plant Cultivating on Yield
Figure 3. Planting in Plant Cultivating on Yield
Figure 4. Fertilization in Plant Cultivating on Yield
Figure 5. Pruning in Plant Cultivating on Yield
Figure 6. Watering in Plant Cultivating on yield
Figure 7. Weeding in Plant Cultivating on Yield
Figure 8. Planting in Plant Cultivating on Polybag
Figure 9. Watering in Plant Cultivating on Polybag
Figure 10. Harvesting in Plant Cultivating on Polybag
Figure 11. Plant Cultivating in Verticulture Method
Figure 12. Wick System
Figure 13. Floating Raft System
Figure 14. Ebb and Flow System
Figure 15. Nutrient Film Technique System
Figure 16. Deep Flow Technique System
Figure 17. Drip Irrigation System
Figure 18. Aeroponic System

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1. INTRODUCTION

Leafy vegetables are a highly variable group of crop plants that broadly can be

define as vegetables grown for their edible leaves. However, the distinction

between leafy and non-leafy crops is not always clear. Leafy vegetables include,

among others, spinach, turnip, parsley, and lettuce. Dark green leafy vegetables are

great sources of nutrition. Salad greens, kale and spinach are rich in vitamins A, C,

E and K, and broccoli, bok choy and mustard are also rich in many of the B

vitamins. These vegetables also contain an abundance of carotenoids- antioxidant

that protects cells and pay roles in blocking the early stages of cancer. They also

contain high levels of fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium (Lin Yan,

2013).

2. OBJECTIVES

A. General

After learning participants will be able to cultivate leafy vegetables.

B. Specific

1. Participants will be able to cultivate leafy vegetables on yield, on

pot/polybag and with verticulture system

2. Participants will be able to cultivate leafy vegetables with simply

hydroponic system

3. CULTIVATION METHOD

A. Conventional Method

Common cultivation method using soil as medium and plants are cultivated on

yield, pot/polibag or with verticulture system (Sastro, 2012).

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 B. Hydroponics Method

Modern cultivation technique using soiless as medium and plants are usually

cultivated in green house.

4. CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
A. Conventional Method on yield
a. Land Preparation and medium

Figure 1. Land and Medium Preparation for Plant Cultivating on Yield

1. Measuring land area

2. Cleaning land area

3. Tillaging land area by hoe or hand tractor

4. Providing initial fertilizer

5. Mulching (for bok choy/chinese cabbage

6. Making planting hole (for bok choy/chinese cabbage)

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b. Nursery

Figure 2. Nursery for Plant Cultivating on Yield

1. Preparing a nursery place and tray

2. Preparing nursery medium: one part of sifted soil mixed with one part of

rice husk and one part of sifted animal manure.

3. Seeds treatment (e. g for kangkong, soak seeds over night until it cracked)

4. Seeds placing

5. Seeds maintaining

c. Planting

Figure 3. Planting in Plant Cultivating on Yield

There are three ways of planting leafy vegetables on field:

1. Spread the seeds directly on beds, cover with thin layer of soil

2. Spread the seeds in line, distances between lines are about 10 cm

3. Sow seeds in nursery, spacing deep for mulching beds is 60 x 60 cm

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d. Fertilization

Figure 4. Fertilization in Plant Cultivating on Yield

1. Determining fertilizer type and dose depend on plants needs

2. Scaling fertelizers weight

3. Providing aftershock fertilizer

e. Pest and diseases controls

1. Physical control

2. Biological control

3. Chemical control

f. Pruning

Pruning is only done for leaf that infected by pests and diseases.

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 Figure 5. Pruning in Plant Cultivating on Yield

g. Watering

There are several things that must be concerned in watering:

1. Watering time: watering must be done in the morning before hot sunshine,

and must be done even in the rain to prevent soil borne diseases

2. Watering techniques: using watering can or hose with sprinkler

3. Watering periode: Watering must be done twice a day

Figure 6. Watering in Plant Cultivating on yield

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 h. Weeding

Weeding is done at about 10-20 days after planting. It can be done with two

techniques:

1. Mechanical technique, pick the weeds by hands or simple tools

2. Chemical techniques, using herbicide

Figure 7. Weeding in Plant Cultivating on Yield

i. Harvesting
Below is harvest periode for some leafy vegetables:

Table 1. Harvest Periodes of Leafy Vegetables

Vegetables Harvesting Periodes (Days)
Spinach 30-45
Kangkong (Morning Glory) 30- 45
Bok choy (Chinese cabbage) 40-50
Lettuce 40-50
Cabbage 90-120
Source: MoA, 2012

B. Conventional Method on Polybag

a. Medium and polybag preparation, mix one part of sifted soil with one

part of rice husk and one part of sifted animal manure/ compost, put in

polybag and water it.

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b. Nursery

Nursery for planting in polybag is the same as for planting on yield.

Medium for nursery are 1 part of sifted soil + 1 part of rice husk + 1 part of

sifted animal manure/compost, mix and watering it. Seeds are sowing

within 10-14 days, putting seeds one by one to the tray, cover with thin soil

and sack within 3 days or more until germinate, then open the cover.

c. Planting
Seeds planted is 1 or 2 seeds for each polybag with 40 cm size

Figure 8. Planting in Plant Cultivating on Polybag

d. Fertilization

Fertilization for leafy vegetables in polybag is 10 grams of Urea/NPK (1

table spoon) dissolve with 1 liter of water, apply 200 ml/plant in dry season.

Started 2 weeks after seed planting. Pour it once a week until harvesting

time. For roots spinach/kangkong, pour 10 grams of urea around the canopy

(in wet season).

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e. Pest and Diseases Control

Below is the pests and diseases controls for leafy vegetables table:

Table 2. Pest and Diseases Controls for Leafy Vegetables

Vegetables Pest Control Disease Control
Spinach/Amaranth Grasshopper/ Physical Less
Mizus diseases
Kangkong/ water Grasshopper/ Physical Less
spinach Mizus diseases
Bok choy/ Green Green fleas, Organic Root rot, Medium
Mustard army worms, pesticide, leaf rot drainage,
grasshoppers physical (rare) putting rice
husk or
compost
Lettuce Green fleas, Organic Root rot, Medium
army worms, pesticide, leaf rot drainage,
grasshoppers physical (rare) putting rice
husk or
compost
Chinese cabbage Agrotis, Sanitation, Downey Sanitation,
plutella insecticide mildew, fungicide
club root

f. Pruning

Same as on the yield, pruning vegetables in polybag is also only done for

leaf that infected by pests and diseases.

g. Watering

Watering for leafy vegetables in polybag is depend on plant ages and weather

condition. Watering is done twice a day in dry season and done only if soil

looks dry in wet season. Base on plant ages, watering on young plants can be

done once a day and on growth period, watering can be done twice a day.

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 Figure 9. Watering in Plant Cultivating on Polybag

h. Weeding

Same as on the yield, weeding for leafy vegetables on polybag is also done

at about 10- 20 days after planting. It can be done with two techniques:

1. Mechanical technique, pick the weeds by hands or simple tools

2. Chemical techniques, using herbicide

i. Harvesting

For leafy vegetables on polybag, harvesting depends on kind of vegetables.

Spinach harvested when it is 20 cm long (30- 45 days), and kangkong about

20-30 cm (40- 50 days). Harvesting can be done by pull out the crops with

their roots or cut the base of stem.

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 Figure 10. Harvesting in Plant Cultivating on Polybag

C. Verticulture Method

Figure 11. Plant Cultivating in Verticulture Method

a. Place preparation

Verticulture usually used for narrow yard/urban farming. It can be placed at

front or back yard using bamboo rack or pipe rack.

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b. Medium preparation

Verticulture medium is made from mixture of one part of soil, one part of

rice husk and one part of compost.

c. Seed preparation

For nursery, seeds of leafy vegetables can be plant directly, or sowing first.

Leafy vegetables types that have to be sowed first are lettuce, mustard,

cabbage, etc. Leafy vegetables that can be plant directly to medium are

spinach, kangkong, etc.

d. Planting

Crops are plant on verticulture shelf using pipe. Flush planting container

that has been placed on vertical shelf and let sit for 5- 7 days before

planting. Space distance between plants in rows is 15- 25 cm.

e. Plant maintenance

For maintenance, single chemical fertilizers that can be use are Urea,

TSP,and KCl. And for compound fertilizer we can use NPK. We can use

liquid supplementary fertilizer too if it is necessary. We also can use

organic fertilizers (from livestock /animal manure, liquid organic fertilizer,

compost).

Provision of chemical fertilizers can be done at early planting (sow on

media)and fertilizer aftershocks is done every 2 weeks (sow or watering

dilluted fertilizer, for example, 3 g of urea, 5 g of NPK).

Giving organic fertilizer/compost is also necessary for maintenance. It can

be mixed with soil as a planting medium and added after 1-2 months.

Chicken manure contain many N that is good for leaf vegetables. Goat

manure contain many P and K, for formation and maturation of fruits.

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 f. Harvest and post harvest

Leafy vegetables (Bok choy, spinach, kangkong, lettuce, etc.) can be

harvest 30-50 days after planting, by removing the roots or cutting the base

of the stem. Newly harvested plants are placed in the shade, kept from

wither by sprinkling water. Harvesting can be done several times,

(depending on maintenance) with an interval of 3-7 days.

5. LEARNING HYDROPONICS

Hydroponics is a technology for producing plants with higher productivity

and quality compared to conventional cultivation. The term hydroponics is derived from

the Latin word meaning hydro (water) and ponos (work). The term hydroponics was

first proposed by W.F. Gericke of the University of California in the early 1930s ,

conducting experiments in a commercial-scale plant nutrients, hereinafter referred nutri-

culture or Hydroponics.

A. WORKING PRINCIPAL OF HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

In order to achieve maximum results in hydroponic system, water and

nutrient management is focused on the optimal route of administration, in accordance

with:

1. needs of plants,

2. age of the plant, and

3. environmental conditions

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B. HYDROPONIC CULTIVATION

Hydroponic is a subset of hydroculture, which is a method of growing plants

without soil by using mineral solutions in a water solvent. Terrestrial plants may be

grown with their only roots exposed to the mineral solution, or the roots maybe

supported by an inert medium, such as perlite or gravel. The nutrients used in

hydroponic system can come from an array of different sources, these can include, but

are not limited to, by product from fish waste, duck manure, or purchased chemical

fertilizers.

C. HYDROPONIC TYPE OF PLANTS

We must consider the types of plants that can be cultivated on a commercial

scale. As examples, types of plants that have good value, include leafy vegetables.

Some plants that have high value are zucchini, tomato, bell pepper, melon, lettuce and

potato.

D. HYDROPONIC ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

a. Advantages

1. Plants easily updated without depending on the condition of the land and the

seasons

2. Plants growth and harvest quality can be arranged

3. Labor saving

4. Clean and more hygienic products

5. Saving water and fertilizers (safe for environment)

6. Shorter growing periode

7. Cheap operational cost

b. Disadvantages

1. More expensive initial investment cost

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 2. Heavily influenced by the concentration and composition of fertilizers, pH

and temperatures.

E. HYDROPONIC GROWING METHOD

a. Wick System

Wick system is the most simple system of hydroponic. It is a passive system,

meaning there are no moving parts. Nutrient solution is drawn into the growing

medium of nutrient container with a wick. The wick is usually made from flannel

or any other type of material that easily absorbs water .

Tools:

1. Hole puncher

2. Cutter, for cutting styrofoam

3. Scissors for cutting flannel fabrics

Materials:

1. Container for hydroponic nutrients

2. 3 cm thick Styrofoam

3. Rockwool for growing media

4. Netpot

5. Flannel fabrics for wicks

6. Water

7. Seeds

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 Figure 12. Wick System

b. Floating Raft System

A raft system is a very simple hydroponic system which presents a floating net

cup with growing medium and plant. The plant is immersed all time, roots

hanging in the nutrient solution (www.instructables.com).

Figure 13. Floating Raft System

c. Ebb and Flow System

Ebb and Flow System also called Flood and Drain System of Tidal. It is one of

the hydroponic system with a working principle that is quite unique. In the ebb

and flow system, plants get water, oxygen, and nutrients through the pumping

of the tank is pumped to the media that will be able to moisten the roots.

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 Figure 14. Ebb and Flow System

d. NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) and DFT (Deep Flow Technique) Systems
Nutrient Film Technique (NFT)

Nutrient film technique is a hydroponic technique where in a very shallow

stream of water containing all the dissolved nutrients required for plant growth

is re- circulated past the bare roots of plants in a watertight gully, also known as

channels. A properly designed NFT system is based onusing the right channel

slope, the right flow rate, and the right channel length. The plant roots are

exposed to adequate supplies of water, oxygen and nutrients.

Figure 15. Nutrient Film Technique System

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 Deep Flow Technique (DFT)

Deep flow technique is a type of hydroponic gardening where plants are

planted in shallow beds, and a nutrients solution is constantly flowed over and

around the root zones of the plants. As the nutrient solution flows away from

plant roots for short periods of time, DFT is more suitable for plants that

tolerate or benefit from slightly drying out between watering

(www.maximumyield.com).

Figure 16. Deep Flow Technique System

e. Drip Irrigation System

The working principles behind hydroponic drip irrigation system are that they

are relatively easy to setup hence their popularity. The drip system consists of a

grow tray holding several grow cups and is separate from the solution reservoir.

A submersible water pump pumps nutrient- rich solution from the reservoir

through a drip irrigation network to grow cups. Each drip line ends at base of

each plant thereby emitting solution next to plant reducing moisture wastage

(www.hydroponicsbase.com).

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 Figure 17. Drip Irrigation System

f. Aeroponics

Aeroponics is derived from the word “aero” which means air and ponus which

means power. So aeroponics is to empower the air. Aeroponics is a method of

farming where plant roots hanging in the air and sprayed with a nutrient solution

continuously.

Figure 18. Aeroponic System

Unlike hydroponic which uses a liquid nutrient solution as a growing medium and

essential minerals to sustain plant growth; or aquaponics which uses water and fish

waste, aeroponics is conducted without a growing medium. It is sometimes

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 considered a type of hydroponics, since water is used in aeroponics to transmit

nutrients. The basic principle of aeroponic growing is to grow plants suspended in

a closed or semi-closed environment by spraying the plants dangling roots and

lower stem with an atomized or sprayed, nutrient- rich water solution (Wikipedia).

F. NURSERY (SEEDLING) IN HYDROPONIC

In hydroponics we can not place seedling directly into grow medium. They will not

take hold, or they could be washed away by nutrient solution. Seedling need to be

done before the planting in hydroponic (Widaningsih, 2016). Here below is

nursery steps:

1. Cut rockwool with 2 cm x 2 cm size, soak it in water until wet, make a little

wide hole but not too deep then put in tray.

2. Put seed on hole in rockwool. Put 1 seed, except for spinach and kangkong put

4 – 9 seeds. Keep tray from sunshine.

3. When seed almost cracked/germinate (white spot appears) put it in place with

direct sun light. Keep rockwool humidity everyday, if less humid, give it water

but not flooded.

4. When leaf appears, pour with nutrient with 3 ml A + 3 ml B + 1 liter water.

Increase nutrient comparison step by step and keep it until 2 weeks

G. PLANTING IN HYDROPONIC

Planting into hydroponic system is not hard but is little different than in soil. It will

be started by put seeds in a green house and bring them to seedling stage (nursery).

Once the seedlings get their second set of leaves, they are transplanted to their final

home.

Planting steps

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 1. Dissolve 3 ml A solution + 3 ml B solution + 1 liter water . Fit the amount of

solution with container that will be used

2. After 2 weeks put seeds into net pot

3. For wick system, put flannel that has been soak into nutrient water into netpot

and put rockwool with seeds inside

H. PLANT MAINTENANCE

Put the plants under direct sun light, if possible protect it from rain. Check the

water level, if it decreases pour more nutrients.

I. HARVESTING

Hydroponic plants are mostly harvested in about 30- 40 days. For example, a head

of hydroponic lettuce grows from seed to harvest in 35 days. Harvesting can be

done in two ways, harvesting with roots and harvesting individual leaves. Plant that

harvested by pulling it with the roots can be used for next cultivation.

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 REFERENCES

Baptistel8 (2013), First Timer Hydroponic: The Raft System, www.instructables.com.

Lin Yan (2013), Dark Green Leafy Vegetables, www.ars.usda.gov.

Lynette Morgan (2018), Hydroponic Systems: From Raft to Raceways and Everything In-
Between, www.maximumyield.com.

Ministry of Agriculture (2012), Buku Saku Sayuran, Direktorat Jenderal Hortikultura

No Name (2019), Best Hydroponic Drip System Guide. www.hydroponicbase.com.

Widaningsih (2016), Panduan Hidroponik untuk Pemula, Graha Hidroponik, Bandung

Barat.

Wikipedia, Aerophonics, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeroponics

Yudi Sastro (2012), Teknis Budidaya Sayuran Daun, Balai Pengkajian Teknologi
Pertanian (BPTP) Jakarta

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