Take on row planting to improve your yields

AGRICULTURE

Alice Nabiryo, a farmer in Wakiso, says she has grown her crops in rows for close to two years now.

Before that, she used to plant crops 'freestyle', until she attended a farmers' training and learnt how to improve her farming skills.

Among the skills attained, growing crops in rows was one of them, a technique she has since adopted and is doing her good.

Today, Nabiryo does not regret taking that route considering her yields have greatly improved.

Apart from natural causes, the failure of farmers to do the basics of farming is one of the causes of poor yields.

After cultivating and land is ready for sowing, some farmers do random cropping by scattering seeds, and when crops grow there is congestion in the garden.

According to Edward Kawooya, a farmer in Lugo Wakiso district, growing crops in rows is very conducive to the crops and the farmer himself in the process of farming.

Personal inspection of the crops is made easier as there is enough space for the farmer to stand. Even when they are mature the space will still be there.

He says having rows in the garden gives you room to weed, prune as well as water the crops.

The rows also give you room to apply fertilizers; stand in the rows as you put manure in the soil surrounding the crops, he explains.

Kawooya notes that the rows give plants space to grow well since each crop receives the same required amount of light.

He adds, maximization of light exposure favours efficient photosynthesis hence improved crop yield.

In an effort to protect the soil, mulches are used.

Kawooya says mulches can easily be used for well-protected soil and a smart garden yet aeration is also sufficient if the plants are in rows.

He advises farmers to partake row planting for better yields.

How to do row planting

According to Kawooya, there are certain crops fit for single row planting, for example plants with tendrils like passion fruit and pole beans which you intend to grow upwards.

Plants like tomatoes also require single row planting so that the tomatoes spread upwards and outwards when staked, he explains.

Other than a single row, there is wide row planting.

He says wide row planting is suitable for vegetables where you cluster vegetables in strips or blocks that are up to six feet wide.

Kawooya adds that crops grown by row planting grow well and the products will be profitable.  ​