Tools and Equipment – SS1 Horticulture and Crop Production Lesson Note (First Term)

Horticultural tools are the hand tools used to prepare soil, plant, water, cut and care for delicate crops such as tomatoes, flowers and carrots.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Name common digging, planting, nursery and cutting tools used in horticulture.
2. State the use of each tool.
3. Explain why a digging fork is better than a spade for breaking up soil.
4. Describe how to clean, sharpen, oil and store tools.
5. Follow basic safety rules when using a cutlass and storing tools.

Why do we use hand tools in horticulture?

We use hand tools in horticulture because the crops are delicate and heavy machines can damage them.

• Delicate crops: tomatoes, flowers and carrots are easily harmed by heavy equipment such as tractors and bulldozers.
• Less tiring: the right tool for the right job makes the work easier.
• Plant protection: careful tools do not kill the young plants we are trying to grow.

What are the three rules of tools?

1. Identification: know the name of the tool.
2. Use: know exactly what the tool does.
3. Care: keep the tool in good condition so the next class can use it.

What are the main groups of horticultural tools?

There are three main groups of horticultural tools: digging and preparation tools, planting and nursery tools, and cutting and pruning tools.

What are the digging and preparation tools?

Digging and preparation tools are the tools used to loosen, turn, level and carry soil before planting.

The hand hoe

• Use: digging, making ridges and removing weeds.
• Short-handled hoe: you bend while using it, which can tire the back.
• Long-handled hoe: you work in a more upright position.

The spade

• Use: digging holes and trenches, and lifting and moving loose soil.
• Feature: it has a flat blade with a cutting edge.

The digging fork

• Use: breaking up hard, compacted soil so air and water can reach the roots.
• Appearance: it looks like a giant kitchen fork, with strong metal prongs called tines.
• Why it is better than a spade: the tines do not cut through earthworms, which help to loosen and enrich the soil.

The rake

• Use: levelling the soil surface after digging, and gathering dried leaves or stones.
• Care: check the teeth to make sure none are bent.

The wheelbarrow

• Use: carrying soil, manure, seedlings and harvested crops over short distances.

What are the planting and nursery tools?

Planting and nursery tools are the tools used to handle seeds and seedlings (young plants) once the soil is ready.

The hand trowel

• Use: digging small holes to transplant seedlings from the nursery bed to the main garden.
• Care: never use it to pry open a tin of paint or to dig hard ground, because the neck will bend.

The watering can

• Use: giving plants water gently.
• The rose: this is the sprinkler head, which breaks the water into tiny droplets so seeds are not washed away.
• Care: turn it upside down after use so mosquitoes cannot breed in leftover water.

The garden line (rope and pegs)

• Use: marking straight rows of crops.
• Benefit: straight rows make it easier to walk through the farm without stepping on plants.

What are the cutting and pruning tools?

Cutting and pruning tools are the tools used to cut plants, trim branches and join plant parts.

Pruning shears (secateurs)

• Use: cutting small, soft branches and harvesting flowers.
• Appearance: they look like strong, curved scissors.
• Care: clean the sap (the sticky juice of the plant) off the blades after every use so they do not rust.

The cutlass (machete)

• Use: clearing bushes, cutting stakes and light digging.
• Common tool: it is the most widely used farm tool in Nigeria.
• Safety: always swing away from your body, never towards your legs.

The budding knife

• Use: a small, very sharp knife for grafting and budding.
• Grafting and budding: joining two different plants to make a better variety.

How do we care for and maintain tools?

Tool maintenance is the routine of cleaning, sharpening, oiling and storing tools so they last longer and work well.

1. Clean the tool.
   • Wash off the soil after work.
   • Soil holds moisture, and moisture causes rust.
   • Do not throw a muddy hoe into the store.
2. Sharpen the tool.
   • Use a file or whetstone on cutlasses and hoes.
   • A dull tool makes you work twice as hard.
3. Oil and grease the tool.
   • Put a little oil on moving joints, such as those of pruning shears.
   • Wipe metal blades with an oily rag to prevent rust.
4. Store the tool properly.
   • Keep tools in a cool, dry place.
   • Hang rakes and hoes on the wall or stand them upright.
   • Do not leave tools on the floor, where people might trip on them.

What are the basic safety rules for tools?

Tool safety means handling and storing tools so that no person is hurt.

• Cutlass: swing away from your body and legs.
• Storage: keep tools off the floor so nobody trips.
• Sharp tools: keep a sharp edge in good order, because a blunt tool slips more easily.

Which care tip goes with which tool?

Each tool has one main care tip, shown in the table below.

Evaluation

1. Why do horticulturists use hand tools instead of tractors most of the time?
2. State two uses of the hand hoe.
3. Give one reason why a digging fork is better than a spade.
4. Why should a watering can be turned upside down after use?
5. List three steps for caring for tools after work.

Assignment

Draw a table of five horticultural tools from this lesson. For each tool, write its category, its use and one care tip.