1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background Of Study
Weeder is a farming tool used in secondary tillage practices and designed primarily for use in the production of food and fibre (ASAE standards, 2004). There are several categories of secondary tillage implements, according to: the categorization of tillage practices, the level of mechanization of a particular farming area, and the crop grown. We then have harrows, cultivators, rod weeders, rotary tillers, and rotary hoes, for example. Machines as such can till the soil to a shallower depth than primary tillage ones, in so doing they provide additional soil pulverization, mix pesticides and fertilizers into it, level and firm the soil, close air pockets, and eradicate weeds.
They are designed to be moved in straight lines, whether in the phase of land preparation or in between already emerged crop rows. To further define a weeder, a minimal definition can go as follows: A weeder is a mechanical implement used in agriculture primarily to suppress and control the amount of pest weeds in cultivated field, which can be operated by one or more operator and it moves in a straight line. Such definition determines these machines according to the reasons why they have been designed and built in a particular way, regardless of different contextual conditions and different way of using them.
On the other hand handweeder plays a significant role in crop production in Nigeria. Teaching of crop production at the secondary level requires a solid foundation in theory and practical aspects by the teacher of crop production.
The teacher is recognized as the key factor in determining the quality and success of curriculum contents in crop production through proper instructional strategies and approaches. Howe in Onimisi (2005) observed that if the teachers influence what the students learn by stimulating learning styles and study habits, then the link between the teacher classroom interactions and students learning needs greater attention and deeper investigation.
1.2 Statement Of The Problem
The study on improvised hand push weeder for teaching crop production to agricultural student in senior secondary school came about as a result of inability for proper utilization of hand push weeder; it could be that the students were not taught on how to use the handweeder or it could be that the teachers does not reader their duties using the instructional materials necessary for teaching crop production.
Secondly, there have series of studies on crop production but not even a single study has been carried out on the improvised hand push weeder for teaching crop production to agricultural students in ABTU Bauchi.
1.3 Aim and Objectives of Study
The main aim of the research work is to determine the effect of improvised hand push weeder for teaching crop production to agricultural students. Other specific objectives of the study include:
- To determine the extent hand push weeder has been used in teaching crop production to agricultural students in ABTU Bauchi.
- To determine the effect of hand push weeder on crop production.
- To determine the difference between hand push weeder and other types of weeder.
1.4 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- To what extent has the hand push weeder been used in teaching crop production to agricultural students in ABTU Bauchi?
- What is the effect of hand push weeder on crop production?
- What is the difference between hand push weeder and other types of weeder?
1.5 Statement Of Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Hand push weeder does not aid teaching of crop production to agricultural science students in ABTU Bauchi.
- H1: Hand push weeder aids teaching of crop production to agricultural science students in ABTU Bauchi.
1.6 Significance Of Study
The study on improvised hand push weeder for teaching crop production to agricultural student will be of immense benefit to the entire students of Abtu Bauchi. The findings will reveal the factors affecting hand push weeder, necessity of hand push weeder to crop production.
1.7 Scope Of Study
The study on improvised hand push weeder for teaching crop production to agricultural students is limited to (ABTU) Bauchi.
1.8 Limitation Of Study
During the course of this study, there were some problems encountered which stood as limitations to the research work. Some of the limitations include:
- Time Constraint:
The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint:
Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
