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 <div class="title"><h3>2.13 -  Plastic coated twist ties for small scale farmers </h3><br><h3 class="ch-owner">Mick Mantler, University of Guelph,Canada</h3></div>
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<p><b>Related video(s)</b>: Staking tomato plants (Source: Access Agriculture)</p>
 <p><i> https://www.accessagriculture.org/staking-tomato-plants?cat_id=1499</i></p>
<p>Suggested citation for this chapter.</p>
<p>Mantler,M. (2022)Plastic coated twist ties for small scale farmers . In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Uses and benefits of plastic coated twist ties  </h1>
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<p><b>What is a plastic coated twist tie?</b></p>
	<P>A twist is a thin metal wire that is able to be bent and manipulated while holding its shape (Figure 1). They are typically coated in either a plastic or paper that makes the wire easier to work with and more visible. The metal wire coating makes it flat and allows the tie to grip onto what it is attached to. To use a twist tie, wrap it around what you want to attach it to then twist the ends together.</p>
<p>[[Image:COATED.jpg|thumb|centre|Figure 1. Plastic coated twist ties. From: Amos, E. (2010). Wikipedia  |Click on the image to access a higher resolution image ]]</p>
<p>Figure 1. Plastic coated twist ties. From: Amos, E. (2010). Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twist_tie#/media/File:Twist-ties.jpg</p>
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       <h3 class="title-bg">Uses for plastic coated twist ties</h3>
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<p>Twist ties are easy to manipulate, hold their shape, and attach to themselves making them useful in many situations. The best use for plastic coated twist ties in agriculture is for tying/staking plants (Figure 2) and promoting growth in a specific direction. In this case the twist tie is used to attach the plant to a stick or fence to support the weight of the plant. But they can also be used to tying the plant to itself to make fruit more visible and keep plants separated. Tying plants to themselves can also include something called “low stress training” where when crops start to grow, they are tied down, making them grow more sideways than upright. This allows more leaves to receive sunlight. They can also be used to secure covers for plants such as tarps, greenhouses, or high tunnels. Tying down tarps around crops can help protect plants from strong damaging winds.</p>
<p>[[Image:G11.jpg|thumb|centre|Figure 2. Close up of tying tomato plant. Source: Nguyen, T. (2020, May 17) Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/close-bamboo-stake-flexible-twist-tie-1733986682 |Click on the image to access a higher resolution image ]]</p>
<p>Figure 2. Close up of tying tomato plant. Source: Nguyen, T. (2020, May 17) Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/close-bamboo-stake-flexible-twist-tie-1733986682</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Benefits </h1>
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<p>The benefits of plastic coated twist ties are that they aid in manipulating plant growth without causing damage to the plant (unless tied too tight). The plastic coating on the twist ties makes them waterproof and able to tolerate many weather conditions. They are also able to be used in multiple seasons. They are very inexpensive and re-usable. Twist ties can be attached using only one hand unlike other methods of tying, leaving your other hand free to support plants.</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Vertical tying/staking of crops</h1>
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<p><b>What is Staking Crops</b></p>
<p>The act of staking crops is done by placing a stick or post in the ground near the base of a plant then attaching the plant (Figure 3). This is done to support the weight of the plant and aids in the plant growing vertically, especially after fruits are initiated.</P>
<p>[[Image:G12.jpg|thumb|centre|Figure 3. Cherry tomatoes staked vertically and joined at the top (Mantler, 2023).|Click on the image to access a higher resolution image ]]</p>
<p>Figure 3. Cherry tomatoes staked vertically and joined at the top (Mantler, 2023).</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Benefits of Tying Crops </h1>
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<p>Staking/tying crops can have many benefits, most of which result in improved crop yields. In multiple studies, staking crops has been linked to improved plant growth compared with no staking at all (Okonmah, 2011).  Aside from vertical plant growth, it can also lead to larger fruit and more marketable crops (Devi, 2019). Staking crops provides easier access to crops in fields and can ease laborious tasks. It allows for weeds and pests to be more visible to be dealt with.</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">What Kinds of Crops Benefit from Staking </h1>
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<p>While staking can have huge benefits for many crops and increase yield significantly, it may not be the best option for some crops. In some plants like water yams, researchers have found that there is minimal difference in crop yields with staking, and it is more economically beneficial to not stake them (Danquah, 2015). But for other plants like tomatoes, staking is beneficial to marketable crop yield (Sowley, 2013). Staking helps plants that grow tall and have soft fruits to avoid being punctured, specifically high value crops. </p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">How tying plants can be adopted by small scale farmers </h1>
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<p><b>Materials required</b></p>
<p>Materials required for staking crops can vary based on what is available to farmers but always includes some kind of support and something to attach the plant to the support. Examples of possible supports could be a fence or trellis for plants like climbing beans. For plants heavier and taller, poles or strong sticks are a good option. Anything that can be put into the ground that can hold up the weight of the plant is a good option, such as a sturdy stick. For attaching the plant to the support, the most popular options are twist ties, string, and zip ties. </p>

<p><b>How to Stake Crops</b></P> 
<p>Stakes are inserted into the ground near the base of the plant, avoiding stabbing roots, 2-3 weeks after transplanting (Figure 4). When plants reach about 12 inches (30 cm) in height, they can be tied to the stake with twist ties, with the tie placed where a branch emerges from the stem so that it does not slip down (Figure 5). This is repeated every couple of weeks, depending on the speed of plant growth, around 8 inches (20 cm) (Jardish, 2023).</p>

<p>[[Image:G13.jpg|thumb|centre|Figure 4. Man hammering stake into the ground. From: Inna G. (2017, June 19)  Shutterstock.|Click on the image to access a higher resolution image ]]</p>
<p>Figure 4. Man hammering stake into the ground. From: Inna G. (2017, June 19)  Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-hammering-wooden-stakes-tie-tomatoes-662568139</p>

<p>[[Image:G14.jpg|thumb|centre|Figure 5. Tying tomato plant to stake. From: Malyna, N. (2013, May 18) Shutterstock.|Click on the image to access a higher resolution image ]]</p>
<p>Figure 5. Tying tomato plant to stake. From: Malyna, N. (2013, May 18) Shutterstock https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/staking-cocktail-tomato-plants-gardening-concept-138959690</p>
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       <h1 class="title-bg">Critical Analysis</h1>
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<p><b>Cost Analysis</b></p>
<p>When bought in bulk from a place like Alibaba.com, the cost per unit is around $0.60-$1.10 USD for 50-200 meters in length  The only limitation is that many of the low-cost per unit options required a minimum purchase of at least 100 rolls, each of 50 meters. This brings the initial cost to $100-200 USD which is a significant cost especially if the farmer is unsure if twist ties will work for them. A good feature about the plastic coated twist ties is that they can be used for at least two seasons, typically up to four seasons. That fact, combined with the amount in the initial purchase means that they would not need to be repurchased for approximately 15 years. More practically, the initial cost can also be shared by multiple farmers (farmers’ group, or women’s farmer cooperative) since one to two wheels of garden twist ties should be enough for one farm. Or one entrepreneurial farmer could create a village-level micro-enterprise, to sell the product to other farmers for a profit. </p>
<p><b>Alternatives to plastic coated twist ties</b></p>
<p>The closest alternative to plastic coated twist ties are paper coated twist ties. While the initial cost of paper coated twist ties is cheaper, they do come with more problems. The main challenge is that they are not waterproof, and therefore when it rains the paper coating dissolves, leaving just the metal wire exposed. This means that they are harder to spot at the end of the season when cleaning up the field and they are easy to miss. If one is left in the field accidently, it may get caught in other equipment. Paper coated twist ties are also less durable, meaning they will only last for one season and cannot be reused.</p> 
<p>Another similar alternative are zip ties or cable ties. They provide all the same benefits as twist ties but are a non-reusable solution since they need to be sliced with a knife or scissors, to remove them, at the end of the season. They also require using both hands to attach to stakes or lattices since one end is fed through the over. This makes the process of tying plants less efficient. This being said, they are inexpensive when purchased in large quantities.</p>
<p>The third alternative method for tying plants is with twine or string. This option is very similar to zip ties in that it needs to be cut off at the end of the season and is not reusable. String is a cheaper option and easier to find to buy. Two hands are also needed to tie the string. meaning that it is more difficult since a person cannot support the plant at the same time. With the use of string, if any happens to be left in the field at the end of the season, it will not cause any major damage to machinery. </p>

<p><b>Labour Associated</b></p>
<p>There is a fair amount of labour associated with staking crops and with using plastic coated twist ties. At the beginning of the season all the posts need to be placed into the ground beside the plants. Then once the plants become mature enough, they need to be monitored for when to tie them to the stakes. They will need to be tied at multiple points during the growing season. Then at the end of the season it will require more labour to clean up the field since all the twist ties need to be untied.</p> 

<p><b>Accessibility</b></p>
	<p>The number of materials required to stake and tie crops is very minimal, making it quite accessible to many farmers. As stakes can be wooden sticks found by farmers or materials that are left over from other projects, they would not need to be purchased. Twist ties can be purchased for a low cost; the difficulty then comes with how to source them and get them to rural farmers. The best option would be to get a wholesaler to sell to local farm stores so that farmers can easily purchase them near their village. Another could be that a co-operative or women farmer’s association purchases these items in bulk for its members</p>

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       <h1 class="title-bg">Critical Analysis</h1>
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<P>Purchase twist ties
Indiamart: https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/plastic-coated-green-wire-twist-ties-dispenser-with-cutter-50-meter-23145790155.html?pos=9&kwd=garden%20twist%20ties&tags=BA||||7613.566|Price|product|||TS|type=attr=1|attrS|attrMtch=1
<p>Alibaba:
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/WHY253-Garden-Twist-Tie-Reusable-Green_1600573324669.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_price.21c17bbeh2jKas</p>
<p><b>How to stake crops videos</b></p>
<p>Peppers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gafo0ZFL_s</p>
<p>General instructions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viE5GoBZCSA</p>
<p><b>Training manuals</b></p>
	<p>Tomatoes:
https://njaes.rutgers.edu/FS1102/</p>
	<p>General information:
https://www.thrive.org.uk/get-gardening/staking-and-tying-in</P> 
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       <h3 class="title-bg">References</h3>
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          <p>1.Devi, E., Jahan Methela, N., Shafiqul Islam, M., Das, M., Khayer, A., Sultana Eti, F., Debnath, P., Zeba, N. Influence of Staking and Non-Staking on Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) Cultivation in Coastal Areas. Preprints 2020, 2020010050. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202001.0050.v1</p>

<p>2.Jagdish, (2023, December 9). How to stake your tomato plants: With simple steps, step-by-step process, methods, and different ways. Agri Farming. https://www.agrifarming.in/how-to-stake-your-tomato-plants-with-simple-steps-step-by-step-process-methods-and-different-wa</p> 
<p>3.Musoni, A. et al. (2014). Innovations to Overcome Staking Challenges to Growing Climbing Beans by Smallholders in Rwanda. In: Vanlauwe, B., van Asten, P., Blomme, G. (eds) Challenges and Opportunities for Agricultural Intensification of the Humid Highland Systems of Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07662-1_11</p>
<p>4.Okonmah, L. U. (2011). Effects of different types of staking and their cost effectiveness on the growth, yield and yield components of cucumber (Cucumis sativa L.). International Journal of AgriScience, 1(5), 290–295.</p>

<p>5.Oshunsanya, S., Yu, H., Onunka, C., Samson, V., Odebode, A., Sebiotimo, S., & Xue, T. (2022). Yam Staking Reduces Soil Loss Due to Crop Harvesting under Agronomic Management System: Environmental Effect of Soil Carbon Loss. Agronomy, 12(12), 3024. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123024</p>

<p>6.Pradhan, R., Nayak, D. A., Rao, K. M., & Mohapatra, P. (2021). A critical review on effect of trailing and staking on growth and yield of cucurbitaceous crops. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 10(1), 2151–2154.</p> 

<p>7.Yahaya, D. (2017). Influence of staking and pruning on growth and yield of tomato in the Guinea Savannah zone of Ghana. International Journal of Scientific and Technology, 2(12), 103-107</p>