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Agriculture Flashcards

1
Q

Agriculture

A

The growing of plants and the rearing of farm animals to provide our needs

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2
Q

Knowledge of biology

A

Necessary to practise agricultural activities and includes the structure

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3
Q

Plants

A

Can be classified in several ways

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4
Q

Annuals

A

Plants that complete their entire life cycles and die within one growing season which may be from a few months to a year.

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5
Q

Biennials

A

Plants that grow aud store food during the first growing season

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6
Q

Perennials

A

Include trees

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7
Q

Agricultural classifications

A

Cultivated plants or crops are usually grouped according to the products for which they are grown.

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8
Q

Cereals

A

Plants that belong to the grass family and include maize

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9
Q

Legumes

A

An important source of dietary protein. They also supply protein-rich fodder for livestock in tropical countries. In addition

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10
Q

Root crops

A

Grown mainly for starch and form the staple food of the people in many tropical countries. They include cassava

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11
Q

Vegetables

A

Various kinds of vegetables are grown to supply dietary vitamins and certain minerals like calcium. Examples include tomato

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12
Q

Fruits

A

Many plants are grown for their fruits which are rich sources of vitamins

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13
Q

Beverages and drugs

A

The crops which yield these products include cacao

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14
Q

Spices

A

Pepper

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15
Q

Oils

A

The fruits and seeds of certain plants are rich in oil. Such oil crops include oil palm

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16
Q

Forage crops

A

These are the grasses and legumes that are grown for animal feed.

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17
Q

Latex

A

A milky fluid that flows out when a cut is made on the trunks of certain trees. The rubber tree is grown in tropical countries for its latex which is used to make natural rubber.

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18
Q

Fibres

A

Plants such as jute

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19
Q

Soil

A

Very important in agriculture and provides anchorage for plants. It also supplies water and mineral salts that are essential for their nutrition. Animals

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20
Q

Soil composition

A

Soil is formed by the gradual breaking up of rocks into small pieces. It consists of soil particles

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21
Q

Soil particles

A

Products of weathering that form a basic skeletal structure with uneven pore spaces. Their sizes and chemical nature largely determine the properties of soil.

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22
Q

Humus

A

The decomposition of plant and animal remains forms a layer of black

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23
Q

Soil water

A

Contains mineral salts dissolved in it. It is usually restricted to a thin film around the soil particles or crumbs. Some types of soil can hold more water than others

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24
Q

Soil air

A

Soil usually contains air in the pore spaces. Plant roots and soil organisms take in the oxygen from this air for cellular respiration. Nitrogen in the air is used by the bacteria in the root nodules of legumes to produce nitrogenous compounds. A good crumb structure is essential for the circulation of soil air. Water-logged soils are poorly aerated as the pore spaces are filled with water.

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25
Mineral salts
Include salts of potassium
26
Soil organisms
Include organisms such as termites and earthworms. They improve the circulation of air in the soil by their tunnelling activities. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down dead organic matter to form humus and soluble inorganic salts. These processes increase the nutrient content of soil
27
Soil profile
A vertical section through soil shows that it is made up of topsoil
28
Soil characteristics
Most soils are made up of a mixture of sand
29
Sandy soil
Has very little humus. Since the particles in a sandy soil are large
30
Clayey soil
Is made up of very fine particles with very little space in between them. As a result
31
Loamy soil
Contains a mixture of sand and clay particles with plenty of humus. It has a good crumb structure which allows water to drain through it
32
Soil erosion
The wearing away and removal of fertile topsoil from an area by the wind and water (during a heavy rainfall). Plants cannot grow on eroded land.
33
Erosion
A serious problem as it affects the economy of a country that depends on agriculture for supplying its needs and is often due to bad farming practices such as overgrazing of pastures
34
Prevention of erosion
Farmers can prevent erosion by good farming practices. This includes the following:Growing fast-growing cover crops in-between slow-growing crop plants such as oil palms; Cut grass and crop residue can be spread over bare ground to protect it (mulching); Contour ploughing or ploughing along the contour of the land to reduce water runoff; Building terraces on sloping land to slow the flow of water; Preventing wind erosion by planting trees to break the wind (wind breaks).
35
Naturally fertile soil
One that has the correct proportions of sand and clay particles
36
Acidic soils
Usually not fertile as acidity makes the mineral salts very soluble. Rain washes these salts into the deeper soil layers
37
Soil fertility in a natural ecosystem
Maintained by the activities of the organisms living in it. The materials that the organisms remove from the soil are returned to it when they die and their remains are broken down by decomposers.
38
Farming
Reduces soil fertility because crops are harvested and used by us. Their remains are not returned to the soil. Farmers
39
Small farm
The farmer can maintain soil fertility by adding organic manure such as farmyard manure
40
Farmyard manure
A mixture of livestock droppings and decaying plant remains such as straw used for animal bedding.
41
Compost
Consists of the decayed remains of plants and animals.
42
Green manure
Plants
43
Large scale farms
Addition of organic manure is not sufficient to maintain soil fertility. Inorganic fertilizers containing the essential mineral salts are also added to the soil. Farmers also practice crop rotation to maintain soil fertility.
44
Agricultural activity/farming
Involves both the growing of crops as well as the rearing of livestock such as poultry
45
Bush burning
An agricultural activity where farmers clear an area of bush for cultivation by burning the vegetation on it. The immediate consequences of this action are as follows: A plant community is destroyed; Animals that lived on these plants are either killed or driven to surrounding suitable areas - this affects the natural ecological systems in these areas; The important humus layer of the soil is burned away
46
Tillage
After a piece of land is cleared of vegetation
47
Fertilizers
In commercial farming
48
Pest control
This is mainly aimed at reducing the pest population
49
Methods of pest control
Cultural methods
50
Cultural methods of pest control
Involve the manipulation of the farm environment in such a way that pests are unable to survive.
51
Biological methods of pest control
Involve the use of natural enemies of pests to reduce the pest population.
52
Chemical methods of pest control
Involve the use of pesticides to kill pests.
53
Physical methods of pest control
Involve the use of physical means to kill pests or prevent them from reaching the crops.
54
Crop rotation
If carefully planned
55
Mixed cropping
Also helps to keep down the population of pests.
56
Time of planting
If all farmers in an area plant the same crop at the same time
57
Tillage
Tillage helps to expose soil pests to predators like birds. It also destroys weeds that may serve as alternate hosts for pests.
58
Burning of plant remains
The burning of plant remains after harvesting destroys pests that may be hiding in them.⁶
59
60
Digging up infested plants
Digging up infested plants and destroying them helps to prevent the pests from spreading to other plants.
61
Biological methods of pest control
Involve the use of natural enemies of pests to reduce the pest population.
62
Predators
These are animals that catch and kill other animals for food.
63
Praying mantis
Pray on a wide range of insects.
64
Dragonflies
Eat a variety of flying insects.
65
Birds of prey
Such as hawks and owls
66
Parasites
These are organisms that live in or on other organisms (the hosts) and obtain their food from them.
67
Parasitoids
Are insects that lay their eggs in the bodies of other insects. The eggs hatch into larvae which feed on the tissues of the host
68
Pathogens
These are disease-causing organisms such as bacteria
69
Chemical methods of pest control
Involve the use of pesticides to kill pests.
70
Pesticides
Include herbicides
71
Herbicides
Kill weeds.
72
Fungicides
Kill fungi.
73
Insecticides
Kill insects.
74
Classification of insecticides
Stomach poisons
75
Stomach poisons
Kill insects when they are swallowed.
76
Contact poisons
Kill insects when they come into contact with them.
77
Systemic poisons
Are absorbed into the plant and kill insects when they suck or chew the plant.
78
Advantages of pesticides
Pesticides are easy to use
79
Disadvantages of pesticides
Pesticides are expensive
80
Precautions in the use of pesticides
Pesticides should be used only when necessary
81
Physical methods of pest control
Involve the use of physical means to kill pests or prevent them from reaching the crops.
82
Traps
Can be used to catch pests.
83
Barriers
Such as fences and nets
84
Heat
Can be used to kill pests.
85
Cold
Can be used to kill pests.
86
Handpicking
Can be used to remove pests from plants.

Biology (21 decks)

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