Need to knows Flashcards
Characteristics of organic natural fertilizers
Cheap
natural
Have low content of nutrients
Have protective action (slow release)
Their nutrients are not easily accessible
Have long lasting action
Are complete fertilizer
Increase growth conditions for plant
Have favourable effect on physical soil properties
Define humus and the role of soil
It is a material of vegetable or animal origin found in the soil. It is fully decomposed and finely divided organic matter
Improving cation absorption and exchange
Preventing leaching of important ions
A reservoir of minerals for plant uptake
Improving water retention of soil
Enhancing soil fertility and workability
Characteristic of integrated pest management
a term introduced in 1976 to emphasise the need for a variety of biological, chemical and cultural approaches in bringing pests below their economic thresholds in a manner that is reliable in the long term and causes as few objections as possible
The role of grassland in agricultural development
Extends man’s food supply to areas where crops cannot be grown for direct human consumption
A great value of grassland for recreation and as a contributor to the beauty of the landscape
Provides a low cost, high nutritional value feed for ruminants together with a high landscape
Forms a complex ecosystem
Species of cereals, fibre crops, sugar crops, industrial crops, root crops
Cereals: barley, grass, maize, oats, rice
Fibre Crops: cotton, flax
Sugar Crops: sugar cane, sugar beet
Industrial crops: flax, hemp, cotton, tobacco
Root Crops: sugar beet, potatoes, carrots, parsnips
The average yield of basic crop plants
Wheat= 2.7 t/ha, corn= 4.3 t/ha, rye grain= 2.2 t/ha, oat= 1.9 t/ha
Main info about soils (organic and mineral soils, soil horizon, the best soil to the cultivation field crops)
soil containing: more than 20% organic matter= organic soils, less than 20% organic matter = not organic soil -loams are generally the best agricultural soils cause they contain a mixture of organic matters sand, silt and clay. Best loams are Alluvium and Chernozem
Role of crop rotation
Maintain soil fertility, soil organic matter levels and soil structure
Ensure sufficient nutrients
Minimise nutrient losses
Minimise weed, disease and pest problems
Produce sufficient feed for livestock
Maintain the output of livestock and catch crops so that the farmer can obtain a satisfactory income
List purposes of tillage and systems of tillage
To control weeds
Incorporate crop residues into the soil
Loosen the soil so that the roots of seedling can penetrate
Aerate the soil
Help destroy insects
Prepare the land surface for irrigation
In some cases, aid in erosion control
List the main source of organic matter
Plant residues
Organic fertilisers
Animal fertilizers
The perennial legume herbs
Green manuring
The role of water for plants
Is a medium for transfer of nutrients
Is responsible for the yields
Is a food material
By water transpiration, plant temps regulate
Macroelements and Microelements
Macro:
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sulphur
Micro:
Copper
Manganese
Zinc
Iron
Boron
Molybdenum
Examples of organic, mineral, synthetic and mineral nitrogen fertilizers
Organic: composts, straw, residues
Synthetic mineral: nitrates, phosphate, potassium
Mineral nitrogen: nitrates, ammonia , urea
The main groups of pests and pesticides
Pests: fungi, insects, rodents and plants have harm crops and livestock
Pesticides: Herbicides, Fungicides, Insecticides and Rodenticides
Composition of soil
Mineral matter (sand, silt, clay)
Organic matter
Air and water occupy the pore spaces in soils
