Topics in Agricultural Science
Agricultural ecology and farm ecosystem Components of farm ecosystem Soil formation in agricuture Economic empowerment through agricuture Management as a factor of production in agriculture Labor as a factor of production in agriculture Finance as a factor of production in agriculture Water as a factor of production in agriculture Land as a factor of production in agriculture Len Academy Agricultural Science midterm questions for JSS1, 2nd term Len Academy Agricultural Science midterm questions for jss2, 2nd term Clay soil explained with its types and characteristics Loamy soil explained with its characteristics Sandy soil: Characteristics of sandy soil and ways to make it fertile Soil explained with its composition Types of agricultural practices Crop rotation explained Benefits of crop rotation Differences between subsistence and commercial farming Subsistence farming explained with its characteristicsAcademic Questions in Agricultural Science
The ideal pH for the optimum growth of most agricultural crop is between _____.
A. 1 – 3.5
B. 4 – 5.5
C. 6 – 7.5
D. 8 – 9.5
E. 10 – 11.5
F. 12 – 13.5
People who go about their lives by raising and herding livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats are said to practice _____.
A. Pastoralism
B. Pasturalism
C. Herding
D. Herdsmen
E. Animalism
F. Anime Farming
The act of giving birth in pigs is called _____.
A. Calving
B. Piggery
C. Kidding
D. Farrowing
E. Calfing
F. Pigging
Which of the following is not a vegetable?
A. Cashew
B. Cocumber
C. Tomatoes
D. Carrot
E. Squash
F. Eggplant
All plants are crops.
A. True
B. False
In agriculture, macronutrients are essential nutrients required by plants. Which of the following is not a macronutrient?
A. Zinc
B. Sulphur
C. Calcium
D. Phosphorus
E. Potassium
F. Magnesium
Which of the following is false concerning micronutrients?
A. They are non-essential nutrients
B. They are required by plants in minute quantities
C. Iron is a micronutrient
D. Chlorine is a micronutrient
E. Copper is a micronutrient
F. Boron is a micronutrient
_____ is a term that describes the biological, chemical and cultural control tactics employed to make pest management economical, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.
A. Integrated Pest Management
B. Integral Pest Management
C. International Pest Management
D. Inclusive Pest Management
E. Imbibed Pest Management
F. Inclusion Pest Management
Agricultural ecosystems are vital for sustaining humanity and supporting economic development. These ecosystems encompass a range of biological factors (e.g plants, animals and humans), physical factors (e.g soil, water, agricultural machines), and economic factors that interact to produce food, fiber, and other agricultural products that humans depend on.
As students, understanding these agricultural ecosystems will equip you with the knowledge to engage with pressing global issues such as food security, environmental sustainability, and biodiversity conservation.
You can read a brief introduction to ecology in biology here.
At the most basic level, an agricultural ecosystem consists of various living organisms, including crops, livestock, pests, and beneficial insects, as well as the soil, water, and atmospheric conditions that influence agricultural productivity. This complex interaction is continually influenced by human actions, ranging from farming practices to policy decisions, which can either enhance or degrade the ecosystem's health.
You can think of an agricultural ecosystem as a complex web of interactions between living factors or organisms (e.g plants, animals, fungi and bacteria, alongside other microorganisms); and nonliving factors (e.g sunlight, soil, water, and air) in an agricultural system.
The living factors in an agricultural ecosystem are termed as biotic, and the nonliving factors, abiotic.
Please read more on various ecological concepts here.
The agricultural ecosystem include all tthe relationships between crops, livestock, soil fertility, and the surrounding natural environment. The health and sustainability of the agricultural ecosystem are crucial for maintaining productive and resilient agricultural systems.
A farm ecosystem is limited to an agricultural farmland. It refers to all the living organisms (crops, weeds, animals, pests, fungi, bacteria and other microscopic organisms) living and interacting with the farmland's nonliving components (e.g soil, water, sunlight and air). If these components are properly regulated, they will interact in a variety of ways to support agricultural production and biodiversity in the farmland.
Within the farm ecosystem, green plants produce food through carbon(IV)oxide and water in the presence of sunlight and mineral salt through a process termed photosynthesis. They therefore serve as producers in an ecosystem.
Please read more on photosynthesis and autotrophic nutrition here.
Animals on the other hand are dependent on the producers for food; and are thus termed consumers in the ecosystem. These consumers may be classified into three groups. They are: primary, secondary and tertiary consumers respectively.
Organisms like fungi and bacteria acts as decomposers in the ecosystem. They break down organic matter (remains of plants and animals), returning nutrients into the soil through this process. In fact, this process is crucial for nutrient cycling (e.g nitrogen and carbon cycle), and consequently, soil health.
Please read on food web in ecosystems here.
Water (an abiotic factor,) plays a vital role in the farm ecosystem, providing essential resources for plant and animal life. This is true because green plant utilizes water for their photosynthetic reaction, while water also serves as food for animals.
Efficient use of water resources is essential for maintaining crop yields, especially in regions experiencing irregular rainfall or drought conditions. Strategies such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and the development of drought-resistant crop varieties are examples of how farmers adapt to water scarcity while promoting ecological balance.
Please read more on water as a factor of production in agriculture.
Another abiotic factor playing a crucial function in an agricultural (farm) ecosystem is air. Recall that air comprises of nitrogen (78.09%), oxygen (20.95%), carbon(IV)oxide (0.036%), alongside other molecules as its constituent.
Please read more on the composition of the atmosphere here.
Atmospheric nitrogen is converted and fixed into the soil as nutrient via the bacteria rhizobium and azotobacter, through a process termed nitrogen fixation (in nitrogen cycle). Soil nitrogen serves as a macronutrient for plant's use. More importantly, plant utilize carbon(IV)oxide as a crucial resource for photosynthesis.
Plants and animals utilize the oxygen in air for their cellular respiration; in order to produce energy for various life processes.
Please read more on cellular respiration in biology here.
Biodiversity, or the variety of species present on the farm, contributes to ecosystem resilience and stability. In this regard, diverse plantings can promote pest control, improve soil health, and increase yields. For instance, polycultures or mixed cropping; (that is; growing different crops in the same space) can enhance ecosystem stability by mimicking natural environments, which are typically diverse rather than monocultural. This diversity helps reduce the risk of total crop failure and creates a more robust ecosystem.
In addition, farm management practices, human interventions, and interactions between different components also influence the overall health and functioning of the farm ecosystem.
You can attempt Len Academy agricultural questions here.
However, agricultural ecosystems are under increasing threat from factors such as climate change, habitat destruction, and industrial farming practices. Climate change impacts agricultural productivity through altered precipitation patterns, increasing temperatures, and the frequency of extreme weather events. These changes necessitate adaptable agricultural practices that can sustain productivity while minimizing environmental impact.
Please read the functions of the atmosphere here.
Innovative approaches to farming, such as sustainable agriculture or agroecology, are gaining traction as they focus on maintaining ecosystem health while ensuring food production. Farmers are increasingly adopting practices that improve soil health, conserve water, and promote biodiversity. By using cover crops, crop rotation, and organic farming techniques, they can enhance the resilience of their agricultural systems.
Please read on roles of government in agriculture here.
The factors (or components) affecting a farm ecosystem can be put into two. These are:
Biotic component of the farm ecosystem.
Abiotic component of the farm ecosystem.
Please read explanations on the components of farm ecosystem here.
In conclusion, by maintaining a balanced and sustainable farm ecosystem, farmers can optimize agricultural productivity, minimize environmental impacts, and promote the long-term health of the farm and surrounding natural habitats. Implementing conservation practices, crop rotation, integrated pest management, and soil health initiatives are some strategies used to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the farm ecosystem.
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Amazing facts in Agricultural Science
Cows technically have one stomach, not four. However, a cow's stomach has four compartments. These are: rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum
Peanuts are legumes and not nuts
Although plants neither see nor hear, they can recognize their siblings and even give them preferential treatments
Squirrels do plant more trees (through their actions) than an average human in their lifetime. They often hide their acorns and nuts underground and forget about them
Cows have got the ability to walk up stairs, but not down stairs
A group of cows is called a team, drove or herd.
People just prefer to call them herd
Notable points in Agricultural Science
Below are characteristics of gymnosperms:
Their seeds have cones that protect them.
Sepals and petals aren't present in their cones.
Stigma and style are absent.
They do not produce fruits. Only seeds are formed.
Companion cells are absent.
Sporophyll form the cones.
Anther and filament are absent.
The ovules are not present in the ovary.
Gymnosperms do not possess flowers.
Please read on the anatomical differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms here
The flower is the reproductive organ in plants' sexual reproduction. In order to achieve a successful sexual propagation or reproduction in plants, the floral parts of the flower are utilized.
The floral parts of a flower consists of the followings:
Sepals
Petals
Stamen
Carpel
The stamen is male portion of a plant. It consists of the anther and filament.
The carpel (or pistil) is the female portion of the plant. It consists of the stigma, style and ovary.
An organism will be considered a pest if it does one of the followings:
Attack crops and eat its seeds, roots, stem, leaves and flowers. Examples are locust and grasshoppers.
Cause damage to stored food, fruits or other agricultural produce. Some may even urinate or deaficate on these products. Examples are rodents, cockroaches and mice.
Attack and kill farm animals like goats, sheep and cattle. Examples are foxes, wild cats and snakes.
Act as disease vectors. A vector is an organism that carries parasite and other disease causing organisms, without being affected; but when they introduce the parasites into their host, such host becomes infected with disease. Examples of vectors are rodents and mosquitoes.
Below are the classification of crops based on their uses:
Oil crops
Vegetable crops
Latex crops
Drug and Medicinal crops
Beverage crops
Fibre crops
Fruit crops
Root and Tubers
Legumes
Spices
Cereals
All crops are plants but not all plants are crops. Below are some instances:
Weeds are considered as plants, not crops.
Parasitic plants are not necessarily crops. Examples of parasitic plants include mistletoe, corpse flower and striga.
Carnivorous or insectivorous plants are not necessarily crops. Examples are sundew, venus flytrap and pitcher plant. The image below shows a carnivorous plant (venus flytrap).
Meanwhile, always understand that all crops are plants, and they are grown for food, money or something beneficial.