Topics in Agricultural Science
Problems of agricultural marketing Channels of agricural marketing Agricultural marketing: Stages of agricultural marketing Forest management practices in agriculture Forest management and importance of forest 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 compositionAcademic 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
Farm ecosystem is defined as the community of living organisms present on the farmland (e.g crops, weeds, animals, pests, fungi, bacteria and other microscopic organisms), interacting and functioning with farmland's nonliving components (e.g soil, water, sunlight, temperature, pressure and air).
The components of farm ecosystem are also termed as factors of farm ecosystem. They are generally put into two. These are the biotic component and abiotic component of the farm ecosystem.
A proper regulation of these components of a farm's ecosystem is crucial. Such regulation on a farm ecosystem will encourage the component's interaction in a variety of ways towards supporting agricultural production and biodiversity on the farmland.
Please read the introduction to agricultural ecology and farm ecosystem here.
1. Biotic Component of Farm Ecosystem
The biotic component (or factor) refers to all the living organisms present in the farm ecosystem. These will include crops, weeds, animals (including agricultural pests and disease causing organisms), fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms.
Biotic components of an ecosystem will interact with one another, alongside the nonliving components in the ecosystem. Importantly, they constitute the food chain (energy flow), nutrient cycling and overall biodiversity within the ecosystem.
Please read more on food chain in an ecosystem here.
With regards to the biotic components of an ecosystem, an understanding on the following terms are important. They are: Autotrophs and Heterotrophs.
Autotrophs are part of the biotic component of an ecosystem. They are organisms that can manufacture their own food, typically through the use sunlight, via a process termed photosynthesis. Organisms involved in this process are called photoautotrophs. Example of photoautotrophs include all green plants and monerans.
However, some autotrophs utilize inorganic chemicals in manufacturing their food. This process is termed chemosynthesis, and the organisms involved are called chemoautotrophs. Examples of chemoautotrophs are archaeans and some bacteria.
Please read more on autotrophic nutrition, photosynthesis and chemosynthesis here.
Heterotrophs are also part of the biotic components of the farm ecosystem. Unlike the autotrophs, they are organisms that cannot manufacture their own food. In this regard, they are dependent on the autotrophs, (or other heterotrophs) for food. For instance, a rabbit is an heterotroph that depend on plants for food, while a snake is another heterotroph that may feed on the rabbit.
In essence, all animals are heterotrophs and consumers in a food chain. Together with autotrophs, they are crucial in the energy flow within a farm ecosystem. Hence, they play crucial roles in controlling the populations of organisms, while also participating actively in nutrient cycling within the farm ecosystem.
You can attempt Len Academy questions and answers on various subjects here.
2. Abiotic Component of Farm Ecosystem
Abiotic factors refers to all the nonliving components of an ecosystem. This will include the soil, water, air, mineral salts (nutrients), temperature, pressure, humidity and so on.
The abiotic factors are crucial for the survival and proper functioning of the biotic component in the farm ecosystem. For instance, without sunlight (an abiotic factor), photosynthesis is impossible in plants, thus leading to the death of producers, and invariably, the consumers at large. Also, animals (biotic component) require oxygen (abiotic component) for respiration and survival. Simply put, the biotic components will cease to exist without the abiotic components.
Abiotic factors can influence the distribution, abundance, and types of biotic community present in an ecosystem.
One of the core abiotic component of agricultural ecosystems is the soil. Its composition and health are critical for crop growth. Soil provides essential nutrients and water storage necessary for plants to thrive.
Please read on loamy soil explained with its characteristics here.
Also, a healthy soil is filled with microorganisms (that is; a variety of biotic components) that break down organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil, and supporting healthy plant growth. However, practices such as excessive tillage, monoculture cropping systems, and the overuse of chemical fertilizers can lead to soil degradation, resulting in erosion and a decline in soil fertility.
You can read on soil erosion here.
Water is another abiotic factor that plays a crucial role in the farm ecosystem. It is an essential resource for plant and animal life, since green plant utilizes it (water) for photosynthesis, while also serving as a source of food to farm animals.
Plants and animals utilize the oxygen in air for cellular respiration; in order to produce energy for various life processes.
Please read more on cellular respiration in biology here.
Plant nutrients are classified into two types based on the plant's requirements. These are macronutrients and micronutrients respectively. Atmospheric nitrogen (an abiotic factor, and plant's macronutrient) is converted and fixed into the soil via the bacteria rhizobium and azotobacter, through a nitrogen fixation process. Plant's root absorb dissolved nutrients in soil water through a process termed active transport.
Please read on sources, functions and deficiencies of macronutrients here.
Carbon(IV)oxide (an abiotic factor), is in fact, a very important inorganic nutrient necessary for photosynthesis in plants. Without this abiotic factor, food chain in a farm ecosystem will cease to exist.
In conclusion, understanding agricultural ecosystems is essential for students interested in environmental science, sustainability, and food security. The interplay of soil health, water management, crop diversity, and human impact shapes the agricultural landscape.
Please read a detailed explanation on the concept of an ecosystem in biology here.
As future leaders and innovators, students can contribute to redefining agricultural practices to ensure sustainable food production that respects and maintains the integrity of our ecosystems. Engaging with these concepts will empower you to play an active role in creating a sustainable future for agriculture and our planet at large.
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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.