Below are characteristics of gymnosperms:

1. Their seeds have cones that protect them.

2. Sepals and petals aren't present in their cones.

3. Stigma and style are absent.

4. They do not produce fruits. Only seeds are formed.

5. Companion cells are absent.

6. Sporophyll form the cones.

7. Anther and filament are absent.

8. The ovules are not present in the ovary.

9. 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:

1. Sepals

2. Petals

3. Stamen

4. 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.

Please read more on plants' sexual reproduction here

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.

  Please read more on vectors of diseases here.

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.

Please read on plants versus crops here

Below are some of the problems of agriculture in Nigeria:

• Lack of mechanized farming

• Poor government policies

• High cost of fertilizers

• Lack of education

• Lack of storage facilities

• Bad road network

• Poor research facilities

Please read a detailed explanation on the problems of agriculture in Nigeria here.

Secateurs are agricultural tools.

• Secateurs are also referred to as pruning shears or hand pruners.

• It looks like a pair of scissors.

• It’s used for trimming flowers and leaves.

• It is also used for pruning the branches of shrubs.

An example of an agricultural tool is the hoe. It is shown below:

• We have a variety of hoes.

• They are generally used for tilling the soil.

• They are used for making trenches in farmlands.

• A hoe is utilized in harvesting crops like yam and cocoyam

• They are also used for cutting weeds on farmlands.

Please read on agricultural tools and their uses here

Pisciculture, fish farming or fish rearing is a great business to begin as an entrepreneur.

Below are some reasons why one should embark on fish farming:

• There is always a great demand for fish in the market.

• You don't need a degree or qualification.

• It is a profitable business if done right.

• You are your own boss.

• You can always get a fish specie that grows fast; and with a high marketability ratio.

• Water is very cheap.

• You can do it yourself if you abide by the fish farming rules.

Please read how to start a home based fish farming here.

Below are some agricultural terms and their meanings:

• Agriculture: Agriculture is defined as a science that deals with plant and animal farming; including the cultivation of the soil for the purpose of growing crops and rearing animals to provide food for man, raw materials for industries and other useful resources; for example, oxygen.

• Agricultural Extension: These are cooperative bodies that work with the federal and state agencies to carry out research and education for rural and urban producer and consumer groups. Agricultural extension is achieved through the cooperative's specialist personnel for each area of the state or country.

• Agronomy: This is defined as the science of crop production and soil management.

• Alfalfa: A leguminous crop used for forage or hay in livestock farming.

• Algicides: These are pesticide used for controlling and killing algae. Algae are usually present in lakes, canals, damp walls, swimming pools, water tanks and other water related bodies.

  Please read on agricultural terms and meanings here.

Below are some common types of erosion:

• Water Erosion: It is caused by rainfall and flooding on the topsoil. As a result of water erosion, some layers of the topsoil are lost.

• Sheet Erosion: When an entire surface of land becomes eroded at a uniform (equal) level, such is referred to as sheet erosion. It is shown below:
  

• Wind Erosion: It results from the actions of wind on a bare land. Wind erosion is often seen in deserts. Overgrazing and lack of vegetation cover will also enhance wind erosion on topsoil.

Please read more on types of soil erosion here.

Soil erosion is defined as a process through which the topsoil is removed or moved from one point to another by agents like wind, water, man and animals.

Soil erosion occurs naturally (wind and water) and may also be facilitated by living organisms.

Soil erosion is more likely to occur on a sloppy land and land with no vegetation cover. When this occurs, the nutrient rich layer of the topsoil is washed away; and this ultimately results in fewer plants growing on such eroded soil.

Please read more on soil erosion here

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