AGRICULTURE FORM ONE

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GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

SCIENCE

THEME 01 : GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE SCIENCE

Definition of agriculture- Is the science and art of cultivating crops and raising livestock to

produce food and goods for human beings.

The word art is used referring to the skill of the farmer in cultivating crops and raising livestock.

The word science is defined as knowledge of nature. Farmers use the knowledge gained by

scientists to grow their crops and livestock.

IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE IN THE SOCIETY

• Used in food processing

• Used in crop production

• Used in making pesticides

• Used in making fertilizer

• Help in producing new breeds of animals

• Used in food preservation.

• Help to know what endanger animal and crops

THE SCOPE AND INTEGRATION OF AGRICULTURE WITH ARTS AND SCIENCE

SUBJECTS

Biology:

Involves breeding of crops and livestock.

Geography:

Involves crop and animal distribution soil and water conservation.

Mathematics:

Involve production economics and research, farm survey, mechanization finance and soil

science.

Chemistry and physics:

Biochemistry, Animals and crop science and protection soil chemistry, farm mechanization

Zoology:

Animal production science veterinary medicine.

Sociology:

Agricultural extension and education.

Economics:

Finance and marketing.

HOW FARMING BEGAN

In Prehistoric times, people liked by collecting fruits, seeds, leaves and roots of trees they come

across in the bushes and forests, and by hunting wild animals. Men started as food gathers and

hunters. They lived in very small combinations and the population was so small that there was no

difficulty in obtaining enough foods.

The first big discovery was the cultivation of land by scratching the ground with wooden sticks

and growing some wild edible plants.

After undergoing many generations of selection and breeding, this gave rise to the cereal crop

varieties we grow at present. Various types of wild animals and birds were caught and tames,

later to become domestics animals. Due to these developments some form of settled agriculture

started, but the use of poor tools remained a common feature.

The arrival of Europeans in East Africa Market a further Improvement in farming methods. Cash

crops and exotic breeds of livestock were introduced the cash crops being mainly intended to

provide raw materials for industries such as the textile industry in Lancashire back in England.

The revenue from the cash crops helped the colonies to pay for their administrative costs, thus

reducing dependence on the colonizers. However more attention was paid to the European that to

the African farmers.

BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE SCIENCE

 The subject material of agriculture entails much subdivision namely:-

1. Crop husbandry:

This is also known as crop science, it deals with botany and examines plant life cycles, weeds,

rests and diseases and their control, plant breeding and genetics.

2. Animal husbandry:

This is animal science that deals with the rearing of all types of livestock e.g. cattle, poultry,

sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits. It also involves all factors that influence the production

performance of livestock so as to obtain high yield of animal’s products of goods quality both for

human consumption and for industries.

3. Soil Science:

Involves the study of soil in general, how it works, how the soil is formed, how it works to

sustain life and how it can be kept alive through many years of use.

4. Agricultural machinery:

Deals with tools and machinery used in farming activities, modern farming require the of tools

and machinery so as to enable farmers to save time and cope with large amount of work while

stepping up the yield. Farm modernization cannot be achieved without using machines.

5. Agriculture Economics:

This branch of agriculture provides information on basic economic principles, gross domestic

product and income per capital in relation to agriculture development and the day to day

activities.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE

Importance of agriculture to the farmers

1. Agriculture provides foods

The food may be obtained from growing crops in the garden or from animal’s sources,

where we get meat, milks and milk products, egg and blood. It’s the duty of every nation

to feed its people because a well fed nation is a health one.

2. Agriculture provides employment:

Workers in ranches, coffee, tea and sisal estate and small holders’ farmers are all

employed through agriculture sector.

3. Clothing:

Agriculture generates materials from which clothing is made. Fibre from cotton and other crops

is processed in a textile industry to produce cloth. Woolen clothing and leather materials like

shoes, belts, jackets and handbags are obtained from animals.

4. Money:

Crops, animals and animal products are sold for cash

5. Consumer goods:-

The manufactured products which farmers use for domestic purpose such as sugar, soap, cooking

oil and others are all processed from raw materials obtained from the agriculture sector.

6. Shelter:

The agriculture sector generates the materials which farmers use to put up their houses. Shelter is

one of the basic requirements of man.

7. Agriculture provides raw materials for industries most agriculture products require some.

8. Labor:

Some animals such as oxen, donkey and camels are used on farms for ploughing and providing

simple transport.

9. Fuel:

Crop residues are used as firewood or charcoal.

10. Social, Cultural, Traditional value:

Payment of dowry and fulfillment of traditional ceremonies and rituals must be done in material

form by presenting one or more of these animals as the custom demands.

SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES USED IN AGRICULTURE SCIENCE

Scientific process

Agriculture science subject needs scientific methods of research and investigation. One can study

living things either by field observation (outdoors) or laboratory experimentation (indoors).

Scientific process is activities that deal with experimentation in chosen phenomena in science

and finding a solution to a problem.

Importance of scientific procedure

o To determine plants and animal requirements

o To determine pest and disease which affect plant and animals

o To develop suitable new plants varieties and animal breeds.

Procedural method

(i) Problem Identification

(ii) Formulation of hypothesis

(iii) Experimentation

(iv) Observation and Data Recording

(v) Interpretation of Data

(vi) Conclusion

(i) Problem identification

Is the first step where problem is recognized

(ii) Formulation of Hypothesis:

Hypothesis – is an intelligent guess, a tentative theory or tentative explanation and hypothesis

formulation

(iii) Experimentation; an experiment is a series of investigations intended to discover certain

facts. This may lead to the acceptance, modification or sometimes rejection of a hypothesis

(iv) Observation and Data Recording

After setting up an experiment, a researcher makes careful observations and records all events

that he considers important.

(v) Interpretation of Data:

Once a researcher has collected data he / she should try to explain what the data means in

relation to the purpose of the experiment.

(vi) Conclusion

A research must draw conclusions at the end of the investigations based upon collected data. The

conclusion is either a confirmation or rejection of the hypothesis under investigation. When a

hypothesis is rejected another one is formulated and tested.

AGRICULTURE SCIENCE LABORATORY

Meaning of the concept:

The word laboratory originated from a Latin word laborer which means labour (work hard) this

suggests that the laboratory is a place meant for serious hard work and not for jokes.

Definition

It is a room or a building specially designed for Agriculture experiments and also where

specimens and apparatus are kept.

Characteristics of a good laboratory

o Supply of gas

o Electricity and water

o Large windows to allow enough light and air

The laboratory is meant to be a quiet and safe place to work in. It can be a dangerous place if

safety regulations are not adhered to.Importance of Agriculture Lab

The laboratory can be used for soil analysis

o The laboratory can be used to conduct experiments for examine plants and animals

requirement

o It used for examining different plants and animal rest and diseases

o Can be used to store different Agriculture science chemicals, fertilizer, seeds and

apparatus for future use.

o Can be used to develop new crop varieties and animal breeds.

Safety in Agriculture laboratory

When an experiment is being done, it should never be assumed to be completely harmless. All

chemicals and apparatus should be handled with great care. For instance, if a glass apparatus is

handled carelessly, it might break and injure the user.

Safety laboratory rules

Students should never handle any chemicals specimens and apparatus in the laboratory without

instructions from the teacher. Students using any chemical must adhere to the teacher’s

instructions, very carefully to avoid accidents.

Any accident involving chemicals or apparatus in the laboratory must be reported to the teacher

in charge immediately so that first aid can be administered.

Put off flames which are most in used.

When heating a substance, never point the open end of the tube towards yourself or anyone else.

Always hold tubes using test-tube holders when heating.

Always keep inflammable substances away from flames.

Don’t play or run in the laboratory

If need be wear lab coat, gloves, goggles when carrying out an experiment or practical’s.

ALWAYS work on a clean bench. After completing your experiments. Clean all pieces of

apparatus and specimens one has used return them to their correct places.

TYPES OF APPARATUS USED IN AGRICULTURE LABORATORY

 Beaker

 Brush

 Glass wool

 Bucket

 Beam balance

 Measuring cylinder

 Test tube

 Thermometers

FIRST AID

Definition

Is the immediate and temporary care of help one is given when injured or ill before being taken

to the hospital or before the doctor comes

Importance of first Aid

 Saves life

 Bring hope & encouragement

 Prevent further heading or injuries

 Helps the patients to recover from shock

 Removes fear of death

 Reduce pain

Component of the first Aid Kit Importance of first AID

 A pair of scissors

 Rolls of adhesive tape

 Assorted bandages 

 Cotton wool sterilized 

 New razor blade sterilized

 Jar of petroleum jelly

 Gentian violet solution

 Soap

 Antibiotic solution

 Pain killers: e.g. panadol

 Methylated spirit

 Clean water