DOMINICAN COLLEGE MAFOLUKU

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
e-plan for JSS 1 2023/2024 Academic Session
WEEK ONE
FIRST TERM SCHEME OF WORK

Weeks Topics
1. Resumption Test
2. Scheme of work
Meaning and Importance of Agriculture.
- Meaning of Agriculture.
- History of Agriculture.
3. Meaning and Importance of Agriculture.
- Branches or Scope of Agriculture.
- Importance of Agriculture to individual farmers, the community
and the nation.
4. Forms of Agriculture:
- Apiculture.
- Horticulture.
- Heliculture.
5. Forms of Agriculture:
- Livestock.
- Crop farming.
- Fishery.
6. Crop Plant Forms:
- Different parts of plant.
- Functions of each part.
7. Mid - Term Test/Open day
8. Mid - Term Break
9. Crop Plant Forms:
- Aquatic plants.
- Terrestrial plants.
10. Classification of Crops:
- Based on their life cycle (annual, biennial and perennial crops)
- Based on their morphology (monocots and dicots)
- Based on their uses (cereals, legumes, spice, beverages, latex, root
and tuber, fruits and vegetables, oil crops)
11. Distribution of Crops in Nigeria.
- Meaning of distribution of crops
- Factors affecting the distribution of crops in Nigeria
- Uses of crops
 12. Revision
13. Examination

WEEK TWO
MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE
MEANING OF AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is often defined by many people as the cultivation of the land. This definition
is coined from two latin words, ‘ager’, meaning land and ‘cultura’, meaning cultivation. However,
this is a very narrow view about what agriculture actually means. In a broad sense, agriculture is
defined as the sum total of all the activities concerned with the production of useful plants and
animals and their products for man’s use and the nations benefit.
Agriculture is one of the oldest and most important occupations of mankind. It supplies the three
basic human needs- food, clothing, and shelter, and as long as man must eat to live, agriculture
will continue to be a basic human activity, no matter the number of people that may eventually
be involved.
As a science, it deals with the systematic study of plants and animals lives in their environment
and seeks to provide suitable natural conditions for them so as to produce the best quality
products which are used directly or indirectly by man.
Nowadays agriculture is seen as an industry which is patronized by everybody. It embraces more
than just farming. Farming is that part of the industry where land is cultivated, plants and animals
are produced. Agriculture includes farming as well as the application of basic scientific knowledge
for better production, processing and marketing of farm products.

HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE

The history of agriculture is as old as man. The early men lived by gathering wild fruits and
hunting wild animals, as they moved from place to place. The type and quantity available at the
time required was irregular, uncertain and subject to the prevailing climatic conditions and luck.
They continued with this nomadic life until large population of the families and properties
necessitated the building of huts. Thus the early man changed from his nomadic way of life to a
settled life.
Agriculture started by accident about 15,000 years ago when the early man learnt how to
grow crops and domesticate animals in order to get enough to eat. Different crops and animals
originated from different parts of the world but are spread to other countries by the early
missionaries, explorers and traders.
Agriculture started independently in at least three places in the world, each with a
distinctive cluster of plants drawn from the local flora: Mesoamerica (Mexico/Guatemala: corn,
beans, squash, papaya, tomatoes, chili, peppers), the Fertile Crescent (Middle East from the Nile
Valley to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers: wheat, barley, grapes, apples, figs, melons, lentils,
dates), and north China (mid-reaches of the three-thousand-mile-long Yellow River: rice,
soybeans, peaches, Chinese cabbages such as bok choy).

From these regions and possibly others, notably Africa (sorghum, cowpeas, yams, oil
palm), South America (potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, peanuts, pineapples), and a broad
band of tropical southeast Asia (oranges, mangoes, bananas, coconuts, sugarcane), the invention
of agriculture spread to encompass the entire world by two thousand years ago.
 WEEK THREE
BRANCHES OR SCOPE OF AGRICULTURE

Agriculture involves growing plants and keeping animals. Therefore, if those who practice
agriculture; farmers and agriculturists, must be successful, they should know a lot about crops
and animals. They should know how plants and animals grow, where they grow, when they grow,
and what they need to grow well. They also need to know how the plants and animals grown are
useful to people and how to sell them to make money. The general name for plants grown is
Crops while the term Livestock is used for the animals reared by farmers. You can, therefore,
realize that agriculturists need to know many things. This is why agriculture is broad; it covers
many science subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, Health Science, Mathematics
and Economics. These subjects help agriculturists to understand plants and animals and thereby
use the knowledge to produce better crops and animals. This is why agriculture is called an
applied science, or agricultural science.
The main branches of agriculture are;
1. Crop science: Crop science is the study of the world's major food, feed, turf, and fiber
crops and their environment. It is a broad discipline encompassing breeding, genetics,
production, and management
2. Animal science: Animal science is the biological science and management of domestic
livestock, including beef cattle, horses, sheep, swine and companion animals.
Students learn the science, art and practical methods of caring for, improving and
managing livestock and companion animals.
3. Soil science: Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the
Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical,
biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use
and management of soils.
 4. Horticulture: the branch of plant agriculture dealing with garden crops, generally
fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
5. Fishery: can be defined as the branch of agriculture which deals with the production
of fishes and other aquatic animals.
6. Forestry and wildlife: is the scientific management yield production of forest goods
such as timber, fuel, wood, paper, mushrooms, wildlife products and ecological
services.
7. Veterinary Medicine: is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention,
management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals.
8. Agricultural Engineering: the branch of engineering that deals with the design of farm
machinery, the location and planning of farm structures, farm drainage, soil
management and erosion control, water supply and irrigation, rural electrification,
and the processing of farm products.
9. Agricultural Education: agricultural education teaches students about agriculture,
food and natural resources. Through these subjects, agricultural educators teach
students a wide variety of skills, including science, math, communications, leadership,
management and technology.
10. Agricultural Economics: is the study of how societies use available resources to meet
the needs of people.
11. Agricultural Extension: Agricultural Extension is a service or system which assists farm
people, through educational procedures, in improving farming methods and
techniques, increasing production efficiency and income, bettering their levels of
living, and lifting the social and educational standards of rural life.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is very important not only for our own lives but also for the entire nation. Farmers
grow various plants used for foods, medicines, rubber and many other products. Many
agricultural products are used in festivals and ceremonies such as marriages, christening of
children and even burials. In every part of the world, agriculture is very important for the
following:
1. Food production: all the food we eat are produced in the farm by farmers. We all need
food to grow healthy and provide energy for our works. Most country can’t produce
enough food to feed their people and this has led to importing of food from other
countries by such country. In some countries like Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan, the
shortage of food is so high that there is famine and many people die of starvation. When
this happens, other countries and organizations help to reduce the suffering by sending
quantities of grain and milk to the affected areas; this is what is called food aid. Without
agriculture therefore, it would be very difficult to feed the people in a country.
2. Production of clothing and shelter: all human beings need to protect their bodies from
harsh weather conditions wherever they live. The early humans on earth protected
themselves with leaves and animal skins. Nowadays, we wear clothes made from cotton
and wool which are products of plants and animals from farms. We also wear leather
shoes, coats and boots made from the skins of farm animals. In addition to protecting our
bodies, agriculture provides us with timber and materials like grass, stalks, thatch and
palm fronds for constructing our homes. These homes protect us from sun, rain and wind.

3. Help in industry: agricultural products contribute to the manufacturing of a huge variety

of goods, including food and beverage products, textiles, cleaning and personal
products, construction materials, fuels, and more.

Agricultural products Items manufactured

Tea leaves Tea drink
Coffee beans Coffee drink
Cocoa beans Sweet, chocolates, other beverages
Palm oil Margarine, soap, cooking oil
Rubber Car tyres, rubber bands
 Cotton Cloth
Wood Tables, chairs, beds, paper
Animal skins Leather bags, shoes, belt.
Sugar cane Cubes of sugar
Coconut Coconut cake
Honey comb Honey
Tree back Herbs
Fresh tomatoes Tomato paste
Fruits Fruit drink

4. Source of revenue: revenue is money obtained from trading activities. By selling some
products from farms, farmers and the government of countries receive revenue. In
Nigeria, many farmers sell the products from their farms and make a lot of money. Such
farmers pay taxes to the government which uses such taxes for the development of the
country. The government uses revenue from taxes to build roads, schools, hospitals,
award scholarships and provide many other benefits for its people. Another way in which
agriculture provides revenue to the government is by the sale of products like cocoa,
coffee, rubber, timber, sugarcane, tea and palm-oil to other countries such as England,
Holland, America and Germany which do not grow these crops. The government is paid
in foreign currency for these agricultural products and the money is used to buy
manufactured goods which we do not produce, e.g. radio sets watches, aero planes,
motor cars, television sets and science apparatus.

5. Provision of jobs: many people are employed in farms as farm workers. This employment
gives them money to take care of their families and lead good life. Farm employment
helps the government to reduce the problem of unemployment, i.e. joblessness among
our young people. Agriculture also provides jobs for many other people like agricultural
teachers in schools, farm workers and agricultural officers in the ministries of agriculture.
 WEEK FOUR/FIVE
FORMS OF AGRICULTURE

Forms of agriculture consist of different ways in which agriculture can be practiced especially as
it relates to other fields which are different from the regular agriculture we are used to. We can
also call it types of agriculture.
Let us explore some of them:
- Apiculture
- Horticulture
- Heliculture
- Livestock
- Crop farming
- Fishery
The above listed are the generally accepted forms of agriculture but what does each one mean?
1. APICULTURE
This is the type of agriculture that deals with the rearing of honey bees for the production of
honey and the wax.
IMPORTANCE OF BEEKEEPING

The main advantages of beekeeping are:Provides honey, which is the most valuable nutritional
food.

1. Provides bee wax which is used in many industries, including cosmetics industries,
polishing industries, pharmaceutical industries, etc.
2. Plays an excellent role in pollination. Honey bees are the best pollinating agents which
help in increasing the yield of several crops.
3. According to the recent studies, the honey bee’s venom contains a mixture of proteins
which can potentially be used as a prophylactic to destroy HIV that causes AIDS in
humans.
CHALLENGES TO BEEKEEPING

There are some downsides to raising honey bees, however:

 Non-Natives: While we manage honey bees for honey & pollination, there is some concern
that honey bees are out-competing our native bees in the wild. Honey bees are non-natives.
Wild, solitary bees are the super-pollinators of our native flowers and plants. If you’re
getting bees to pollinate your food (not to produce honey), consider a solitary bee house
(and encourage native plants and wildflowers).
 Stings can happen with honey bees. Check with your doctor first to determine if you are
one of the unlucky people who are allergic to honey bee stings. Even if you are not allergic,
stings are painful. Learning how to properly manage your hives will lessen stinging episodes.
 Cost of supplies. The initial cost of beekeeping can be intimidating to new beekeepers. You
will need to invest in supplies such as a hive, proper protective clothing, a smoker, and hive
tool.
 The first year can be a tough one. On top of learning the ins and outs of beekeeping, you
may not get any honey for yourself. Your bees have a lot of work to do during the first
season. They must produce wax, raise young bees and store honey for Winter. Learn to be
patient with yourself and your bees.
 Bee diseases. As you might know, bee populations have been in decline for several years.
Diseases, pesticides, and parasites are the most common troubles encountered by bees, but
sometimes, there is no explanation for an unhealthy hive.

2. HORTICULTURE

This is the type of agriculture that deals with science, technology, and business of vegetable plant
growing. It is also called gardening; the practice of garden cultivations and management. This
also includes the cultivation of medicinal plants, vegetables, fruits, herbs, seeds, flowers and non-
food crops such as ornamental trees, grasses, and plants.
Horticulture can be divided into three areas namely;
- Pomology: deals with the scientific study of fruit crops.
- Olericulture: deals with the scientific study of vegetable crops.
- Floriculture: is a branch of horticulture, which deals with the scientific study of flowering
and ornamental crops.
3. HELICULTURE

This is the type of agriculture that deals with the rearing or production of snails.
 4. LIVESTOCK

This is the type of agriculture that deals with the rearing of domesticated animals such as cow,
hen, etc.
5. CROP FARMING

This is a branch of agriculture that deals with the production or growing of plants. This involves
the production of different kinds of crops plants useful to man and animals. Crop plants are either
called food or arable crops and cash crops. Crops that are eaten by man either cooked or raw
are referred to as food crops e.g. cassava, yam, vegetable, potatoes, bean, cowpea, soya bean,
maize, guinea corn, etc. Crops cultivated with the aim selling them either to our local industries
or for export are called cash crops e.g. cocoa, cotton, groundnut, oil palm, timber, coffee, etc. In
growing, caring for and harvesting these crops, farmers use various practices. These practices
are:
- Shifting cultivation:
 shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated
temporarily, then abandoned while post-disturbance fallow vegetation is allowed to
freely grow while the cultivator moves on to another plot.

- Crop rotation:

is the practice of planting different crops sequentially on the same plot of land to improve
soil health, optimize nutrients in the soil, and combat pest and weed pressure.

- Mono-cropping:
 is the practice of growing a single crop year after year on the same land. Maize, soybeans,
and wheat are three common crops often monocropped. Mono-cropping is also referred
to as continuous cropping, as in "continuous corn." Mono-cropping allows for farmers to
have consistent crops throughout their entire farm. They can plant only the most
profitable crop, use the same seed, pest control, machinery, and growing method on their
entire farm, which may increase overall farm profitability.

- Mixed cropping:

When two or more crops are grown on the same land simultaneously, it is known as mixed
cropping. For example, growing wheat and gram on the same land at the same time is
mixed cropping. This practice minimizes the risk of failure of one of the crops and insures
against crop failure due to abnormal weather conditions.

- Mixed farming:
 The cultivation of crops alongside the rearing of animals for meat or eggs or milk defines
mixed farming. For example, a mixed farm may grow cereal crops, such as wheat or rye,
and also keep cattle, sheep, pigs or poultry. Often the dung from the cattle serves to
fertilize the crops.

- Taungya farming:

The Taungya System is a form of agroforestry system in which short-term crops are grown
in the early years of the plantation of a woody perennial species to utilize the land, control
weeds, reduce establishment costs, generate early income, and stimulate the
development of the woody perennial species.

6. FISHERY
This is the branch of agriculture that deals with the production of fish and other aquatic animals
such as crab, sponges, shrimp, seals etc. The act of catching fish is called fishing. Fishery is also a
specialized occupation, an industry that is dedicated to fishing and making a business out of it.
LEVELS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
There are different forms of agriculture which are best suited for different locations. However,
these different forms of agriculture could be practiced either mainly to meet the immediate
needs of farmers and their families in which case it is referred to as subsistence agriculture or
the produce are sold mostly for profit in which case it is called commercial agriculture.
 WEEK SIX/NINE
CROP PLANT FORMS
Plants like animals are living things. As living things, they have various parts which enable them
carry out their daily life process. Plants are grown so that we can use one or more of their various
parts. A plant that is grown for a particular purpose is called a Crop.
PARTS OF A PLANT
The different parts of a plant include roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruits.

Parts of a flowering plant can be divided into two;

1. The root system and
2. The shoot system
The part of the plant below the ground is called the root system while the leaves, stem and
flowers found above the ground make up the shoot system.
FUNCTIONS OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF A PLANT
1. The Root: the root performs two important functions and these include:
(i) It anchors (holds) the plant firmly to the ground, and
(ii) It absorbs water and minerals salts from the soil and passes them to the stem.

2. The Stem: The functions of the stem include the following;

(i) It bears the leaves and flowers. In addition, the stem holds the leaves in good position
to obtain sunlight and the flowers in better position for pollination to take place and
(ii) It conducts water and minerals salts as well as manufactured food to different parts of
the plant.

3. The Leaf: The function of the leaf is to manufacture food for the plant. All green plants
are capable of producing their own food by the process of photosynthesis because of the
presence of the green pigment called chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide, water and
mineral salts are certain elements needed for photosynthesis to take place. While sunlight
and carbon dioxide are obtained from the atmosphere, water and mineral salts are
obtained from the soil.

4. The Flower: The flower is the reproductive organ of the plant. It produces the seeds and
fruits after pollination. Pollination can be defined as the transfer of pollen grains from the
anthers to the stigma of a flower. It is self-pollination, if the pollen grains are transferred
to the stigma of the same flower but cross-pollination if the pollen grains are transferred
from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another flower. After pollination, the
ovary develops to form fruits while the ovules form the seeds which are later used for
propagation.
Apart from the functions of the various parts of the plant mentioned above, some
plants use their roots, leaves or their stems, to store food. Cassava and carrot for example
store food in their roots, while sugar cane and yam store food in their stems. Onions store
food at the bases of their old leaves (bulb). These parts of plants can also be used for
propagation.

Crop plant can as well be grouped into the following;

1. Aquatic plants
2. Terrestrial plants
AQUATIC PLANTS
These are plants that can grow and survive in water bodies (rivers, lakes, ponds,
stream). Examples of such plant crops include water lettuce, green algae, water
hyacinth, plankton. Aquatic animals like fish, crabs, lobsters, crayfish, crocodile, water
tortoise etc. mostly eat most of these aquatic plants.

TERRESTRIAL PLANTS
These are plant that grow and supply and survive on land. Examples include; beans,
yam, rice. Oil palm, coconuts etc. They are mostly eaten by terrestrial animals
including man.

BROAD AND NARROW LEAF

BROAD LEAF CROPS
These are crop plant that their leaves grow wide or broad in shape. They can be cut
and spread on the ground for drying grains and seeds like maize and melon. They can
also be used to cover compost manure during and after it’s preparation. Plants with
broad leaf include plantain, banana, cocoyam, okra etc.

NARROW LEAF CROPS

These are crops plants that their leaves grow in narrow shape. They are usually eaten
by ruminants’ animals like cow, goat and sheep. Examples of narrow leaves crops
include maize, rice, guinea corn, millet and guinea grass, elephant grass.
 WEEK TEN
CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS