Introduction to Agriculture & Horticulture
INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE
It is the science in the art of farming including the work of cultivating the soil, producing the crops and raising livestock.
It has two main branches 1. Crops 2. Animals
Components of agriculture
It has four components
1. Crops 54 %
2. Livestock 41 %
3. Fisheries 4.5 %
4. Forestry .5 %
Agriculture is defined as an art, science and business of producing crops
and livestock for economic purposes.
As an art: it embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operations of
the farm in a skillful manner, but does not necessarily include an
understanding of the principles underlying the farm practices.
As a science: utilizes all technologies developed on scientific principles
such as crop breeding, production techniques, crop protection, economics
etc. to maximize the yield and profit.
For example, new crops and varieties developed by hybridization,
Transgenic crop varieties resistant to pests and diseases, hybrids in each
crop, high fertilizer responsive varieties, water management, herbicides
to control weeds, use bio-control agents to combat pests and diseases etc.
As a Business: Agriculture, essential for rural life, is closely linked to consumption. However, as a business, it focuses on maximizing net returns by effectively managing land, labor, water, and capital. This involves applying scientific knowledge to produce food, feed, fiber, and fuel. Recently, agriculture has become increasingly commercialized, driven by mechanization to enhance efficiency and productivity.
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE
1. Supply or provide us food and fiber.
2. Contributes about 25 % in GDP.
3. Agriculture provides raw materials to industries.
4. Agriculture provides 80 % in foreign exchange.
5. 45 % of the labor force in Pakistan are engaged in agriculture.
6. It is the backbone of our country.
AGRONOMY
It is derived from the Greek word agro—field Nomo’s –manage—
It is defined as an agricultural science that deals with principles and practices of crop production and field management.
Agronomy is a branch of agricultural science, which deals with principles, & practices of soil, water & crop management.
It is a branch of agricultural science that deals with methods which provide a favorable environment to the crop for higher productivity.
Causes of low yield in Pakistan
Maize is 70 % less than America and Canada.
Our yield is low because of low soil fertility. Our soil is 60 percent deficient in nutrients.
Low yielding varieties.
Poor agronomic practices
Farmers are illiterate
Application of water, harvesting of crops, attacks of insects, diseases, weeds
Non availability of seed.
Non availability of chemicals
Un availability of inputs
Low income
Water logging, salinity
Small land holdings
Lack of agro based industry.
Lack of storage, transport facilities and next one is weak govt policy.
Natural disaster, drought
In case of KPK rains has not occurred in time
FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR INCREASING YIELD
1. Use of high yielding variety
2. Proper tillage (preparation of soil for growing crops) practices
3. Prepare seed bed properly
4. Balance fertilizers
5. Proper irrigation
6. Control of pest and diseases, weeds.
7. Proper time sowing
8. Time of harvesting.
9. Proper seed rate
10. Crop rotation-growing of crops one after the other in regular sequence in order to keep in view that fertility of soil may not disturb.
11. Multiple cropping system (it is the practice of producing two or more crops on the same plot of land at the same time, rather than simply one, throughout the same growing season).
* Our lands are so small because of small holdings and because of the population we in Pakistan grow more crops in one year. America grow only one crop in a year called mono cropping
MODERN AGRICULTURE
Modern agriculture depends heavily on engineering and technology and on the biological and physical sciences. Irrigation, drainage, conservation, and sanitary engineering—each of which is important in successful farming—are some of the fields
requiring the specialized knowledge of agricultural engineers. Agricultural chemistry deals with other vital farming concerns, such as the application of fertilizer, insecticides (see Pest Control), and fungicides, soil makeup, analysis of agricultural products, and nutritional needs of farm animals. Plant breeding and genetics help improve crop and livestock production. Genetics has also made a science of livestock breeding. Hydroponics, which lets plants grow without soil using nutrient solutions, could help produce more food as the population grows. Additionally, science plays a big role in how we pack, process, and sell farm products, with methods like quick-freezing and drying helping to expand markets.
Reason for low productivity Or Factors affecting crop productivity
1. Climate, it is general weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period.
2. Soil, the upper layer of earth in which plants grow.
3. Socioeconomic
Climate
Some crops can be grown in one climate while others can be grown in other climates. Some factors of climate can be manipulated e.g. irrigation makes desert bloom while some climatic components can not be manipulated.
Major component of climate
1.temperature
Most crops need optimum temperature.
2.water
Hydrophytes e.g. rice need a lot of water for optimum growth
Mesophytes some crops need moderate quantities of water
Xerophytes Can get low quantities of water e.g. grain sorghum
Soil
Soil is medium for crop growth. It provides water, nutrients and also oxygen for root respiration.
Some crops can be grown in heaviest soil (more clay than silt e.g. potato.
Some crops grow in lightest soil e.g. sugarcane.
Socio-economic
Relating to or concerned with the interaction of social and climatic factors.
Inflexible surface irrigation system.
Haploid refers to the presence of a single set of chromosomes in an organism's cells. Sexually reproducing organisms are diploid (having two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent).
Haploid cells are formed by the process of meiosis.
Angiosperms are divided into 2 groups on the basis of cotyledons:
CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS
Classification, in biology, identification, naming, and grouping of organisms into a formal
system based on similarities such as internal and external anatomy, physiological functions, genetic makeup, or evolutionary history. Most plants are usually known by their common local name, which are different from country to country, locality to locality. For example pumpkin refers to species cucurbitaceous in America while in Britain pumpkin refers to any of several species of squash. In order to avoid confusion and to facilitate international communication, in scientific writing, a plant is given one name: its scientific, technical, or botanical name. According to the internationally accepted rule, each plant has two words or binomial names given in Latin. The first name refers to the Genus and second to Species. The initials of the person (authority) who names a plant species or variety is listed after the species name. for example in the name Triticum aestivum L.
L means Linnaeus who named the wheat plant. Generic name always begins with a capital letter while species name with lower case letter. These names are underlined If written by hand or type writer and italicized when printed.
According to Linnaeus there are four groups of plants:
1. Thallophytes
2. Bryophytes
3. Pteridophyta
4. Spermatophyte.
Thallophytes
They may be single cell, rope cells or thallus
They are called lower plants.
They don’t have roots, stems or leaves.
e.g. bacteria, algae and fungi
They have importance.
They fix nitrogen.
They are harmful and cause diseases e.g. rust
Bryophyte
They are small green plants.
They grow in wet places.
Roots are not true called rhizoids.
Stem and leaves are present.
Have no agronomic importance e.g. mosses, liverwort, hornwort.
Pteridophyta.
They don’t have flowers and seeds but reproduce by spores.
They don’t have agronomic importance except as ornamentals.
They have vascular bundles, so called vascular plants.
E.g. ferns, horse tail
Spermatophyte
They are highly developed plants.
They have leaves, stems, roots as well as having flowers. All have agronomic importance.
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