plants and importance of plants. Plants are one of the two groups into which all living things have been traditionally divided the other is animals. Plants •
Plants are also called as green plants which are living organisms of the kingdom Plantae including such multi-cellular groups as flowering plants, conifers, ferns and mosses, as well as, depending on definition, the green algae
.
how does plants make there own food using photosynthesis
Green plants have cell walls with cellulose and characteristically obtain most of their energy from sunlight via photosynthesis using chlorophyll contained in chloroplasts, which gives them their green color.
Some plants are parasitic and may not produce normal amounts of chlorophyll or photosynthesize. Cultivation of the Soil
The principle of cultivation is to turn and break down the soil to a fine tilts to provide the ideal environment for seeds to germinate=germination of seed= called tillage •
Soil cultivation (or digging) is mainly carried out to bury weeds and debris. This is usually followed by surface preparation for sowing and planting. • What does cultivation do?
self pollination
The idea is to increase the surface area or increase the macro pore space to facilitate infiltration and percolation, and to increase air diffusion into the soil. Tillage • Tillage is mechanical manipulation of soil-in agriculture, it is usually restricted to modifying soil conditions for crop production.here is an article on tillage implements here • It is believed to improve water infiltration and retention of rain water. •
Tillage alters soil porosity (assuming a crust is present), thus allowing a good exchange between soil air with atmospheric air.
Tillage should provide proper conditions for seed germination, particularly a good water to-air balance. Tilled soil offers little resistance to seedling emergence or root penetration.
Tillage provides some weed control and incorporation of plant residue. Tillage System • Intensive tillage • Reduced tillage • Conservation tillage
read types of tillage here
Positive Effects of Tillage on plants •
Plowing loosens and aerates the top layer of soil which can facilitate the planting of the crop
Erosion of soil. •
It is a mechanical way used for destroying weeds. • Dries the soil before seeding.
Negative Effects of tillage • Dries the soil before seeding • Erosion of soil • Compaction of the soil, also known as a tillage pan. • Decreases the water infiltration rate of soil. Agricultural Chemistry
Use of Manures to improve plants yield
Animal dung has been used for centuries as a fertilizer for farming, as it improves the soil structure (aggregation), so that it holds more nutrients and water, and becomes more fertile. • Animal manure also encourages soil microbial activity, which promotes the soil’s trace mineral supply, improving plant nutrition.
It also contains some nitrogen and other nutrients that assist the growth of plants. The process of germination
Germination is the process by which plants, fungus and bacteria emerge from seeds and spores, and begin growth.
plants germination process
The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm. • Germination is the growth of an embryonic plant contained within a seed; it results in the formation of the seedling.
In agriculture and gardening, the germination rate describes how many seeds of a particular plant species, variety or seed lot are likely to germinate. How leguminous plants obtain their Nitrogen
A legume is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or a fruit of these specific plants. • Many legumes (alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, soybeans, peanuts and others) contain symbiotic bacteria called Rhizobia within root nodules of their root systems.
These bacteria have the special ability of fixing nitrogen from atmospheric, molecular nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3). • The chemical reaction is: N2 + 8 H+ + 8 e− 2 NH3 + H2 • Ammonia is then converted to another form, ammonium (NH4+), usable by (some) plants by the following reaction: NH3 + H+ NH4+
This arrangement means that the root nodules are sources of nitrogen for legumes, making them relatively rich in plant proteins.
agricultural pests of plants
Pests • Agricultural pests are insects that harm the crop or do damage to agricultura products. • Often animals are derided as pests as they cause damage to agriculture by feeding on crops or parasitizing livestock, such as codling moth on apples, or boll weevil on cotton.
Pest •
Four major Pest categories: 1. Weeds, undesirable plant.
- Invertebrates, such as Insects, Spiders and mites, Sow bugs, pill bugs, Snails, slugs, and mussels.
- Vertebrates, such as: Birds, Snakes Fish, Rodents and other mammals.
types of Plants Diseases,
Pathogens – living agents such as Fungi, Bacteria, Viruses, Nematodes, Phytoplasm and Non-living agents such as cold, heat, pollutantsWHAT IS AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION?
read agricultural pollution here , dog urine etc.
insects that causes damages to plants
Some insects feed directly on the plants, for example caterpillars eat leaves or damage fruits, and aphids suck juices from the plant with their beak-like mouthparts.
Other insects do damage because they can transmit plant diseases, for example whiteflies and aphids can transmit virus diseases from one plant to another.
re
read disease transmission modes here
• Also the harvested crop can still be attacked by insects. All kind of storage insects such as the rice weevil and the rice moth can cause big damage to stored rice and other grains.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) • A pest management philosophy that utilizes all suitable pest management techniques and methods to keep pest populations below economically injurious levels. • Why Practice IPM? 1. Maintains balanced ecosystems 2. Pesticides alone may be ineffective 3. Promotes a healthy environment 4. Saves money
Management Strategies
- Prevent or exclude 2. Eradicate 3. Reduce 4. No action. Components of IPM Monitoring: • Monitoring and tracking of existing populations allows for early detection of infestation and allows for better determining the quantity and timing of any insecticides that may be used. Trapping:
Two strategies are to trap for monitoring purposes or to reduce the number of insects present. Capturing a large portion prevents injurious numbers from infesting the area. Mating Disruption: • Reduces the number of damaging larvae and adults that will be present in future generations.
IPM Methods
Pest free planting: • Assure plants are not infected prior to planting. This minimizes the change for introducing new pests to the area.
Crop rotation: • Plant a different crop every other year to minimize adaptation of the pests. Physical barriers: • Cover plants with material to block the pests from the plants.
Natural predators:
• Introduce natural predators that will feed on the insects Trapping: • Attract and trap the pest to physically reduce their population in the affected area. Genetically modified plants: • They have resistance to the pest thus reducing damage that would be inflicted. Biological agents: •
Introduce natural agents to the area that are harmful to the pests. Physical removal: • Remove and dispose of the pests. Ecological management: • Alter the environment to favor the population of natural predators and minimize that of the pest.
Insecticides: •
Apply chemical agents. • This is normally considered one of the least preferred methods due to costs and environmental concerns.
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WEED AND THEIR BOTANICAL NAMES
1. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
2. DISEASES
3. 52. SOIL MICRO-ORGANISMS
4. ORGANIC MANURING
5. FARM YARD MANURE
6. HUMUS
7. COMPOST
8. CROP ROTATION
9. GRAZING AND OVER GRAZING
10. IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
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