Surveying and planning of farmstead

MEANING OF FARM SURVEYING

Farm surveying is defined as the process by which measurement of land is made on the farm.

Such measurement by tables, plans or layout are done for specific purposes.  It can also mean the measuring and mapping out of the position, size and boundaries of an area of farm land.

Importance of Farm Survey and Planning in Agriculture

1. It helps to determine the hectarage of land
2. Farm surveying exposes the gradient of the land.
3. It helps in determining the amount of input of Labour, seeds, fertilizers and chemicals to be used in the farm
4. It helps the farmer to make decisions on locations of various farm buildings and structures.
5. It enables farmers to make the best use of available resources in order to achieve maximum profits.
6. Loans can be got with the help of farm survey plans
7. Farm survey gives the owner of the land security.
8. It does not allow for wastage of land.
9. It helps to determine the yield or productivity of crops.
10. Farm surveying and planning can be used as a basis of feasibility studies.

SOME COMMON SURVEYING EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENTS

Some common surveying equipment or instrument include

1. Ranging pole;
2. Gunter’s chain
3. Measuring tape
4. Prismatic compass
5. Theodolite
6. Arrows or pin;
7. Offset staff
8. Beacons or pillars

Ranging poles

1. Ranging pole is made of wood or metal
2. It is of varying lengths e.g 1.8m, 2.4m or 3.0m

• It is generally circular in section, though some octagonal types are obtainable.

1. It is usually painted black, bright red and white to enable it to be seen from a distance.
2. It has a pointed end.

Function/Uses:

1. It is used for making stations.
2. It is also used for marking straight lines.

Gutter’s Chain

1. It consists of a series of dumb bell-shaped links of steel wires joined together by three small rings.
2. It has brass handles at either side.

• It is divided into 100link so that each link is 19.8cm or 7.92i ins.

20. One Gunter’s chain is normally 20.13m (66ft) in length
21. A link is the distance from the middle of the central ring to the middle of the next central ring.
22. The chain is entirely metallic.

Precautions that should be Taken when chaining a farmland.

1. Pull taut chains, tapes or ropes.
2. Avoid errors of transposing figures on papers

• Equipment such as theodolite should be placed on a perfect horizontal plane.

1. All chains, tapes, ropes etc. must be properly aligned before taking measurement.
2. Avoid error of parallax when reading measurement
3. Make sure the chain is not faulty before use.

Functions/Use: It is used in taking short or detailed measurement of length and breadth.

Measuring Tapes

Description: (i) it is usually made of linen or fine steel sheet.  (ii) It is usually marked on one side with metric units and the other side with the imperial unit. (iii) The tape is of various types and lengths.  (iv) The tape is normally wound in a small case from where it is unwound for use.

Function/Use

It is used for taking measurement of length, breadth and height.

Arrows or Pins

Description: (i) These are thin pointed steel wires of about 30cm long with one end curved into a ring.  (ii) A red cloth is normally attached to the ring so that it can be  seen from afar.

Function/Uses: (i) It is used during chaining for making off chain lengths as measured.  (ii) It can also be used for marking stations.

Offset Staff

Description: (i) this is a graduated rod-3m long.  (ii) A hook may be fitted at the top for the purpose of pulling a chain through a hedge.  (iii) Each telescopic link is 0.3m (30cm) in length.

Function/Use:  (i) it is used for taking short offset measurements.

Beacon or Pillar

Description:  (i) it is made of rectangular block usually in concrete form.  (ii) Marks are usually inscribed on top of the block.  (iii) The beacons are always buried in the ground with marked head raised a little above the ground.

Function/Uses: (i) It is used for marking off points measured.  (ii) It is also used for the recognition of the measured or surveyed area.

General Maintenance of Surveying Instruments

1. All instruments must be clean after use.
2. Keep instruments in dry and cool places.

• Those with metal parts should be oiled or greased or painted before they are put away for a long time.

1. Keep instrument away from heat and rain to prevent damage and rushing respectively.
2. Replace worn-out parts.
3. Use instrument only for the intended functions.

• Let competent surveyor handle and use the instrument only or as he may direct.

MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF FARM PLANNING

Farm planning is a drawing or outline of a farmstead.  It also involves the proper land use planning, i.e., putting the land into use for which it is best suited without the risk of land degradation.

Importance of Farm Planning

1. It enables the farmer to make proper use of land.
2. It also ensures the proper sitting of certain building or structures in certain locations within the farmstead.

• It ensures the location of livestock building in relation to other farm building.

1. It promotes the neatness and prevents pollution within the farmstead.

FACTORS NECESSARY FOR PLANNING A FARMSTEAD

Definition of a farmstead: Farmstead can be defined as a farm house and all its production and processing structures.  A farmstead is both a home and a production centre. In other words, a farm stead is the farmer’s dwelling place and production centre. Its planning is based on the system of farm, and on the need and comfort of the farmer’s family.

Factors Influencing the Siting of Farms or Farmstead.

In planning a farmstead, the following factors must be considered.

• Topography:
• Topography determines the location of farm building and structures.
• Farm building or living quarters are usually located on high elevations for proper viewing of the farm.
• Animal quarters should be located far from the staff living quarters
• Locate crops such as vegetables on low lying areas where moisture contents is high.
• Fish ponds are located on sloppy grounds
• Irrigation farms are best sited on flat grounds
• Soil Type:
• Crop farms are sited on soils that are fertile
• Pastures are sited on less fertile soils
• Farms building and structures are best located on poor soils.
• Farm roads are best constructed on well drained poor soils.
• Accessibility
• Locate facilities within walking distance
• Provide good roads to facilitate the transportation of farm inputs
• Ensure easy accessibility and evacuation of farm produce.
• Good accessibility makes marketing of farm produce possible.
• Water supply
• Adequate water supply is needed for human and animal use
• Livestock structures should be located close to source of water supply for easy cleaning
• Water is required for irrigation purpose.
• Health/Hygiene
• Erect livestock units against wind direction
• Locate animal units far away from human residential houses to avoid health hazards.
• Nearness to Market
• Nearness to market reduces distribution or transport cost.
• It exposes products to many buyes
• It reduces the need for farm storage.
• Drainage
• Adequate drainage is important to avoid water-logging
• Gentle slope facilitates proper drainage
• Good drainage makes movement easier within the farm.

Reasons for Planning a Farmstead

• It allows for proper utilization of resources without wastage.
• It makes the farmer to be more responsive to market demand.
• It encourages efficiency of farm activities
• It makes coordination and control of farm operations easier.

PRINCIPLES OF FARMSTEAD LAYOUT

Some specific principles are required for farmstead layout and these include:

• Plant the crops on the best soil within the farm.
• Livestock building should be located on the poorest soil within the farm.
• Buildings should be located in easily accessible areas.
• Farm building should not be located on slopes to avoid erosion.
• Residential and office buildings should be located far away from livestock building to avoid the noise and unpleasant odour from farm animals wastes and dungs.

CALCULATION OF AREA OF FARMLAND AND PLANT POPULATION

The shape and size of any farmland can be measured or determined by farm surveying. The area of farmland varies; some are rectangular, square, triangular or even circular in shape.  The formula used in the calculation of farmlands and plant population include:

1. Area of farmland:  This refers to the product of the length and width of the farmland measured in metres. Mathematically,

Area of Farmland = Length x Width (metres)²

i.e                                                           (L x W)m²

(b)          Number of plant stand/plant population

This refers to the number of plants in an area of farmland. Mathematically,

Plant population = Area of farmland (m²)

Spacing (m²)

(c) Spacing: This is the distance between one crop plant and the next plant which is usually between and within the rows, e.g., 60cm x 30;-100cm x 75cm, etc.

(d)  Note:  one hectare = 10,000m².  This figure means there are 10,000m² in one hectare of are of farmland is given in hectare.

(e)  Measuring the Area of Farmland:  The shape and size of my farmland can be measured or determined by farm surveying.  They are of farmland varies a already noted above.

Formulae for calculation the area of farmland are shown below.

Example 1: if the length and width of a farmland are 60m x 30m respectively, and the spacing of a tomato crop plant is 30cm x 30cm, calculate (a) the area of the farmland; (b)  the plant population (tomato) in the give area; (c) the total population if there are two plants per stand.

Shape of a farm Land

SOLUTION

(a)          Area of farmland = Length x Width

= 60m x 30m = 1800m²

(b)          Spacing of crop = 30cm x 30cm or 0.3m x 0.3m

Area of 1 stand of crop=0.3m x 0.3m = 0.09m2

No of stand/crop              = Area of farmland(m2) =             1800m2                =             180,000

Spacing (m)                                        0.09m2                        9

= 20,000 crop stands

The plant population (tomato) is 20,00 stands.

(c) since there are two plants per stand the total plant population = 20,000 x 2 = 40,00 tomato plants

The total population= 40, 000 tomato plants.

Example 2: A school farm in Lagos State was surveyed and presented in a map as shown in the diagram below.  Use it to answer the following questions.

1. What is the approximate area of the farm?
2. If the farmland is used for pineapple production at a spacing of 2.5m x 2m, what will be the initial population of pineapple trees in the farm?
3. If 8% of the pineapple plants were damaged by pests, what will be the final pineapple plants in the farm?

Solution

1. Use the formula of trapezium to solve this problem?

Area of farmland =  (BD + AF) x h

But first find or calculate h, using Pythagoras theorem

h(BC)² = AB²– AC² = 30² – 15² 900-225 = 675cm.

h(BC) =  = 25.9m = 26m. (Approx)

Area of farmland =  (40 + 70) x 26

= (110) x 26

=  x 2, 860 = 1, 430m²

Area of farmland = 1,430m²

1. Population of pineapple trees =

=  =   = 286 pineapple plants

22. x  = 22.88 = 23pineapple plant damaged

Pineapple plants available in the farm = 286-23 = 263.

Final pineapple plants remaining = 263

Questions:

1. What is farm surveying
2. State five surveying equipments
3. What is farm layout
4. State five objective of surveying