Environmental Factors Affecting Agricultural Production (Crop and Animal Distribution And Production)

Environmental Factors Affecting Agricultural Production (Crop and Animal Distribution And Production)

CONTENT

Environmental factors affecting agricultural production can be grouped into:

• Climate factors
• Biotic factors
• Edaphic factors.

CLIMATE: This is defined as the average weather condition of a place measured over a long period of time.

FACTORS OF CLIMATE: It includes rainfall, relative humidity, temperature, light, wind, pressure.

Each of the factors has its own influence on agriculture. This is shown by the distribution of vegetation and crops in the climatic zones. The result is that when the soil condition is favourable, thick evergreen forest develops.

1). RAINFALL: Is defined as the amount and distribution of water precipitation within a given time in a given area.

RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION AND PATTERN: West Africa is known for its high temperature throughout the year. It is brought about by the south- west monsoon trade wind blowing from the Atlantic Ocean.

The wind blowing from the ocean to the inland drops some water. A narrow part of the coast has rainfall throughout the year against the rest of the region. As we move from the coast, the amount of rainfall decreases. By the time the wind get to the northern part of the country, there is little or no moisture left in it. Here, less rainfall is experienced per year. In the coastal area, the raining season ranges from 8 months to the all year round while in the north, raining season lasts only 3 to 4 months. The moisture required affects crop and livestock production. In the coastal areas more of the southern parts, crops adapted to heavy rainfall predominantly trees, yam, maize, rice, fruit, banana, etc. Much animal rearing does not take place here due to high humidity rate which exposes the animals to tsetse fly infection.

Only animals which can resist the attack of trypanosomiasis can be seen in this area. Examples are N’dama and Muturu breeds of cattle, dwarf sheep and goat, poultry. Those crops that can thrive well in the northern part with little rainfall or resistance to drought are guinea corn, millet, groundnut, cowpeas, cotton etc.

EVALUATION

1.         What is rainfall?

2.         List those crops that perform well in the Northern part and Southern part of Nigeria 

IMPORTANCE/EFFECT OF RAINFALL

1.         It determines the distribution of crops and animals.

2.         It helps to dissolve nutrients in the soil making it available for plant use

3.         It is necessary for seed germination.

4.         Excessive rainfall leads to leaching of nutrients and causes soil erosion.

5.         It determines the type of vegetation of an area.

6.         Insufficient rainfall causes crop failure and poor yield.

2). TEMPERATURE: Is defined as a measure of the heat energy which a body contains or the degree of hotness or coolness of a place, at a point in time. Temperature varies from the coastal areas to extreme north. In the dry season, temperature is not high in the coaster area as against the north which is extremely high.

IMPORTANCE/EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE

1          It affects the distribution of crops and animals.

2.         Necessary for germination of seed.

3.         Unfavorable temperature may result in seed dormancy

4.         High temperature may cause premature dropping of fruits and sudden death of livestock in heat stress.

5.         High temperature reduces the performance of livestock.

3). SUNLIGHT

IMPORTANCE/INFLUENCE

1.         It is necessary for photosynthesis.

2.         It affects the rate of production in poultry.

3.         It affects evapo- transpiration. 

4). WIND

INFLUENCE/IMPORTANCE

1)         High wind may cause wind erosion.

2)         It aids seed and fruit dispersal

3)         It can aid pollination and spread of disease.

4)         It helps in the distribution of rainfall and changes in seasons e.g. rainy and dry season

5)         High wind velocity causes damages to crops.

5). RELATIVE HUMIDITY

INFLUENCE

1.         It results in the formation of rain.

2.         It affects the performance of crops and animals

3.         High humidity in poultry causes moldiness of feed and litters.

4.         Low humidity leads to heat stress in animals.

5.         Relative humidity determines the type of pests prevalent in an area.

6.         High relative humidity forms the re-growth of disease pathogen.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1.         What is climate?

2.         Discuss the importance of rainfall in agriculture.

3.         What is temperature?

4.         What is the difference between a farm and a farmstead?

5.         Outline five principles of farmstead layout.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Read Environmental Factors Affecting Agricultural Production from Essential Agriculture by O.A. Iwena pages 212-216

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT(WK 9A)

1. The climatic factors affecting the production of animals and plants include the following except   A. rainfall B. temperature C. pests and disease D. sunlight
2. Factors of climate include the following except   A. Rainfall B. temperature C. light D.vapour (cloud)
3. Which of the following is not a function of the forestry department ?             A. Routine vaccination of wild animal     B. conservation of forest resources         C. specification of size of tree to be felled         D. grading of timbers for export
4. The taungya system of farming… A. integrates arable crops with forestry         B. gives priority of land use to arable crops C. gives priority of land use to forestry                                    D. encourages establishment of game reserves
5. Which of the following is not an edaphic factor affecting agricultural production? 

A. Soil pH B. Soil texture              C. Soil organism          D. soil type

THEORY

1          (a)        Define  forest

(b)        Outline eight uses of the forest and its resources.

2          Write brief notes on the following.

(a) Forest regulation (b) Selective exploration (c) Afforestation (d) Reforestation