Junior School Agriculture and Home Science Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering conservation of resources, food production, integrated farming, hygiene, and plant production techniques as outlined in the Junior School Agriculture and Home Science curriculum.

Hay

Forage crops which have been cut and dried to about $15-20\%$ moisture content so that they can safely be stored without undergoing fermentation and becoming moldy.

Forage

Any edible parts of plants that can be used as feed for grazing animals or harvested for later use, such as grass, legumes, and maize.

Standing forage

Grass and other plants that are left to grow and accumulate in the field to be harvested later or grazed directly by livestock as a reserve feed source.

Box baler

A metallic or wooden structure, approximately $40\,\text{cm} \times 50\,\text{cm} \times 75\,\text{cm}$, used to compact dried forage into bales for easy storage and transport.

Leftover food

Food that remains uneaten after a meal or meal preparation, which has been cooked but not consumed and is stored for later reuse.

Githeri

A traditional Kenyan dish consisting of a mixture of maize and beans.

Integrated farming

A farming system that combines different activities such as growing crops, raising animals, fishing, and planting trees to improve productivity and resource efficiency.

Crop rotation

The practice of changing the types of crops grown on the same land over time to maintain soil health.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crops together on the same land to increase productivity and reduce pest problems.

Aquaculture

Fish farming in ponds, tanks, or cages, involving species such as tilapia, catfish, or shrimp.

Agroforestry

The integration of trees with crops or livestock on the same land to provide products like timber and fruit while improving soil fertility.

Silvopasture

A component of agroforestry that combines tree planting with grazing land for livestock.

Apiculture

Also known as beekeeping, it is the practice of raising bees for honey, beeswax, and the pollination of crops.

Vermiculture

The raising of earthworms to produce vermicompost, a natural fertilizer that improves soil health and fertility.

Organic gardening

A method of growing crops using natural substances derived from plants and animal waste while avoiding synthetic agricultural chemicals.

Green manure

Manure prepared by growing short-season leguminous plants, like the Mexican sunflower, and incorporating them into the soil once they reach the flowering stage.

Farmyard manure

Organic manure made from animal waste (cattle, poultry, sheep, goats) mixed with animal bedding and allowed to decompose.

Compost manure

Manure formed by heaping plant materials, kitchen refuse, ash, and topsoil and allowing them to decompose over time with regular turning.

Neem oil

An organic pesticide extracted from neem seeds that is effective against crop pests such as aphids and mites.

Mulching

A mechanical weed control method where a layer of plant materials is spread on the ground to smother weeds and hinder their emergence.

Organic foliar feed

A natural substance applied directly onto a crop's leaves to improve health and fertility, often prepared from animal waste and plant remains like stinging nettle.

Spice

A substance used in food to add flavor and color, such as coriander.

Etiolation

The condition of plants becoming pale and weak due to a lack of sunlight, often prevented by removing mulch once seedlings sprout.

Granaries

Elevated storage structures designed to keep crops like maize and beans dry, cool, and safe from pests.

Batters

Liquid or semi-liquid mixtures with a flowing consistency, such as those used for pancakes or coating fish fillets.

Doughs

Thick flour mixtures with a solid consistency ideal for products that require shaping, kneading, or resting, such as chapatis or mandazi.

Stiff dough

A dense, firm dough required for making chapatis and bread, which is worked to develop gluten for structure.

Dropping dough

A softer, sticky dough used for cakes and muffins that is dropped onto baking sheets.

Baking powder

A raising agent used in flour mixtures that reacts with moisture and heat to produce carbon dioxide, stretching gluten strands to expand the dough.

Recipe

A set of instructions stating the correct proportions of ingredients and the procedure for mixing to create a food product.

Mandazi

A type of Kenyan fried dough pastry made from a stiff dough mixture.

Hygiene practices

Actions and habits, such as handwashing and waste disposal cleaning, that maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of germs.

Disinfecting

The process of cleaning and sanitizing items or surfaces to eliminate harmful microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Mangled

A finishing process specifically used for cleaning and smoothing towels during the laundry process.

Grafting

A horticultural technique where a piece of one plant (scion) is attached to the root system of another (rootstock) so they grow as one.

Scion

The upper part of a grafted plant that provides the desired fruit, flowers, or specific characteristics.

Rootstock

The lower part of a grafted plant that provides the root system and influences growth characteristics like size and disease resistance.

Graft union

The point where the scion and rootstock connect, requiring proper alignment of cambial cells and temperatures between $18-27\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ to succeed.

Sun dryer

A homemade device used to preserve vegetables by naturally removing moisture using solar power and air circulation.

Blanching

The process of boiling certain vegetables like carrots or peas briefly before drying to preserve color, texture, and nutrients.