Agriculture Science Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the provided agricultural lecture notes, defining fundamental terminology across crop science, soil fertility, livestock management, forestry, and agricultural economics.

Soil Fertility

The ability of the soil to provide or supply plants with the necessary nutrients in the correct amounts for healthy growth and development.

Straight Fertilizers

Inorganic fertilizers that provide only one nutrient element to the soil, such as Nitrogenous, Phosphate, or Potassium fertilizers.

Compound Fertilizers

Inorganic fertilizers that contain two or more nutrient elements, such as 2:3:2 (22).

Fertilizer Application Rate Formula

$$\text{Amount of Fertilizer Needed} = \text{Application Rate} \times \text{Area}$$

Basal Dressing

Application of fertilizer to the soil before planting or at the time of ploughing, placing it within the root zone.

Top Dressing

Application of fertilizer into the soil after the plant has emerged or during growth in the field.

Leaching

The process by which plant nutrients dissolve in water and are carried deep down into the ground beyond the reach of plant roots.

Volatilisation

The process by which nutrient elements evaporate and turn into gas when fertilizers are exposed to direct sunlight.

Denitrification

The breakdown of nitrates in soil by denitrifying bacteria into gas escaping into the atmosphere, occurring mainly in waterlogged or poorly aerated soils.

Soil pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the soil based on the concentration of hydrogen ions, evaluated on a scale from $1$ to $14$ with $7$ being neutral.

Monoculture

A cropping system where a farmer grows the same single crop on the whole field year after year.

Continuous Cropping

Growing crops in succession over a given period without allowing the land a period of rest or fallow.

Intercropping

Growing two or more crops in the same field alongside each other in alternate rows.

Crop Rotation

Planting different crops on the same field at different times in an orderly planned sequence yearly.

Primary Tillage

The initial breaking and loosening of soil to a depth greater than $15\,\text{cm}$, also known as ploughing.

Secondary Tillage

Working the soil after ploughing aimed at soil refinement to a depth less than $15\,\text{cm}$.

Raised Bed

A prepared seedbed raised $20\text{--}30\,\text{cm}$ above ground level by adding fertile topsoil, suitable for rocky or high-rainfall areas.

Sunken Bed

A seedbed prepared $10\text{--}15\,\text{cm}$ below ground level to conserve runoff rainwater in dry areas.

Direct Planting

Sowing seeds directly into the main plot or field where the crop will grow and mature without being moved.

Indirect Planting

Sowing seeds in a nursery bed and later transferring or transplanting the seedlings to a permanent main plot.

Hardening-Off

Gradually exposing nursery seedlings to less favorable conditions by reducing watering and increasing sunshine exposure prior to transplanting.

Parasitic Weeds

Weeds that attach to and absorb nutrients directly from host crops, such as Striga asiatica (Red witch weed).

Thinning

The removal of excess, small, or weak seedlings to allow sufficient growing space and resources for remaining plants.

Pruning

The systematic removal of unwanted plant parts such as dead or diseased leaves and branches to improve plant growth and yield.

Staking

Supporting an individual plant with a wooden stick or pole tied loosely to keep the stem growing upright.

Trellising

Using a framework of parallel wooden or wire supports on which plant stems can grow and spread.

Maintenance Ration

A daily measured feed allowance that provides sufficient nutrients to keep an animal alive and healthy without gaining or losing weight.

Production Ration

Extra feed supplied above the maintenance requirement to enable an animal to produce meat, milk, wool, eggs, or work.

Roughages

Animal feeds containing a high proportion of fiber or cellulose and a low proportion of digestible nutrients.

Concentrates

Animal feeds containing a high proportion of digestible nutrients (proteins and carbohydrates) and low fiber content.

Aphosphorosis

A nutritional deficiency disease caused by a lack of phosphorus in livestock, leading to weak bones, pica (eating bones/sticks), and stiff joints.

Castration

The removal or destruction of testicles to prevent male animals from breeding and to improve temperament and meat quality.

Burdizzo

A bloodless castration instrument used to crush spermatic cords one at a time.

Elastrator

A tool used to fit a tight rubber ring around the scrotum of young stock to cut off blood supply to the testicles.

Dosing Gun

An instrument used to deliver liquid oral anthelmintic medications directly into the back of an animal's throat.

Grafting

An asexual propagation technique joining a scion (stem section) and rootstock of two plants of the same species so they unite and grow as one plant.

Budding

An asexual propagation method involving the insertion of a single bud removed from a scion into a T-shaped cut on a rootstock.

Agro-forestry

An agricultural land-use system where crops, forest trees, and livestock are integrated on the same piece of land simultaneously.

Brooding

The management practice of providing artificial warmth and care to young chicks from hatching until they grow flight feathers at $4\text{--}5\,\text{weeks}$.

Debeaking

Trimming part of the upper and lower beak of poultry using a heated blade to reduce pecking, cannibalism, and egg eating.

Candling

Passing a focused beam of light through an egg to inspect internal quality, freshness, shell cracks, and embryo fertility.

Puberty

The attainment of sexual maturity in male and female animals enabling reproduction.

Oestrus (Heat)

The recurring period of sexual receptivity in female mammals during which the female will accept a male for mating.

Ovulation

The release of a mature ovum (egg) from the ovary into the fallopian tube/oviduct.

Gestation Period

The length of time from fertilization (conception) to birth (parturition), averaging $283\,\text{days}$ in cattle.

Parturition

The act or process of giving birth in livestock.

Dystocia

Difficult or prolonged labor and calving complications in female livestock.

Mastitis

A bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus leading to painful, hot, and swollen udders in dairy cows.

Milk Fever

A metabolic disorder in dairy cows caused by severe hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels) following calving.

Pasteurization

Heat-treating milk to $71\text{--}72\,^\circ\text{C}$ for $15\,\text{seconds}$ and rapidly cooling it below $10\,^\circ\text{C}$ to kill pathogens.

Milk Sterilization

Heating milk to $130\,^\circ\text{C}$ for $10\text{--}20\,\text{minutes}$ and packaging in airtight containers to extend shelf life up to $5\,\text{months}$.

Demand

The quantity of a commodity consumers are willing and able to purchase at a given price at a specific time.

Supply

The total quantity of a product or service that producers offer for sale at a specific price.

Market Price (Equilibrium Price)

The price point at which the quantity of a product demanded by consumers equals the quantity offered for sale by suppliers.

Sole Proprietorship

A business organization owned and operated by a single individual who assumes full financial responsibility and profit ownership.

Partnership

A business established by $2$ to $20$ individuals who contribute capital and share management, profits, and losses according to a Deed of Partnership.

Cooperative

A registered business organization formed voluntarily by producers or retailers to pool resources and services for mutual benefit.