Stage 5 Agriculture - Sweet Corn and Angora Goats

Flashcards covering the history, management, and science of sweet corn cultivation, hydroponic systems, and Angora goat production.

Inca tribes

The ancient tribes of Peru who first gathered sweet corn before it spread to Central America.

Maize

A major food plant with grain bigger in size than sweet corn, containing more starch and mostly used as animal feed or breakfast cereal.

Sweet corn

A type of corn with a medium-sized grain, low starch, and high sugar levels, harvested while moist and juicy.

Popcorn

The smallest corn grain, characterized by a tough overcoat and moisture inside that causes it to pop when cooked.

Helicoverpa

Caterpillars that attack sweet corn by feeding on leaves and boring into the fruit; they have a life cycle of 4 stages lasting 30-35 days.

Biological management (Helicoverpa)

A control strategy where wasps lay eggs inside the caterpillar, and the larvae consume the caterpillar from the inside.

Amaranth

A weed associated with sweet corn that can be controlled physically by slashing before it goes to seed.

Loam soil

A soil type preferred for sweet corn, made out of sand, silt, and clay particles.

NPK Fertiliser Ratio

The macronutrient ratio for sweet corn typically provided as $2 : 0.5 : 1$ ($\text{Nitrogen} : \text{Phosphorus} : \text{Potassium}$).

Terrific F1

A hybrid variety of sweet corn used at JRAHS known for early cropping, reliability, disease resistance, and high yield.

Variable cost

Expenses that change based on production volume, such as fertiliser, seed, irrigation, and non-permanent labour.

Fixed cost

Costs that stay the same regardless of production levels, such as land rates and loan installments.

Sustainability

A holistic approach to farming that meets the needs of the present without harming the environment or affecting future generations.

Mulching

Spreading organic material at the base of plants to stop weed growth, conserve soil moisture, and regulate soil temperature.

Drip irrigation system

An efficient watering method that delivers water directly to the plant's root zone one drop at a time, reducing evaporation.

Rotary hoe

Machinery used to break up hard, compact soil into loose, workable earth.

Chisel plough

An implement used to loosen and break hard soil while keeping crop residue to prevent erosion.

Hydroponics

The practice of growing plants without soil using mineral nutrient solutions in water.

EC (Electrical Conductivity)

A measure of the total concentration of chemical elements within a nutrient solution.

Substrate

A soilless medium (like coconut coir or perlite) used to support plant growth in hydroponics without providing nutrition.

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)

A hydroponic system where plants are placed in sloping channels with a thin film of nutrient solution flowing over the roots.

Aeroponic System

A system that uses air as the growing medium, providing nutrient solution to bare roots as a fine mist.

Buck

A male goat.

Doe

A female goat.

Kid

A young goat aged up to approximately 1 year.

Wether

A male animal castrated while still immature.

Chevon

The term used for goat meat.

Mohair

A long, lustrous fibre produced by Angora goats that grows at a rate of approximately $30\text{ cm}$ per year.

Cashmere fibre

Very fine, soft, and warm fibre harvested from the downy undercoat of a goat.

Shearing (Angora Goats)

A management practice required twice a year where headpieces are geared down to half speed to prevent overheating.

Cloven hoof

A hoof divided into two main parts that work independently, characteristic of goats.

NLIS (National Livestock Identification Scheme)

The system used for traceability of goats from birth to end destination, requiring electronic ID (eID) tags by January 2025.

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE)

A slow virus (lentivirus) in goats that causes symptoms such as viral mastitis, arthritis, pneumonia, and progressive paralysis.