Summary

• Description:

  The PDF document comprises Form 1 Agriculture notes on the topic of Crop Production I (Land Preparation).

  The topics and sub-topics covered in the document include:

  • Introduction to Land Preparation
    • A seedbed is defined as a piece of land that has been prepared to receive planting materials.
    • The notes list several reasons for preparing a seedbed, including killing weeds, improving soil aeration, enabling water infiltration, destroying pests and diseases, and incorporating organic matter into the soil.
  • Operations in Land Preparation
    • Land Clearing: This is the first step, necessary when opening up virgin land or when land has been left fallow for a long time. Methods include tree felling, slashing, and burning, though burning is discouraged as it destroys organic matter and kills beneficial soil organisms.
    • Primary Cultivation: This is the initial breaking of the land, which is ideally done early before the rains begin. Its purposes include burying organic matter and opening up the soil for aeration.
    • Secondary Cultivation: This involves refining the seedbed after the initial ploughing to create a suitable tilth for planting.
    • Tertiary Operations: These are further operations carried out after secondary cultivation, which include:
      • Ridging: Making ridges and furrows, which is important for root crops.
      • Rolling: Compacting the soil to create a firm surface.
      • Levelling: Ensuring a uniform surface for even planting.
      • Subsoiling: Deep cultivation to break up any hardpan that may have formed, which improves drainage and root penetration.
  • Minimum Tillage
    • This is defined as a combination of farming practices aimed at reducing soil disturbance.
    • Examples of minimum tillage practices include the use of herbicides, mulching, and strip cultivation.
    • The reasons for practicing minimum tillage include reducing cultivation costs, controlling soil erosion, conserving soil moisture, and preventing damage to crop roots.

  These notes are comprehensive, neat, and printable, making them an excellent resource for students studying the principles of land preparation. They are also highly suitable for teachers to use for lesson preparation, providing a structured and clear guide to the topic.

• File Size:

  171.63 KB
• Length:

  7 pages
• Category:

  Lesson Notes
• Level:

  Form 1
• Subject:

  AGRICULTURE
• Posted By:

  Caleb_Peter

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