Farming System Agricultural Science JSS 2 Second Term Lesson Notes Week 5

Subject: Agricultural Science

Class: JSS 2

Term: Second Term

Topic: Farming Systems

Behavioural Objectives: By the end of the lesson, learners will be able to mention various farming systems.

Content:

Topic: Farming Systems

Sub-Topic 1: Definition of Farming Systems

Farming systems are the different ways farmers use technology to grow crops. This depends on things like land availability, culture, economy, and geography.

Types of Farming Systems:

1. Shifting Cultivation/Bush Fallowing: Farmers move to new land after letting the old one rest. This helps land regain nutrients naturally.
   • Advantages: Simple, prevents pests, helps land regain nutrients, protects against erosion.
   • Disadvantages: Destroys forests, slow soil fertility maintenance, short fallow periods.
2. Land Rotation: Farmers divide land into plots and rotate crops. Similar to bush fallowing, but with more structured rotation.
   • Advantages: Adds nitrogen, reduces erosion, lowers pests, produces different crops.
   • Disadvantages: Gradual soil nutrient loss, needs knowledge.
3. Mixed Farming: Farmers grow crops and raise animals on the same land.
   • Advantages: Provides food and income from both, animals can help on the farm.
   • Disadvantages: Divided attention, needs capital and labor, animals may damage crops.

Sub-Topic 2: Other Farming Systems

4. Ley Farming: Alternating between forage and food crops. Provides animal feed alongside food crops.
   • Advantages: Provides animal feed and food crops.
   • Disadvantages: Requires skill.
5. Taungya Farming: Planting food crops alongside trees in government reserve areas.
   • Advantages: Generates income for government, protects land, replaces unwanted forests.
   • Disadvantages: Destroys natural forests, limits permanent crops, trees may die.

Pastoral Farming:

• Ranching: Keeping animals in a fenced area with supplied feed and water.
  • Advantages: Low disease, high-quality animals.
  • Disadvantages: Expensive, disease risk.
• Nomadic Herding: Moving animals to find pasture and water.
  • Advantages: No feed cost, less labor.
  • Disadvantages: Irregular feed and water, exposed to pests and diseases.

Cropping Systems:

Sub-Topic 1: Definition and Types

Cropping systems are how farmers grow crops on their land, either singly or mixed.

Types:

1. Mono-cropping (Sole cropping): Growing only one type of crop on land.
   • Advantages: Uses machines, specialization.
   • Disadvantages: Risky if crop fails, rapid pests spread, inefficient labor.
2. Mixed Cropping: Planting many different crops together.
   • Advantages: More crops, some survive if others fail, less pests.
   • Disadvantages: No machines, labor-intensive, pests may persist.

Sub-Topic 2: Continuous Cropping and Crop Rotation

• Continuous Cropping: Growing the same crop on land every year. Used where land is limited.
  • Advantages: Saves time and money, specialization.
  • Disadvantages: Increases pests, risky if crop fails, soil erosion.
• Crop Rotation: Growing different crops in a set order each year.
  • Advantages: Efficient soil and labor use, reduces pests, good for scarce land.
  • Disadvantages: May deplete soil nutrients, needs capital and labor, soil structure damage.

Evaluation:

1. List 4 types of farming systems.
2. Name 3 advantages and 2 disadvantages of mixed farming.
3. What are 3 differences between Ley farming and Taungya farming?
4. Define feed.
5. Provide 4 types of feedstuff with examples.
6. Name the 5 major feed nutrients.
7. List the 3 types of ration and explain one.
8. Farming systems refer to the types of technology adopted in __________ operations. a) agricultural b) industrial c) medical d) educational
9. Shifting cultivation/Bush Fallowing involves leaving the land fallow for a few __________. a) months b) weeks c) years d) days
10. Land Rotation helps to add __________ to the soil. a) nitrogen b) carbon c) oxygen d) hydrogen
11. Mixed Farming involves cultivating crops and rearing __________ on the same farmland. a) fish b) insects c) animals d) birds
12. Ley Farming alternates between forage crops and __________ crops. a) animal b) food c) medicinal d) industrial
13. Taungya Farming involves planting food crops alongside __________ trees. a) ornamental b) fruit c) medicinal d) industrial
14. Ranching involves keeping animals in a fenced area with supplied feed and __________. a) air b) sunlight c) water d) fertilizer
15. Nomadic Herding involves moving animals in search of green pasture and __________. a) water b) rocks c) sand d) snow
16. Mono-cropping (Sole cropping) involves planting only one type of crop on a piece of __________. a) river b) sea c) land d) mountain
17. Mixed Cropping involves planting many different crops together on the same __________. a) field b) forest c) desert d) ocean
18. Continuous Cropping is practiced in densely populated areas where __________ is scarce. a) water b) food c) land d) air
19. Crop Rotation involves planting different crops in various portions of land and rotating them __________. a) weekly b) monthly c) yearly d) daily
20. Leguminous crops like cowpea or groundnut should be included in the rotation because they fix __________ into the soil. a) oxygen b) nitrogen c) carbon d) hydrogen
21. The table below shows a __________ crop rotation system. a) 2-year b) 3-year c) 4-year d) 5-year
22. Continuous cropping saves time, energy, and __________. a) money b) food c) water d) land

1. What are farming systems?
   • Farming systems are different ways farmers use technology to grow crops.
2. Why do farming systems vary?
   • They depend on things like available land, culture, economy, and geography.
3. What is Shifting Cultivation/Bush Fallowing?
   • It’s when farmers move to new land after letting the old one rest for a few years.
4. Why is Mixed Farming beneficial?
   • It provides both food and income from crops and animals.
5. What is Ranching?
   • Ranching is keeping animals in a fenced area with provided feed and water.
6. What is Mono-cropping (Sole cropping)?
   • It’s planting only one type of crop on a piece of land.
7. Why is Continuous Cropping practiced?
   • It’s done where land is scarce and saves time, energy, and money.
8. What is Crop Rotation?
   • It’s planting different crops in various portions of land and rotating them yearly.
9. Why should Leguminous crops be included in Crop Rotation?
   • They add nitrogen to the soil and act as cover crops.
10. What are the advantages of Continuous Cropping?
    • It saves time, energy, money, and leads to specialization in farming.