Pasture and Forage

Subject:

Agricultural Science

Class:

SS 2

Term:

Second Term / 2nd Term

Week:

Week 1

Topic:

Pasture and Forage

Previous Knowledge: The pupils have previous knowledge of

SIMPLE FARM TOOLS, USES AND MAINTENANCE

that was taught in their previous lesson.

Behavioural  Objectives : At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to

• Define pasture
• Explain forage
• Highlight factors Affecting the productivity

Instructional Materials 

• Wall charts
• Online Resource
• Textbooks
• Laptop
• Soil samples
• Flash cards
• www.edudelighttutors.com

Methods of Teaching 

• Role modelling
• Questions and Answers
• Explanation
• Discussion
• Recitation
• Imitation
• Story Telling
• Dramatization

WEEK ONE                                 

TOPIC: PASTURE AND FORAGE CROPS

CONTENT

• Meaning, uses and types
• Factors affecting the distribution
• Management, practices of pastures

MEANING OF PASTURES AND FORAGE CROPS

Pasture: land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals, especially cattle or sheep. It is also known as a piece of land on which forage crops grow. A pasture is an area of land on which grasses and legumes (forages) grow for animals to graze

Forage Crops: These are plants cultivated (or growing naturally) whose vegetative parts (leaves and stem) are fed on by Livestock. Forage crops are plants cultivated for their vegetative portions in a pasture and are used either in fresh or preserved for feeding livestock such as cattle, sheep and goat. 

USES OF FORAGE CROPS

1. They are used as livestock feeds
2. They are used as cover crops which conserve soil moisture. 
3. They help in discouraging weed growth
4. Some are leguminous in nature which enrich soil nutrient.
5. For prevention of erosion
6. Used as green manure
7. Used for roofing farm steads
8. As bedding materials

TYPES OF PASTURES

1. Natural pasture: also called natural grassland or rangeland is piece of land on which grasses and legumes grow naturally on their own and are fed upon by farm animals

CHARACTERISTICS OR FEATURES OF NATURAL PASTURE

1. It contains poor quality grasses and legumes.
2. It contains soil types that are low in fertility or nutrients.
3. It contains wide varieties of grasses and legumes, some of which may not be eaten by livestock.
4. It has good regenerative ability.
5. Crops here can withstand trampling.

2. Artificial pastures: this is also referred to as established or sown pasture is a piece of land that is where grasses and legumes are cultivated and managed by man to be fed by livestock.

CHARACTERISTICS FEATURES OF ARTIFICIAL PASTURES

1. It contains high quality grass and legumes
2. It contains no weed.
3. Selected grasses and legumes are grown in adequate proportion
4. Have high regenerative ability
5. Can withstand trampling by farm animals.

QUALITY OF A GOOD PASTURE PLANT

1. Ability to regenerate fast after being browsed
2. Ability to withstand trampling
3. It must be highly palatable
4. It must possess high value of nutrients
5. Ability  to withstand extreme climatic condition
6. It should have moderate moisture content or succulent
7. It must have high leaf to stem ratio

COMMON GRASSES AND LEGUMES OF LIVE STOCK

GRASSES 

COMMON NAME        BOTANICAL NAME

1. Elephant grass        Pennisetum purpureum
2. Guinea grass        Panicum maximum
3. Giant star grass    Cynodon plectostachyum
4. Carpet grass         Axonopus compressus
5. Spear grass        Imperata cylindrical
6. Bahama grass        Cynodon dactylon
7. Northern gamba    Andropogon gayanus
8. Southern gamba    Andropogon tectorum

LEGUMES

COMMON NAME        BOTANICAL NAME

1. Centro            Centrosema pubescens
2. Stylo            Stylosanthes gracilis
3. Kudzu or puero    Pueraria phaseoloides
4. Calapo            Calapogonium mucunoides
5. Mucuna        Muccuna utilis
6. Sun hemp        Crotalaria juncea

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF PASTURE

1. Climatic factors
2. Soil or edaphic factors
3. Biotic factors

CLIMATIC FACTORS

The type of climate in an area influences the type of vegetation in the particular area e.g sudan type of climate will favour the growth of grass and legume while equatorial climate does not. The elements of climate which affects the distribution of pastures are rainfall, wind, temperature, relative humidity etc.

EDAPHIC FACTORS

This refers to the level of fertility of the soil. Fertile soil enhances pasture growth and vice versa. Edaphic factors include soil PH, soil texture, soil structure, soil topography etc.

BIOTIC FACTORS

Biotic factors like diseases, pests, parasites, predators generally influence the distribution of pasture. Also human and animal activities such as bush burning and overgrazing will affect the distribution of pastures.

The topic is presented step by step

Step 1: The class teacher revises the old topic

Step 2: The class teacher introduces the new topic

Step 3: The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own contributions and gives room for pupils” participation

Class Teacher and Pupils Activities. Interaction or Participation 

This involves class teacher and pupils’ interaction, conversation, imitation or modeling through discussion, play method or just by recitation or asking and answering questions that are related to the topic that has just been taught.

EVALUATION QUESTIONS

1. What are pastures and forage crops?

2. List five uses of forage crops.

3. List five characteristics of a natural pasture.

4. List five characteristics of artificial pasture

5. List four grasses and their botanical name

6. List four legumes with their botanical name

Conclusion : 

The class teacher concludes the lesson by giving the pupils some notes on the topic that has just been taught. He goes round to mark and he does the necessary corrections.