Introduction to Agriculture

Module

DERBY E. POLIQUIT
Instructor II

NwSSU-San Jorge Campus

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

2021
 Introduction to Agriculture

VISION
A provider of relevant and quality education to a
society where citizens are competent, skilled,
dignified and community- oriented.

MISSION
An academic institution providing technological,
professional, research and extension programs to
form principled men and women of competencies
and skills responsive to local and global
development needs.

QUALITY POLICY
Northwest Samar State University commits to
provide quality outcomes-based education,
research, extension and production through
continual improvement of all its programs, thereby
producing world class professionals.

CORE VALUES
Resilience. Integrity. Service. Excellence.

INSTITUTIONAL GRADUATE OUTCOMES

Creative and critical thinkers
Life-long learners
Effective communicators
Morally and socially upright individuals
 Introduction to Agriculture

About the Author

The author was born on August 27, 1979 in Baybay City, Leyte. He is the

youngest child among the three children of Mr. Regalado D. Poliquit and Mrs.

Neresita E. Poliquit. He is married to Cynthia N. Poliquit and is blessed with

one child, Claude Rey N. Poliquit.

He finished his primary education at Guadalupe Elementary School in

1993 and his secondary education at ViSCA Laboratory High School (VLHS) in

1997. He earned his degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) with

major in Agricultural Economics at Visayas State University in 2002. He

completed his Master of Science in Horticulture degree in the same university in

2018. Hopefully, he intend to pursue his academic advancement in some future

time.

His first employment was a Foreman in the Tree Management Program of

Landscape Department of the Visayas State University and at the same time

pursued his masteral study. Because of his passion in landscaping, he transferred

to the Department of Horticulture as a Science Research Assistant (SRA) for

Edible Landscaping Project and thereafter, was assigned as Extension Officer.

He is now an instructor at Northwest Samar State University, San Jorge

Campus, San Jorge, Samar and was assigned as Landscape Coordinator for the
 Introduction to Agriculture

entire university. He is now actively participating in research and extension of

the said university and authored various Agricultural journals.

Rationale

This module, Introduction to Agriculture is a one-hour lecture subject for

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture curriculum for tertiary education. Since the
pandemic has taken its toll against face-to-face instruction, hence, online and/or
modulated platform is offered.
The module aims to broaden students’ perspective on agriculture and its
vital role in advancing farmers’ progress and national development. It also aims
to equipped students’ with knowledge and skills to be globally competent
enable to fill up careers in Agriculture and contribute in its development in the
world.
Modules will be uploaded and/or will be printed out for those students
residing in areas with poor internet connection. Academic tasks will be assigned
per modules to which students are required to comply.
 Introduction to Agriculture

Course Code: Ag. Sci 1

Course Title: Introduction to Agriculture

Course Description: Overview of agriculture with emphasis on Philippine Agriculture.

Course Outcomes:

At the end of the course, your students must be able to:

1. Explain the definition and importance of agriculture to our economy.
2. Discuss the history and branches of agriculture.
3. Describe the career opportunities as agriculture graduate and development of
scientific agriculture in the world.
4. Discuss the classification of vegetable crops.
5. Discuss the problems, issues and constraints of agriculture
6. Explain the trends and status of agriculture of the Philippines from the past
and future.

Course Content:

The table below shows the outline of the topics to be discussed in the lecture per week
vis-à-vis the course outcomes. It is designed based on the course syllabus approved by the
Campus Dean.

Course Learning Date of

Week Topics Assessment
Outcomes Submission
1-2 Explain the definition and Module 1 - Importance of Agriculture
importance of agriculture A. Definition of Agriculture. Pencil and paper 2nd week of
to our economy. B. Agriculture as a backbone to our test August
economy.
Essay 4th week of
C. Agriculture as an art, science August
and business. Reaction paper

3-5 Discuss the history and
branches of agriculture.
Module 2 - History and Branches of Pencil and paper 1st week of
Agriculture test September
A. Origin Of agriculture
1. Where did crops originate?
B. The agricultural revolution.
C. Industrialization. Essay
D. Post-industrialization.
E. Major Fields of agriculture
1. Animal science Reaction paper
2. Soil Science 3rd week of
September
3. Agricultural Economics
4. Horticulture
5. Plant Protection
6. Agronomy
 Introduction to Agriculture

6-8 Describe the career Module 3 Career Opportunities and its Pencil and paper 4th week of
opportunities as Development in the World test September
agriculture graduate and
its development in the A. Job opportunities of Agriculture Term Paper on the
world. 1. As an agriculture license Role of
2. Agriculture as profession Agriculture in the
B. Scientist that Contribute Philippine
Agriculture in the World Economy. 2nd week of
1. Concepts of Nutrients October
Accumulation
2. Concepts of Plant Breeding
3. Concepts Of Crop
Production techniques
4. Concepts of Influence of
Plant Hormones

9-11 Discuss the agronomic Module 4 – Classification of Vegetable Pen and paper test 3rd week of
and special purpose Cropsd October
classification of crops.
A. Four Main Methods of
Classification Based on:
1. Education Botanical
Relation
2. Based on Hardiness Narrative report
(Tolerance to Low Temp) on Classification
3. Parts Used for of Vegetable
Consumption Crops 1st week of
November
4. Methods of Culture

12-14 Discuss the problems, Module 5 – Agricultural Constraints for Pencil and paper 2nd week of
issues and constraints of Economic Development test November
agriculture.
A. Small farm size. 4th week of
B. Decreasing hired labor. Essay November
C. Innovative machines versus
market-driven machine.
D. Inadequate technology transfer
mechanism.
E. Policy constraints.

15-18 Explain the trends and Module 6- Philippine Agriculture from Pen and paper test 1st week of
status of agriculture of the the Past and Future Essay December
Philippines from the past
and future. Pen and paper test
A. Major agricultural crops
produce. Narrative report 3rd week of
B. Exports and imports of crops. on Programs December
C. Programs implemented for Implemented for
technology development. Technology
Development
 Introduction to Agriculture

Course Requirements:
Requirements of Ag. Sci 1 are as follows:
▪ Term paper on the Role of Agriculture in the Philippine Economy
▪ Narrative report on Programs Implemented for Technology Development

Grading Criteria:
Requirement/Assessment Task Percentage
Major Course Output 50%
Major Exams 30%
Class Standing 20%
TOTAL 100%

References:
1. Monsanto Company. 2017. Interactive presentation of world agriculture history. San
Diego State University.
Source:http://www.monsanto.com/improvingagriculture/pages/a-brief-history-of-agric
ulture.aspx. Retrieved: June, 2017.
2. Tacuyan, J. T. 2012. Career opportunities for agriculture graduates. University of
Southern Philippines.
3. PCARRD, 2017. Problems, Issues, and Constraints in Philippines.
Source:http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/momentum/agmachin/index.php?option
=com_content&view=article&id=297:problems-issues-and-constraints&catid=126&
Itemid=286
4. Kareem, A. 2011. Introduction to Agriculture. E-book. The University of Agriculture,
Peshawar, Pakistan. Source: https//:www.researchgate.net/publication/282905517. Pp.
79
 Introduction to Agriculture

Module 2
History and Branches of Agriculture

LEARNING PLAN

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

▪ Discuss the history of agriculture;
▪ Identify the scientists and their contribution to the
development of the scientific agriculture in the world; and
▪ Assess the importance of the development of the
scientific agriculture in the world.

CHAPTER II. History and Branches of Agriculture

1. Origin of agriculture. “Where did agriculture Originate?”
Without a time machine, it’s impossible to know the exact date on which the first human
held a seed in his or her hand and thought: “If I plant this in the ground, I’ll know exactly
where to find food in a few months.” What we do know is that sometime around 8,500 BC,
humans in the Fertile Crescent (an area that stretches through modern-day Egypt, Israel,
Turkey and Iraq) slowly started to plant grains, instead of gathering them in the wild.
By 7,000 BC, they also began to domesticate animals such as sheep, pigs and goats. A
thousand years later, they domesticated cattle.
Before the advent of agriculture, humans were nomadic, traveling constantly in search of
wild animals and grain. With the rise of agriculture as a predictable, centralized source of
food, they suddenly had an incentive to stay put. Cities began to form.
In this way, agriculture began to change not only the human diet, but human civilization
as well.
Over the next 8,500 years, agriculture evolved relatively slowly. Through trial and error,
farmers around the world began to breed better plants.
They naturally noticed that not all plants within a species were the same. Some grew
larger, tasted better or were easier to grind into meal. They simply began to save seeds from
the best plants and sow them for the next year’s harvest.

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 Introduction to Agriculture

Over hundreds of generations, this led to the transformation of wild plants into the larger,
tastier grains and vegetables we know today.
During the Bronze and Iron Ages, stone and wooden tools were replaced by stronger,
more efficient metal tools. However, farming remained a time- and labor-intensive pursuit
that involved nearly 80% of the world’s population.

2. The agricultural revolution

From 800 to 1400 A.D., the tools of farming remained essentially unchanged. The early
colonists in North America used plows that were no different or better than the plows used
during the Roman Empire.
Then suddenly, during the 18th and 19th centuries, agricultural innovation exploded.
Plow design was improved and an Englishman named Jethro Tull invented the world’s first
seed drill, a device that allowed seeds to be planted quickly in neat, straight rows.
Horse-drawn, mechanized harvesting equipment—like Cyrus McCormick’s reaper—quickly
followed.
Farmers could now plant and harvest in a fraction of the time is used to take them.
Agricultural productivity soared.

3. Industrialization
During the 20th century, gasoline-powered machines began to replace traditional,
horse-drawn equipment. This, combined with advancements in fertilizer and pesticide
technology after World War II, allowed agricultural productivity to take another leap forward.
The new technological efficiencies meant farmers could manage more land. Over time,
this led to fewer, larger farms. For developed countries, it also led to a shift in the labor force.
In the United States, for example, the percentage of the workforce engaged in
farming dropped from 40% (in 1900), to just 2% (in 2000).
Because fewer of us lived on farms, it became easier to forget how crops were grown,
processed and shipped. In the more developed countries, at least, food became an available,
affordable commodity that came from “somewhere else.”

4. Post-industrialization
Between 1900 and 2012, the world’s population grew from 1.6 billion to more than 7
billion. In 1700, only 7% of the earth’s surface was used for agriculture. Today it is more than
40%. And only a portion the land that is left is currently suitable for growing crops.
Clearly, agriculture is at a crossroads. The world needs to produce more food than ever
before, while conserving the limited resources we have available. Where we go from here
will require the ingenuity and cooperation of farmers, companies, governments, universities
and citizens alike.
5. Major fields of agriculture
Agriculture is composed of five specialized branches. The 6 branches are:
a. Animal science
Is basically the breeding and caring of animal for specific purposes such as for
their meat, milk and/or fur.
b. Soil Science
Deals with soil chemical and physical properties for crop improvement of
production.

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 Introduction to Agriculture

c. Agricultural Economics
Deals with business end of farming.
d. Horticulture
Deals with cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental crops.
e. Plant protection
Deals with the study and control of pest and diseases that influences the
production period of crops.
f. Agronomy
Deals with the science of soil management, land cultivation and crop
production.
Development of scientific agriculture in world
1. Francis Bacon (1561–1624 A.D.) : Found the water as nutrient of plants
2. G.R. Glanber (1604–1668 A.D.) : Salt peter (KNO3) as nutrient and not water
3. Jethrotull (1674–1741 A.D.) : Fine soil particle as plant nutrient
4. Priestly (1730–1799 A.D.) : Discovered the oxygen
5. Francis Home (1775 A.D.) : Water, air, salts, fire and oil from the plant nutrients
6. Charles and Francis (1780 A.D.) : Isolated and characterized Indole -3- Acetic Acid (IAA)
7. Thomas Jefferson (1793 A.D.) : Developed the mould board plough.
8. Theodore-de-Saussure : Found that plants absorb CO2 from air and release O2; soil supply
N2 and ash to plants
9. Justus van Liebig (1804–1873 A.D.) : A German chemist developed the concept called
“Liebig’s law of minimum”. It states as follows. “A deficiency or absence of the necessary
constituent, all others being present, renders the soil barren for crops for which that
nutrient is needed”–It is referred as “Barrel concept”. If the barrel has stones of different
heights, the lowest one establishes the capacity of the Barrel. Nitrogen has the lowest
share, establishes the maximum capacity of the barrel. Accordingly, the growth factor in
lowest supply (whether climatic, edaphic, genetic or biotic) sets the capacity for yield.
Similarly a soil deficient in nitrogen (N) can’t be made to produce well by adding more
calcium (Ca) or potassium (K) where they are already abundant.
10. In 1875, Michigen State University was established to provide agriculture education on
college level.
11. Gregor Johann Mendel (1866) discovered the laws of heredity.
12. Charles Darwin (1876) published the results of experiments on cross and self-fertilization
in plants.
13. Thomas Malthus (1898) Proposed “Malthusian Theory” that the human race would run or
later because of limited land and yield potential of crops.
14. Neo Malthusians have proposed birth control as answer to the problem.
15. F.T. Blackman’s (1905) Theory of “Optima and Limiting Factors” states that, “when a
process is conditioned as to its rapidity by a number of separate factors, the rate of the
process is limited by the pace of the slowest factor.”
16. E.A. Mitsherlich (1909) proposed a theory of “Law of diminishing returns” states that,
‘The increase in any crop produce by a unit increment of a deficient factor is proportional
to the decrement of that factor from the maximum and the response is curvilinear instead
of linear’.
17. Wilcox (1929) proposed “Inverse Yield–Nitrogen law” states that, the growth and
yielding ability of any crop plant is inversely proportional to the mean nitrogen content in
the dry matter.

Ag. Sci. 1: Introduction to Agriculture Page 3 of 4

 Introduction to Agriculture

18. Macy (1936): Proposed a concept of “Critical Percentages of Plant Nutrients”. He

suggested a relationship between the sufficiency of nutrients and plant response in terms
of yield and nutrient concentration of plant tissues. Macy proposed critical percentages for
each nutrient in each kind of plant. In the tissues minimum percentage range, an added
increment of a nutrient increases the yield but not the nutrient percentage. In the poverty
adjustment range, an added increment of a nutrient increases the nutrient percentage but
not the yield. In the luxury consumption range, added increment of nutrient have little
effect of yield. But increase the nutrient composition percentage. The point between
poverty adjustment and luxury consumption was the “Critical percentage”. Macy
suggested that Liebig’s law holds good in the tissue minimum percentage range because
there is not enough of a nutrient to allow much plant growth. Liebig’s law holds good
again in the luxury consumption range. Because there is a large supply of nutrient, some
other nutrient becomes limiting and stops growth. Mitscherlich’s law of diminishing
returns holds during the poverty adjustment range because the response curve is linear
representing the diminishing yield to added increments.
19. Zimmerman and Hitchcock (1942) reported that 2,4-D could act as growth promoter at
extremely low concentration. Now 2,4-D is used to overcome the problem of seediness in
Poovan banana.
20. In 1945, herbicide 2,4,5-T was developed.
21. In 1954, Gibberlic acid structure was identified by Japanese.
22. In 1950’s Bennet and Clark identified ABA (Abscessic acid), which inhibits plant growth
and controls shedding of plant parts.

Ag. Sci. 1: Introduction to Agriculture Page 4 of 4

 Introduction to Agriculture

Ag Sci. 1
Module 2 Activity 1 Individual Activity

Answer the following questions:

1. Discuss the history of agriculture.
2. Cite at least 5 scientists and their contribution to the development of the
scientific agriculture in the world.
3. What is the importance of the development of the scientific agriculture in
the world?

Note:
Answers should have the following parts:
● Introduction
● Body
● Conclusion/recommendation

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