Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Agriculture Notes Form 3 PDF-1
Agriculture Notes Form 3 PDF-1
Effects of deforestation
-Soil erosion- soils are exposed resulting in washing away of topsoil.
- The water cycle is affected as evapotranspiration is reduced.
-Loss of biodiversity- there are a number of plant species wiped out and animals that depend
on the plant as habitat
-Climate change due to accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
-land degradation.
-Siltation of dams- accumulation of soil in water bodies.
Wildlife
Indigenous knowledge systems in wildlife conservation and preservation
Definition: indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) are a body of knowledge, or bodies of
knowledge of the indigenous people of particular geographical areas that they have survived
on for a very long time.
-IKS is local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society.
-IKS is built by societies through generations of living in close contact with nature. It
includes norms, taboos, a system of classification of natural resources, a set of empirical
observations about the local environment and a system of self-management that governs
resource use.
Use of Totems
-Amongst traditional communities such as the Ndebele and Shona where totemic is practiced,
it is taboo for clan members to kill animals which serve as the revered symbol of their
families.
-the family members whose totem is symbolised by a certain animal become custodians of
that particular animal.
Principles of conservation and preservation and how they affect wildlife trading
-Parks and wildlife act of 123/1991 chapter 20:14 – the act seeks to guarantee that the
wildlife heritage of Zimbabwe is protected through sound management and restrictive laws
- The restrictive laws include the fact that no persons is allowed to hunt for any wild animal
without authorisation from the responsible government department and may not trade in any
of the products that are obtained from the wild animals.
-the act also provides for the establishment of national parks, botanical gardens, sanctuaries,
and safari areas where the wildlife is protected and this also restricts the trade in wildlife.
-CAMPFIRE is another programme that helps in restricting the trade in wildlife as it seeks to
benefit communities who live with the wildlife.
-non-governmental organisations such as World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) who are
involved in wildlife conservation.
-CITES is an international agreement which forbids commercial trade in endangered species
while allowing trade in species that can withstand the pressures of trade.
Effects of poaching
-Loss of biodiversity.
-Extinction.
-Imbalance in the ecosystem.
-Animals that depend on a particular species is also affected.
-Loss of foreign currency.
-Loss of income for people who depend on tourism and wildlife.
Biodiversity in relation to species, genetics and ecosystem diversity
Biodiversity- refers to a variety of plants and animals that exist in a particular natural
environment.
Species diversity-refers to the number of different species in an area
Ecosystem diversity –refers to the number of different ecosystems in an area
Genetic diversity-the sum total of genetic information contained in genes of organisms
Habitats of wild animals
-Habitats of wild animals include, water, soil, trees, rivers, dams, caves and sea.
-causes of differences in wildlife habitats include:
-Genetic makeup.
-climatic factors.
-soil factors (physical).
-competition between species.
-diets and feeding patterns.
Soil and water
Weathering
Forms of weathering
-physical weathering- this involves the breaking down of rocks due to the effects of running
water, freezing water, temperature changes and wind.
The rubbing action amongst small rocks carried in water weakens and breaks the small rocks
to form soil.
When water occupying cracks in rocks freezes, it expands, widening the cracks and when it
melts the rock contracts this is called freeze thaw action.
Rock particles peel off due to expansion due to high daytime temperatures and contraction
due to night time low temperatures.
Sand particles carried by wind hit surfaces of solid rocks and particles break further into
smaller particles.
-chemical weathering-chemical weathering changes the minerals in rocks into new weaker
substances that can be broken down.
Hydrolysis is a form of chemical weathering where the rock is weakened and broken down to
soil by the replacement of cations by hydrogen.
Carbonation is chemical weathering form where carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form a
weak carbonic acid which weakens limestone rocks.
Dissolution is a form of chemical weathering where rocks are weakened and broken down
due to dissolution and draining out of salts contained in rocks.
-Biological weathering-this is the breaking down of rocks due to actions of living organisms
on rocks.
Microbes decompose organic matter to produce weak humic acids which dissolve salts and
break the rocks.
Plant roots penetrate cracks in rocks and widen the cracks as they grow. This weakens the
rocks and breaks them down.
Soil textural classes
-soil consists of particles which vary in size namely sand, silt and clay. Each of the se
particles can be referred to as a soil fraction and the millimetre (mm) is the unit of measuring
their sizes.
Classification of soil fractions
Name of particle (Fraction) Diameter of soil particles (mm)
Clay Less than 0.002
Silt 0.002 - 0.02
Sand 0.02 – 2.0
Gravel Greater than 2.0
-in practice, soils do not consist of 100% sand ,silt or clay but are mixtures of these three
components or particles.
-the percentage composition of sand, silt and clay in a soil is known as soil texture.
-in Zimbabwe eight (8) textural classes have been identified and these are given in the table
below:
Textural class Definition
Sand Over 85% sand
Loamy sand 75% - 85% sand
Sandy loam Less than 20% clay and 50% - 75% sand
Sandy clay loam 20% - 35% clay, 45 – 80% sand
Clay loam 20 – 40% clay and less than 45% sand
Sandy clay Greater than 35% clay and 45 – 65% sand
Clay Greater than 40% clay and less than 45%
sand
Heavy clay Greater than 50% clay. These are stiff, sticky
clays with shiny surfaces when dry.
Textural triangle
Soil structure
-soil structure refers to the arrangement of the soil particles (sand, silt and clay) into clusters
called peds or aggregates.
-soil structure may be changed by the farmer.
-soil structure may be blocky, platy, prismatic or spheroidal. The spheroidal structure is
further subdivided into 2 subclasses: crumb and single grain.
-the crumb structure is the most ideal for crop production because it has good aeration, good
drainage, can be easily worked on, allows good root penetration and has good water and
nutrient holding capacity.
Methods of improving and maintaining good structure
-application of organic manure, composts and green manure.
-cultivation of soil when not too wet or too dry
-addition of agricultural lime. Lime results in more particles combining together to form
crumbs through a process called flocculation
-include crops with high leaf litter in a crop rotation programme. The litter will eventually
decompose to humus which binds the soil into a good crumb structure.
-maintain well drained soils
-practising minimum tillage reduces destruction of soil structure by tillage equipment
Soil composition
Air
25%
Water
25%
Mineral matter
45%
Organic matter
5%
1. Mineral matter
-the weathered rock particles or mineral matter are also called inorganic matter,
meaning they are not of plant or animal origin.
-the majority of Zimbabwean soils are known as mineral soils because they have a
high percentage of mineral matter. They are derived from the weathering or
breakdown of rocks.
-mineral matter forms a greater part of the soil, making 45% of the soil by volume.
2. Organic matter
-organic matter may be fresh leaves, plant stalks or droppings of animals.
-it may also be decomposed plant and animal matter
-
3. Soil air
-soil air consists of oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapour.
-it is found in the spaces between the soil particles.
-the oxygen part is essential for root respiration of soil organisms, germination and
many chemical processes occurring within the soil.
-soil aeration can be improved by:
Applying organic matter to the soil, for example, farmyard manure, compost
and green manure. These give the soil a crumb structure which provides
adequate air space.
Improving drainage of waterlogged soils. If a soil is waterlogged it means all
the air spaces are filled with water. By draining this excess water air will
occupy these spaces.
4. Soil water
-soil water is important because it:
i. Aids the germination of seed
ii. Aids weathering since weathering occurs in a moist environment
iii. Dissolves nutrients which are then absorbed in solution by the plant
iv. Keeps plant cells turgid
-soil water can be classified into three types which vary in their availability to plants.
These are:
Types of soil water
1. Free or Gravitational or Drainage water
-this is excess water which a soil cannot retain and is drained downwards through
the soil by the force of gravity.
-it is more than the soil can hold and therefore moves down.
-this type of water is undesirable because it leaches (washes down) plant
nutrients out of the crop’s rooting zone and thus making the unavailable to plants.
-it is also undesirable because it reduces soil aeration by filling up the air spaces.
2. Hygroscopic water
-this is an extremely thin layer of water around each and every soil particle which
is absorbed from atmospheric vapour.
-it can only be seen after heating air-dried soil
-it has no value to plants because it exists as a very thin film with a very high
force or tension. This force is so high that plant roots cannot extract or absorb
this water.
3. Capillary water
-this is water which surrounds soil particles in a thin layer outside the hygroscopic
layer.
-it moves from wet to dry areas or from the water table upwards in all directions
-it is held in small pores called capillary pores and also moves through these
pores to drier parts of the soil.
SOIL TEMPERATURE
-temperature is the degree of hotness or coldness of a body, for example
atmospheric air and the soil.
-it is important for a farmer to know both the maximum and minimum
temperatures for each day as both extremes can have adverse effects on crop
growth.
-in agriculture we are more interested in soil temperature. Soil temperature is
directly related to the amount of heat (warmth) within the soil environment.
Warmth of the soil is important because:
i. It is necessary for germination
ii. The uptake of water and nutrients by crops is higher in warm soils than in
cold ones
iii. Increased growth rate in (ii) above means crops and fruits open earlier
iv. There is increased activity of soil micro-organisms resulting in:
(a)increased breakdown of organic matter with subsequent release of
nutrients
(b) nitrogen being readily available through nitrification
Optimum temperature range for :
-the maximum temperature for germination is 38oC and the minimum is 5oC. The
optimum is 30oC.
Effects of excessively high temperatures
-very high temperatures usually about 300C damage crops through wilting,
scorching and death. Even with moisture available in the soil the plants are unable to
cope with the rate of water loss through transpiration which is greater than that of
uptake from the soil.
-if the soil is exposed to direct sunlight it might be so hot that the roots near the soil
surface may die.
-at high temperatures, plants may abort as flowers are forced to drop and no fruit set
will take place.
-some plants may ‘bolt’ when they should be growing vegetatively.
-seeds may fail to germinate.
-microbial activity is reduced.
Methods of reducing effects of excessively high temperatures
1. Supply of adequate water through irrigation.
2. Mulching – covering the soil surface with a layer of plant material (grass leaf,
litter, compost, manure or crop residues). The mulch’s function is to reduce
water loss through evaporation, slow down temperature fluctuations and
reduce weed growth.
3. Shading of transplanted seedlings – this involves the sticking of leafy twigs
around a seedling soon after transplanting to provide some shade. The shade
prevents excess heat on the seedling and reduces the amount of evaporation.
This improves the survival rate of seedlings.
4. Transplanting under cool (such as late afternoon) or cloudy conditions.
Soil sampling
This refers to systematic collection of a representative soil sample from a field of soil
analysis.
Principles to be followed when sampling soil:-
-A sample is usually collected by taking a minimum of 10 sub samples which are
collected in a zigzag or diagonal manner in the field and mixed to make a composite
sample.
-Avoid collecting soil from previous crop rows as this might distort values.
-Anthills should also be avoided.
-Clean tools must be used.
Drainage: this refers to the movement of water through soil particles. Soils with
large particles have good drainage while those with closely packed particles have
poor drainage. Poor drainage leads to water logging.
Water logging: when water is applied to the soil, it fills or occupies the air spaces.
When all the air spaces are filled by water the soil will be saturated. When saturation
of air spaces persists the soil becomes waterlogged.
Effects of waterlogged soils on crop growth
-as the soil becomes waterlogged all the air from the soil is removed resulting in lack
of oxygen for roots and micro- organisms.
-the roots will not be able to respire resulting in death of plants
-aerobic micro- organisms will not be able to survive resulting in reduced microbial
activity in the soil and subsequently low fertility in the soil
-consequently because of low fertility nutrient release to plants is reduced
-fungal diseases will be on the increase causing plants to be affected and yields
being reduced
Methods of improving drainage
1. Surface drainage
-the simplest method is by digging single open drains or ditches. These are
channels which drain water to a river or waterway.
-ditches can be 1-2m deep and 50-100m apart, depending on soil type. Clay
soils need shallow drains which are close together, while sand soils need
deeper drains which are far apart.
IRRIGATION
-this is the artificial application of water to the soil to meet the crop water
requirements.
-irrigation is usually done to supplement rainfall shortages and during prolonged dry
spells.
Methods of irrigation
There are basically three main methods of irrigating crops namely;
1. Surface / flood irrigation
2. Overhead /sprinkler irrigation
3. Drip irrigation
Surface/Flood irrigation
-this is a method of irrigation that moves water over the soil surface through canals
and furrows. Siphons can also be used to move water from canals into the fields.
-types of surface irrigation methods are : i) ridge and furrow irrigation
ii) border irrigation method
iii) basin irrigation
Advantages of surface / flood irrigation
Deep irrigation can be achieved
It has low operation costs once land has been levelled
Volumes of water can be measured accurately
Drip irrigation
-this is a system of pipe networks set up in a predetermined pattern that supplies
water at low pressure to localized stations
-the water is discharged at each planting station adjacent to the palnt or as a
subsurface network that discharges water at the root zone
-types of drip irrigation : i) drip irrigation
ii) micro jets
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Anatomy and physiology
The Ruminant
-ruminants are animals with four chambered stomachs. These animals can digest
cellulose and they chew the cud.
-when ruminants graze, all food goes to the first stomach chamber. During rest, the
ruminant regurgitates (brings back to mouth the food that was swallowed) the food
from the first stomach in the form of a rolled boll called the cud.
-the ruminant then re-chews the food and swallows the food for the second time.
-the anatomy of the ruminant digestive system consists of the mouth, oesophagus,
rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, small intestines, large intestines, rectum and
anus.
Animal Nutrition
-animal nutrition refers to nutritional needs and requirements for healthy and
productive growth of livestock.
-there are different types of feeds that supply nutrients in different quantities and
proportions.
-it is therefore important to carefully plan animal feeding programs. Shortage or
excess of a nutrient may result in unhealthy conditions.
Types of feeds
-feed is any material which after ingestion by animals is capable of being digested,
absorbed and utilised. Farm animals consume mainly plants and plant products as
feed. Feedstuffs can be divided into roughage, concentrate and succulents.
1. Roughages
- these are high fibre content feeds (over 18% crude fibre) which are mainly grasses,
hay or silage. They also have low amounts of proteins, energy, vitamins and
minerals. Roughages are indigestible to most animals except ruminants.
2. Concentrates
- these contain low fibre content but high amounts of nutrients. There are two types
of concentrates:
(i) Energy concentrates – these contain high amounts of energy. They include
cereals such as maize, sorghum, millet as well as their by-products and tubers such
as sweet potato, yam and cassava.
(ii) Protein concentrates – these include soya bean meal, groundnut meal and cotton
seed meal. They contain 40-50% crude protein. There are also animal sources of
protein which are fish meal, meat meal, blood meal and milk products.
3.Succulents
- these are feeds with high water content such as fresh grass, silage and legumes.
Ruminant feeds
- Ruminants can be fed with grass and high fibre feeds as the can digest
cellulose, a tough ,material that makes up cell walls of plants.
- Straight feeds of protein or energy concentrates can also be fed to ruminants
as supplement feeds to natural forage and fodder.
- Grass, silage and hay are examples of feeds that can be fed to ruminants.
- Clean fresh water should always be available.
Non-ruminant feeds
- Non-ruminants cannot digest cellulose and so should be fed with feeds
containing less fibre.
- Energy concentrates from cereals, cassava and yams are examples of feeds
for non-ruminants.
- Straight feeds or commercially prepared feed stuffs as well as a constant
supply of water should be fed to non-ruminants.
ANIMAL HEALTH
Notifiable Diseases
-notifiable diseases are diseases which are very dangerous and by law once noticed
or suspected should immediately be reported to the police or veterinary department.
-immediate action should be taken such as quarantine, killing affected heads and
restriction of animal movement and products.
-notifiable diseases are highly contagious, most are incurable, can wipe out large
numbers of animals and spread so fast.
-these diseases may also infect human beings (zoonotic).
-notifiable diseases also cause great economic losses and may take some time and
effort to control
Bacterial disease
1. Anthrax
-it is a bacterial disease that affects cow, sheep, goats, pigs and humans.
Cause
-Bacillus anthraces
Transmission
- Spread through ingestion of contaminated foodstuff such as pastures
- Ingestion of contaminated meat
Symptoms
- High body temperature and shivering
- Blood stained faeces, congested mucous membranes and death within
24hours.
- Animals found dead without noticing any sickness
- Rapid decomposition of carcass
- Non-clotting blood will ooze out through natural openings such as mouth,
nostrils and ears
Treatment
- Difficult to treat but can use antibiotics such as Procane penicillin, tetramycin
100LA
Control
- Bury animals deeply or burn them completely
- Never open carcass of animals that die from anthrax
- Report any suspected animals to the veterinary or the police
- Never eat any meat from animals that die suddenly
- Kill infected animals
- Vaccinate animals annually with anthrax vaccines
- Quarantine or separate the infected animals from healthy animals
Viral diseases
1. Foot and mouth disease (F.M.D)
Cause
-Virus such as coxsackievirus A16, Picornavirus, Aphtovirus
Affected animals
- All cloven hooved animals such as cattle, sheep and goats
Transmission
- Ingestion of contaminated food and pastures
- Air-borne
- Ingestion of contaminated meat and meat products
- Contact with wildlife such as buffalo
Symptoms
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Extremely high body temperature/fever
- Painful blisters in the mouth, tongue and feet
- Saliva dribbling from the mouth which is not completely closed because of
painful blisters
- Lameness due to blisters on the feet
Treatment
- No treatment. However, one can treat wounds to avoid secondary infection
Control
- Quarantine all suspected animals
- Regular inspection at dip tanks for early detection
- Control animal movement through imports and exports
- Proper disposal of dead animals (burying deeply or burning completely)
- Prevent contact with wmild animals
Prevention
- Vaccinate animals before the outbreak
2. Newcastle disease
-it is a rapidly spreading respiratory disease of all poultry and other birds such as
turkeys, chickens and pigeons
Cause
- Virus such as Paramyxovirus
Transmission
- Air borne(aerosols)
- Ingestion of contaminated food and water
- Movement of contaminated people, equipment and wild birds
Symptoms
- Difficult breathing
- Coughing and sneezing
- Twisting of neck
- Yellowish diarrhoea
- Sudden reduction in egg production
- High death losses
Treatment
- No treatment
Prevention and control
- Quarantine affected flock
- Vaccinate using New castle vaccines
- Good hygiene practices
- Exclude wild birds
- Buy chicks from reputable breeders
Protozoan diseases
1. Trypanosomiasis/Nagana
- It is a protozoan disease that affects cattle, and wild animals especially
buffalos. It also affects humans (zoonotic)
Cause
- It is caused by a protozoa known as Tryponosoma Congolence and
Tryponosoma vivax
Transmission
- The protozoa are spread by tsetse flies (Glossina morstans species)
Symptoms
- High body temperature/fever
- Dull and rough coat
- General body weakness
- Watery eyes leading to blindness
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Diarrhoea
Treatment
- Use – (i) Berenil
(ii) Homidium
(iii) Antricide
Control/Prevention
- Control tetse flies by use of traps and aerial sprays
- Use prophylate drugs
- Isolate sick from healthy animals
ANIMAL IMPROVEMENT
Genetics
-genetics is the science that studies how heritable characteristics are passed from
parents to their offspring.
-animal improvement is based on heritability or ability of a characteristic to be
passed on from generation to generation
Important terms used in genetic studies and breeding
1. Gene – it is the basic unit of inheritance that influences characteristics
- Genes are found on chromosomes
- They are the smallest segment on chromosomes
- The major function of genes is to maintain identity from one generation to
another
2. Locus – the position of a specific gene on a chromosome
3. Allele – it is an alternative form of gene
4. Chromosomes – these are thread-like double structured strands of nucleic
acids and protein found in the nucleus of living cells which carry genetic
information (genes)
5. Genotype – the genetic makeup of the organism for a specific characteristic
6. Phenotype – it is the outward appearance of an organism
- It can also be described as the observable characteristics or measurable
characteristics of an animal such as coat colour and milk yield
7. Dominant gene – a gene that masks the effect of another
- Dominant genes show their effect even if only one copy of the allele is
present, for example, an animal will have a black coat colour even any other
allele is present
- A dominant gene is always represented using a capital letter for example Bb,
capital letter B will represent the dominant gene
8. Recessive gene – a gene whose effect is masked by the presence of the
dominant gene
- Recessive genes only show their effect if an animal has two copies of the
allele, for example bb for brown colours
9. Heterozygous – it is a situation where there is one dominant and one
recessive gene in an organism, for example Bb. Such an organism is called a
heterozygote.
10. Homozygous – is an organism carrying two similar alleles on a gene locus, for
example BB or bb
2. Metaphase
-spindle fibres attach to centromere pulling sister chromatids apart
3. Anaphase
-sister chromatids separate each other moving to each pole
(leave 8 lines for diagram)
4. Telophase
-two daughter nuclei are formed
-nuclear membranes reform as chromosoomes uncoil
-spindle fibres disappear
(leave 8 lines for diagram)
Significance of meiosis
i. Results in the formation of sex cells (gametes)
ii. Brings about variation in organisms through crossing over and random
assortment
Differences between mitosis and meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
Plough maintenance
Daily maintenance
1. Lubrication
Before starting work each day, greasing should be done according to the
greasing instructions in the operator’s manual
Greasing points are normally the disc bearings and tail wheel bearing. Some
ploughs are fitted with maintenance-free bearings which do not require
greasing
2. Cleaning
Remove soil, grass or weeds which may be on the plough after use. If
possible, wash the plough to remove any remaining dirt.
3. Routine checks
Check wear on parts in constant contact with the soil during operation
4. Tightening
Nuts and bolts should be checked for looseness and should be tightened if
necessary
Seasonal maintenance
Including the above, also:
Check all parts of the plough and repair or replace worn or broken parts
Before storing the plough, protect the discs against rust by applying a rust
inhibitor or old engine oil
Further protection of the plough parts can be provided by painting them before
storing in a safe place
Plough storage
-when field operations with the plough have been completed, store the cleaned,
repaired plough in a protected dry place
Plough setting
-the correct depth for ploughing is obtained by first loosening the adjusting bolt, or
taking the pin out of the depth clevis and then;
Raising the hitch for deeper ploughing
Lowering the hitch for shallow ploughing
-the length of the trek train also affects the depth of ploughing. Normal chain length
is 2.9 metres. A longer chain will cause the plough to go deeper anda shorter chain
will cause the plough to go shallow.
-the width of cut can also be adjusted as follows:
Sliding the hitch to the left (towards the unploughed land) will move the plough
to the right and make the cut narrower
Sliding the hitch to the right (away from ploughed soil) will move the plough to
the left and make the cut wider
2.Cultivators
-cultivators are also known as tillers
-these are implements which stir the land and break up furrow and clods left by the
plough
-they destroy grasses and weeds that grow after ploughing by uprooting and
exposing them to sunlight where they dry up
-a cultivator consists of a frame with a number of tines for breaking and mixing the
soil. The tines have replaceable shares or points and various designs are used for
different types of work
-working depth is generally controlled by a tractor hydraulic system
-some tined cultivators have a crumbler roll attached at the rear which helps to break
up clods
Maintenance
Placement of tines
Worn out tines should be replaced
Tines should be properly adjusted and tightened
Oiling and lubrication of movable parts should be done when necessary
Trash trapped on the implement must be removed after use and before
storage
Store in a safe dry place
3.Harrow
-a harrow is a universally used implement and is as old historically as the plough
-the main function of the harrow is to sort out clods of varying size, leaving the
unbroken large size clods on the surface. Its action causes the smaller particles to
filter downwards thus leaving the larger ones on the surface
-the harrow is very effective in destroying small weeds that are just starting, it is also
useful in covering broadcasted seeds and in breaking crust
-the spring tines are bolted and staggered on the frames to avoid clogging during its
operation
There are two types of harrows: 1) Disc harrow 2) Tine harrow
Maintenance of a disc harrow
-a disc harrow is a land preparation implement drawn by a tractor. It is mainly used
for secondary tillage operations and conservation tillage practices.
-the disc harrow can be used to pulverize soil, break clods and for levelling of fields
Bearings must be thoroughly greased at regular intervals
All the nuts and bolts must be checked and tightened where necessary daily
before taking the implement to the field
Blunt edges of the discs should be sharpened regularly
During the slack season, the worn out parts including the bearings should be
fully replaced
It is better to coat the outer and inner surfaces ,of the discs with oil or paint
when the harrow is lying without use in slack season
d) The stay anchor – the stay anchor is usually used on wider gate openings that
should allow heavy vehicles to pass through. In such situations, the high gate
post anchor is not applicable
-usually a metal piping or rod is bolted to the gate post at a 45 degree angle
and the metal is buried to the ground in the direction of the strain to resist
movement in the direction of strain
(leave 8 lines for diagram)
FARM BUILDINGS
-building or construction is an industry where regulations are set by the local
authority or body, such as a council or municipality to ensure that the buildings are
built to a certain acceptable standard of construction
-procedures have to be followed to ensure safety of occupants, users, passers-by or
those who work in the vicinity
-brickwork involves the use of different materials and tools to erect a wall. Brickwork
is a process of producing accurate walls according to plans.
-the construction of farm structures is guided by agricultural principles and modern
trends in research
-some farm structures can be constructed using locally available resources like
wood, thatch grass and stones. However larger buildings would need steel and
concrete as construction materials
-buildings built on the farm must be to specified standards for them to serve the
intended purpose efficiently and at minimum cost
Purpose of farm buildings
-all buildings on a farm have specific purposes. They may be used to shelter farm
animals and poultry as well as to store farm produce
-the structures include water tanks, pig sties, water troughs, dairy palours, sheds,
irrigation canals, silage bunkers, tobacco barns, silos, blair toilets and so on
BUILDING MATERIALS
1.Sand
-there are two common types of sand, river sand and pit sand.
a) River sand – is used for mixing concrete and outside plastering. River sand can
be obtained from river banks. Clay and other dust particles must be removed from
river sand by washing.
b) Pit sand – is known as fine aggregates. Pit sand is used to plaster interior of
buildings. It can be obtained from pits but should be free from top soil because it
weakens the structure. If the pit sand is not clean, it is screened to remove the
organic impurities like decayed plant matter. Screening is done by passing sand
through a wire screen.
2.Quarry stones or gravel
-quarry stones and gravel are known as coarse aggregates and are used for
concrete making.
a) Stones – are used because of their strength, durability and in some cases
availability at low cost. They, however have limitations as they are unavailable in
some localities. Where they are available, they are difficult to shape into blocks for
construction.
b) Gravel – must be screened to remove fine aggregates and organic impurities. The
impurities weaken the structure as they do not have the same properties as those of
the stones. Organic material may decompose leaving cavities within structures and
these will be weak areas on the construction.
3. Cement
-cement binds particles together to form a strong structure. One important property
of cement is that once it has set, the process is irreversible.
-cement is very ideal for construction in wet areas or where there is need for water
proof structures since cement structures do not dissolve in water for centuries.
-the constructions made with cement are highly durable structures if the mixtures of
cement, sand and concrete are done properly.
-cement is the binding material (matrix) which binds aggregates together.
Aggregates refers to the sands, gravel, quarry stones that are mixed with cement
and water to produce concrete.
-cement is made by burning a mixture of clay and chalk (or limestone). For example,
ordinary portland cement is one part clay and three parts lime.
Properties of cement
-cement makes structures with high levels of strength. The structures can withstand
a sizeable amount of load and compressional forces. Some cement types have the
advantage that they can be used in wet conditions and can still set to strong
structures such as in bridges.
Portland type of cement hardens by a chemical reaction when mixed with water
(hydration). A paste of cement and water first undergoes gradual stiffening, called
setting, but the hydration continues long after the paste has become rigid. This
results in a progressive increase in strength called hardening.
Cement types
Ordinary Portland cement: with a ratio of 3:1 (limestone:clay)
Rapid hardening cement: it is ground to a finer powder for faster setting. It is
used where a faster rate of strength gain is necessary such as in a bridge or
dam construction.
Extra rapid hardening cement: useful in temperate zones where winter
weather conditions affect construction works
Low heat Portland cement: this type is recommended for mass concrete work
such as dams and where trapped heat would cause damage to the concrete
Sulphate resisting cement
White cement
Coloured cements
Masonry cement
4.Bricks
Types of bricks
a) Common bricks: these are general purpose bricks used where appearance is
not a factor. They are porous and cheap.
b) Face bricks: these are used on exposed surfaces where appearance is a
factor
c) Engineering bricks: these are bricks used as decorative bricks. They are very
hard and smooth in texture with a high load bearing capacity. Engineering
bricks are used for constructing bridges, durable and moisture resistant
structures.
d) Fire bricks: these are refractory to heat. They increase temperature resistance
and are used in fire places.
e) Insulation bricks: they have heat insulating ability. They are used in industrial
furnaces
f) Cement blocks: these are made of cement and sand. They double measure
brick walls internally and externally. They cover work faster as they are light
and of bigger size compared to ordinary bricks. They have poor heat transfer
and are used in cavity walls.
5.Wood
-this is a cheaper and readily available material used in farm constructions.
Wood is versatile. It can be easily cut to size.
It has limited strength under load.
It is light and therefore is used to support roofing material
- However, wood is prone to termite attack and therefore requires treatment
6.Metal
-it is used as a reinforcement material in concretes and in framework
construction.
-metal sheets are used as roofing material
Metal has high tensile strength; thus it can withstand heavy loads and
shearing forces
Metal is resistant to fire and termite attack but susceptible to rusting. It
therefore needs galvanising, painting or coating.
It is durable. It lasts longer.
Metal is relatively expensive.
7.Grass
- grass is used for roofing as thatch and can also be used as fencing material.
Grass is relatively cheap and locally available in most areas
It is susceptible to fire and termite attack
Road gradient
-road gradient should not exceed 1 in 20 for loaded vehicles especially during wet
weather as theis becomes a hazard.
-in the eastern highlands areas such as Nyanga, Honde Valley, Chimanimani and
other places roads can be as steep as 1:12 and cannot be used in wet weather.
Features for farm road drainage
1.Side drains
-farm roads should have side drains that collect water from the road crest. The side
drains should have mitre drains at one metre vertical interval
-the drains should be dish shaped or wide at the bottom to minimise erosupion. The
drains can also be grassed to reduce erosion and maintenance costs.
(leave 8 lines for diagram)
-where the road is not on the crest, there might be need to move or divert water from
the upper to lower side of the road. This is achieved by using culverts and inverts,
with inverts being the cheaper option.
2.Culverts
-culverts are built structures with buried concrete pipes that divert water across the
road from an upper slope to the lower side of the slope.
(leave 8 lines for diagram)
3.Inverts
-inverts are shallow depressions made of cement and concrete flat slabs built on
road surface to allow water to flow across the road without damaging the road
through erosion.
(leave 8 lines for diagram)
4.Bolsters
-gently sloping banks of gravel built across the road can also be used to divert water
from one side of the road to the other. Bolsters can be part of contour ridges in
arable land.
(leave 8 lines for diagram)
Opportunity cost
-farmers are faced with the problem of choosing between the many different
opportunities they have. For example, in crop production, one may have to choose
between maize, sorghum and field bean production. When they choose to grow
maize instead of the other crops, the opportunity cost is the money that they would
lose from not growing the next best crop among the list
*opportunity cost is therefore the next best alternative foregone when a choice has to
be made*
-another example is when a farmer has resources to produce poultry. The farmer
then chooses to produce broilers instead of layers. The opportunity cost is the
revenue that the farmer is going to lose out by not producing layer birds
-the problem of opportunity cost is one that all farmers face every time they make a
decision to produce. One cannot carry out all the enterprises considering that
resources are limited so farmers need to make wise decisions wherever necessary
Principle of demand
-demand is the quantity of a commodity that customers are willing and able to buy at
a particular price and time. Demand is mainly influenced by the price of the
commodity giving rise to the “Law of demand”
Law of demand
-law of demand states that “the higher the price of a commodity, the lower the
quantity demanded and vice versa”
-customers will buy less of a particular commodity when the price of that commodity
rises and they buy more when the price goes down
-commodity price and the quantity demanded are usually inversely related. An
illustration of the law of demand is shown in the demand schedule for tomatoes
given below:
Demand schedule for tomatoes
Price of tomatoes ($/kg) Quantity of tomatoes demanded in kg
0.5 25
1.0 20
1.5 15
2.0 10
2.5 5
-from the above schedule, it can be noted that as the price of tomatoes rises from
$0.50/kg to $2.50/kg, the quantity of tomatoes demanded decrease from 25kg until it
reaches 5kg at $2.50/kg.
-the deamd schedule above can be presented in the form of a graph to give the
demand curve below
( leave space for graph )
Factors influencing demand
-in addition to the price, demand of a commodity is also influenced by:
1.Income of consumers
2.Price of substitutes
3.Season
4.Customers’ religion
5.Quality of the commodity
6.Taste and preferences
Principle of supply
-supply is the quantity of a commodity that producers are willing and able to offer for
sale at a particular price and time.
Law of supply
-law of supply states that the higher the price of a commodity on the market the more
the quantity of that commodity the producers are willing to sell
-from the supply schedule below, it can be noted that as the price of tomatoes on the
market increases so is the quantity producers are willing to offer for sale
Supply schedule for tomatoes
Price of tomatoes ($/kg) Quantity of tomatoes supplied in kg
0.5 5
1.0 10
1.5 15
2.0 20
2.5 25
-using the supply schedule of tomatoes shown above, a supply curve can be drawn
as shown below
(leave space for graph)
-the supply curve goes upwards from left to right. This shows that there is a positive
correlation between price and supply of a commodity. The higher the price of a
commodity, the greater the supply.
Other factors affecting supply
1.Price of other goods
2.Production costs
3.Weather conditions
4.Technology
5.Pests and diseases