Meaning And Importance Of Agricultural Ecology SS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

MEANING OF AGRICULTURAL ECOLOGY

Agricultural Ecology is defined as the study of crop plants and farm animals about their environment. Ecology is derived from the Greek word “Oikos” which means home or dwelling place. In order words, agricultural ecology can be defined as a field of study which deals with the relationship of living organisms with one another and with the environment in which they live.

Agricultural Ecology is divided into:

1. Autecology
2. Synecology.

Autecology: is concerned with the study of an individual organism, or a single species of organism and its environment. For example the study of a single cattle and its environment.

Synecology: is concerned with the study of the inter-relationship between groups of organisms or species of organisms living together in an area. For example the study of different fishes in a fish pond about their aquatic environment. 

ECOSYSTEM 

This refers to a community of crop plants and farm animals functioning together with their non-living environment. In other words, an ecosystem consists of living factors(plants and animals) interacting with the non-living factors in a farm environment.

COMPONENTS OF THE FARM ECOSYSTEM

The farm ecosystem is made up of two main components. These are: 

1. Biotic (living) components
2. Abiotic (non-living) components

BIOTIC COMPONENTS: The biotic components include the living things i.e. crop plants and farm animals. The biotic components can be grouped into two classes which are; Autotrophism and Heterotrophism.

(i) Autotrophism: This is a group of organisms which makes use of sunlight or chemicals to manufacture their food from inorganic substances during the process of photosynthesis. In other words, autotrophs are organisms mainly crop plants which are capable of synthesizing their food, hence they are called producers.

(ii) Heterotrophism: This is a group of organisms mainly farm animals which cannot manufacture their food but depend directly or indirectly on plants for their food, hence they are called consumers. Farm animals that feed directly on green plants (producers) are called herbivores or primary consumers e.g. cattle, sheep, goats and rabbit.

2. ABIOTIC COMPONENTS:The abiotic components of an ecosystem include the non-living things which are:

(I) Climatic factors like rainfall, temperature, wind, humidity and sunlight.

(ii) Inorganic materials and nutrients such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus.

(iii) Edaphic factors like soils, rocks, and topography.

(iv) Other factors like dust, storm, fire and water.

INTERACTION AMONG THE COMPONENTS OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEM IN SOME FARM SETTINGS

1. In Mono-cropping/Sole Cropping: Mono-cropping is a system of cropping where one type of crop is grown on a farmland at a particular time. For example oil palm farms, kola nut farms, maize farms, etc. The interaction between the biotic and abiotic factors in the environment includes:

i. Crop plants absorb nutrients from the soil to grow.

ii. Crop plants also absorb water to grow and produce fruits.

iii. Crop plants also take in carbon dioxide from the air to carry out photosynthesis.

2. In Mixed Cropping System:Mixed cropping is a system of cropping which involves the growing of two or more crops on the same piece of land at the same time. Crops like maize, cassava, cowpea etc can be cultivated at the same time on the same farmland. Their interactions include:

i. Crops like cowpea are capable of adding nutrients to the soil.

ii. Crops like cassava obtain nutrients from the soil to grow and produce fruits.

iii. The leaves of all crops which fall on the ground, decay and add nutrients to the soil through decomposition by soil microorganisms.

3. In Mixed Farming: Mixed farming involves the cultivation of crops and rearing of animals simultaneously on the same piece of farmland. The farm may be divided into two parts: one part for growing crops and the other for growing grasses and keeping livestock. Their interaction includes:

i. The grasses or the remains of crops serve as food for the animals.

ii. The animal dung and droppings are used as organic manure to improve the soil fertility for the crops.

iii. Some crops like cowpeas and crop residue may decay to release nutrients to the soil.

ASSIGNMENT 

1. What is Agricultural Ecology?
2. Write short notes on the two aspects of ecology.
3. Define ecosystem.
4. State five examples of climatic factors
5. Explain briefly the interaction among the components of the ecosystem in: 

• mixed farming  
• mixed cropping 
• fish pond.