Surveying And Planning Of Farmstead II SS2 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF FARMING PLANNING

Farm planning is a drawing or outline of a farmstead to put the land into use for which is best suited.

IMPORTANCE OF FARM PLANNING 

1. It enables farmers to make proper use of land.
2. It ensures proper siting of certain buildings or structures in certain locations within farmsteads.
3. It ensures the location of livestock buildings about other farm buildings.
4. It promotes neatness and prevents pollution within farmsteads.

FARMSTEAD

A farmstead can be defined as a farmhouse and all its production and processing structures.

Farmstead is both a home and a production centre.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SITING OF FARMS OR FARMSTEAD

These factors include:

1. Topography
2. Soil type
3. Accessibility
4. Water supply
5. Health /Hygiene
6. Nearest to market
7. Drainage

REASONS FOR PLANNING FARMSTEAD

1. It allows for proper utilization of resources without wastage.
2. It makes farmers more responsive to market demand.
3. It encourages the efficiency of farm activities. 
4. It makes coordination and control of farm operations easier.

PRINCIPLE OF FARMSTEAD LAYOUT

1. Plant crops on the best soil within the farm.
2. Livestock building should be located in the poorest soil within the farm.
3. Buildings should be located in easily accessible areas.
4. Farm buildings should not be located on slopes to avoid erosion. 
5. Residential and office buildings should be located far away from livestock buildings to avoid noise and unpleasant smells.

CALCULATIONS OF THE AREA OF FARMLAND AND PLANT POPULATION

1. Area Of Farmland: This is the area of shape of the farm e.g.  LXB for rectangular, ½ bh for triangle.
2. Number Of Plant Stand /Plant Population: This is the number of plants in an area of farmland.

Mathematically:

Plant population  =    area of farmland(m²) ÷ spacing (m²)

3. Spacing: This is the distance between one crop plant and the next plant e.g. 60cm by 30cm.

Note: that one hectare = 100,000m2 

Example:

If the length and width of a farmland are 60m x 30m. 

Calculate

1. the area of the farmland
2. the plant population (tomatoes) in the given area
3. the total population if there are two plants per stand

Solution

1. Area of the farmland 

= Length x Width 

= 60m x 30m

  = 1800m2    

ii. Spacing of crop = 30cm x 30cm

Or 0.3m x 0.3m

Area of 1 stand of crop = 0.3m x 0.3m           = 0.09m2  

No of stand/crop =  

                           =   

     = 20,000crops stands

The plant population of tomatoes is 20,000 stands

iii. Since there are two plant populations 

= 20,000 x 2

= 40,000 tomatoes plants