These factors are grouped into three,
- Climatic factor
- Biotic factor
- Edaphic factor
CLIMATIC FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Climate is the average weather condition of a place over a long period. The elements of climate are: rainfall, humidity, light, temperature, drought, wind, sunlight, humidity e.t.c.
RAINFALL
Rainfall is defined as the release of excess condensed water vapour into the atmosphere into the earth.
- It determines the distribution of crops and animals.
- It is necessary for seed germination.
- Excessive rainfall leads to leaching.
- It helps to dissolve nutrients, making it available for the plants.
- It determines the types of vegetation in an area.
- It determines seasons in Nigeria.
- Insufficient rainfall causes crop failure and poor yield.
DROUGHT
This is defined as a lack of or insufficient rainfall in the area.
EFFECTS
- It causes a delay in flowering and flower abortion.
- Poor crop establishment.
- It leads to a reduction in leaf area.
- It reduces the physiological process due to protoplasm dehydration.
- A decrease in the production of green matter.
- Reduction in photosynthesis.
- It causes wilting.
- It causes the death of plants and plant failure.
TEMPERATURE
This is the degree of hotness and coldness of a place.
- Temperature is necessary for the germination of seeds.
- It affects the distribution of crops and animals.
- Too hot or too cold temperatures do not favour plant and animal growth.
- Unfavourable temperature may result in dormancy.
- High temperature affects evapotranspiration and reduces the performance of livestock.
- It affects the wilting of field crops, the ripening and the maturity of crops.
- It affects microbial activities about mineralisation.
- High temperature leads to loss of soil minerals by volatilisation.
- High temperature causes abortion in farm animals.
- High temperatures will cause heat stress and egg drop in poultry.
WIND
Wind is defined as air in motion.
- High wind velocity may cause wind erosion.
- It aids seed and fruit dispersal.
- It can aid pollination and the spread of diseases.
- It helps in the distribution of rainfall and changes in seasons.
- High wind velocity causes damage to crops eg, Lodging.
- It affects evapotranspiration.
SUNLIGHT/SUNSHINE/ SOLAR RADIATION
Sunshine is the amount of heat and the period the sun’s rays are received at a place.
- Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis.
- It affects evapotranspiration.
- It affects the productivity of crops due to the length of lay, i.e photoperiodism.
- Light affects the rising and roosting of animals.
- It affects the rate of production in poultry.
- It determines the productivity of cultivated crops.
- Solar radiation is a source of farm power.
- It assists in the drying of crops.
- It assists in photosynthesis in crops.
- High intensity causes heat stress in animals.
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
Relative Humidity is defined as the amount of moisture in the atmosphere.
- It results in the formation of rain.
- It affects the performance of plants and animals.
- It causes mouldiness of feeds and litters.
- Low humidity causes aridity or dryness.
- It determines the type of crops grown in an area.
- Low humidity leads to heat stress in animals, e.g cattle, poultry, pigs.
- It determines the type of crops grown in an area.
- High humidity favours the growth of pathogens.
- It affects feed and water intake in animals.
EVALUATION
- List five climate factors affecting agricultural production.
- State two effects of rainfall.
BIOTIC FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
SOIL ORGANISMS
- These include bacteria, fungi, earthworms, rodents and termites.
- Bacteria and fungi can cause diseases.
- Some aid aeration of soil, percolation and fertility.
- Root nodules of bacteria can fix nutrients directly to plants and soil.
- Help in the decomposition of plant materials to form humus.
PESTS
- These include insects, rodents, birds and some mammals.
- They reduce the yield of crops and animals.
- They reduce the quality of crops and animals.
- Some are vectors or carriers of diseases.
- They reduce the income of farmers.
- They increase the cost of production.
PARASITES
- They include ticks, liver flukes, tapeworms, dodder, mistletoe and like.
- Some transit diseases.
- They reduce the quantity or yield of production.
- They reduce the quality of the yield.
- They cause the death of plants and animals.
- They reduce the production capacity of livestock or crops.
- The cost of control increases the cost of production.
- They reduce farmers’ income.
EVALUATION
- List four biotic factors affecting agricultural production.
- List two effects each of soil organism pests, parasites and diseases on agricultural production.
EDAPHIC FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
SOIL PH
- It affects the growth of plants.
- It also affects the availability of soil nutrients to plants.
- It affects the presence of soil microorganisms.
- It causes toxicity to plants and animals in the soil.
SOIL TEXTURE
- It determines the type of soil in an area.
- It determines the level of soil fertility.
- It determines the type of crop to be grown.
- It affects the level of leaching and erosion.
SOIL STRUCTURE
- It determines the fertility of the soil.
- It determines the water-holding capacity of the soil.
- It determines the level of soil organisms.
- It determines the level of soil aeration and percolation.
TOPOGRAPHY
This is the shape of the land under the underlying rocks of the Earth’s surface.
- A steep, gentle slope gives rise to soil erosion.
- Steep, gentle slopes may also aid the weathering of rocks.
- Even or flat slopes can lead to the accumulation of soil.
- Even and flat slopes can be better sites for the intensive farm.
SOIL FERTILITY
- Fertile soils aid the production of food and cash crops.
- A fertile soil produces better forage crops.
- It minimises the use of fertiliser.
- It leads to the multiplication of beneficial soil organisms.
- Fertile soil leads to a reduction in the cost of production.
SOIL TYPES
- The types include sandy, clay and loamy soil.
- Loamy soil is the best for agriculture.
- Sandy soil does not contain enough nutrients, hence it cannot support plant growth.
- Sandy soil encourages leaching.
- Clay soil prevents leaching but encourages waterlogging.
GENERAL EVALUATION
- List five edaphic factors affecting agricultural production.
- List five biotic factors affecting agricultural production.
- List three effects of solar radiation on agricultural production.
- State five problems associated with irrigation.
- State five effects of temperature on agricultural production.
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
- The following are climate factors except (a) soil types, (b) humidity, (c) temperature (d) light
- Which of the following is not an edaphic factor:r (a) soil PH, (b) soil fertility, (c) soil water, (d) topography
- The following are types of erosion except ____ (a) splash, (b) rill, (c) sheet, (d) mulch
- The washing away of soil nutrients down beyond the reach of the root is ___ (a) erosion, (b) leaching, (c) mulching, (d) staking
- High humidity is responsible for ____ (a) dryness, (b) water logging, (c) rainfall,l (d) erosion
SECTION B
- Discuss four biotic factors affecting agricultural production
- State two effects of each of soil PH, soil texture and rainfall on Agricultural production
See also