MEANING OF FARM SURVEYING
Farm surveying is defined as the process of measuring and mapping out the position, topography, size and boundary of an area of farmland.
It can also be defined as the process by which the measurement of land is made on the farm.
IMPORTANCE OF FARM SURVEYING
- It helps to determine the farmland.
- It is useful for the preparation of feasibility studies.
- It ensures proper use of the farm land.
- It helps in the proper location of the farm building.
- Farm maps or soil maps are useful in planning the farmstead.
- The results of the farm survey are used for soil classification.
- It can be used to make a projection of future yield.
- It can be used as collateral for the loan.
- It can be useful for the acquisition of a C of O.
- It can be used to determine the gradient of the farmland.
EVALUATION
- What is farm surveying?
- List five important aspects of farm surveying.
SOME COMMON SURVEYING EQUIPMENT AND THEIR USES
- RANGING POLE
DESCRIPTION
- It is made up of wood or metal.
- It is of varying length, e.g 1.8, 2.4, 3m.
- It is usually painted black, bright red and white to enable it to be seen from a distance.
- It has a pointed end.
FUNCTIONS
- It is useful for making stations.
- It is also used for making a straight line.
- GUNTER’S CHAIN
DESCRIPTION
- It consists of a series of dumb bell shaped links of steel wire joined together by three small rings.
- The length is normally 20.13m (66ft).
- The chain is entirely metallic.
FUNCTION
It is used to take short, detailed measurements of length and breadth.
PRECAUTIONS WHEN CHAINING THE FARM LAND
- Pull the chains, tapes or ropes.
- Avoid errors of transporting figures on paper.
- All chains, tapes, ropes, etc., must be properly aligned before taking measurements.
- Avoid errors of parallax when reading measurements.
- Make sure the chain is not faulty before use.
- MEASURING TAPE
DESCRIPTION
It is usually made of line or fine steel sheet. It is marked on one side with metric units and the other side with imperial units. The tape is normally wound in a small ease from where it is unwound for use.
FUNCTION
It is used for taking measurements of length, height and breadth.
- PRISMATIC COMPASS
DESCRIPTION
It is normally placed on a stand. It has a prism. It has a compass card marked in degrees, half degrees, minutes and seconds, in a clockwise direction. It has a straight slot.
FUNCTION
It is used in taking bearings. It is also used in the measurement of angular distances.
- THEODOLITE
DESCRIPTION
It consists of a tripod stand, made of wood or lightweight metal in solid or telescoping legs. The tripod stand forms the base of the instruments.
It has a lower plate which contains the graduated horizontal circle made of glass or brass. It has a spirit level, which is used to define the horizontal plane against which angles of elevation or depression are measured.
FUNCTION
1. It is used to measure horizontal or vertical angles or planes.
- ARROW OR PIN
DESCRIPTION
This is a thin, pointed steel wire of about 30cm long with one end curved into a ring. A red cloth is normally attached to the ring so that it can be seen from afar.
FUNTION
- It is used during chaining for marking off the chain length as measured. It can also be used for making stations.
- OFFSET STAFF
DESCRIPTION
This is a graduated rod 3m long. A hook may be fitted at the top for the purpose of pulling a chain through a hedge. Each telescopic link is 0.3m (30cm) in length.
FUNCTION
- It is used for taking short offset measurements.
- BEACON OR PILLAR
DESCRIPTION
It is made of a rectangular block, usually in concrete form. Marks are usually inscribed on top of the block. The beacons are always buried in the ground with the marked head raised a little above ground.
FUNCTION
- It is used for marking points off a measurement.
- It is also used for the recognition of the measured or surveyed area.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF SURVEYING
- All instruments must be cleaned after use.
- Keep instruments in a dry and cool place.
- Metal parts should be oiled, greased or painted before storage.
- Keep them away from rain and heat to prevent rusting.
- Replace worn-out parts.
- Use the instruments only for the intended functions.
- Let a competent surveyor handle and use the instruments only.
EVALUATION
- List seven surveying instruments and state their uses.
- List five general maintenance of surveying instruments.
MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF FARMING PLANNING
Farm planning is a drawing or outline of a farmstead in order to put the land into use for which is best suited.
IMPORTANCE OF FARM PLANNING
- It enables farmers to make proper use of the land.
- It ensures the proper siting of certain buildings or structures in certain locations within farm farmstead.
- It ensures the location of the livestock building about other farm buildings.
- It promotes neatness and prevents pollution within farm farmstead.
FARM STEAD
Farm farmstead can be defined as a farm house and all its production and processing structures. Farm farmstead is both a home and a production centre.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SITING OF FARMS OR FARM STEADS
These factors include:
- Topography
- Soil type
- Accessibility
- Water supply
- Health /Hygiene
- Nearest to the market
- Drainage
REASONS FOR PLANNING A FARMSTEAD
- It allows for proper utilisation of resources without wastage.
- It makes farmers more responsive to market demand.
- It encourages the efficiency of farm activities.
- It makes the coordination and control of farm operations easier.
PRINCIPLE OF FARMSTEAD LAYOUT
- Plant crops on the best soil within the farm.
- Livestock buildings should be located in the poorest soil within the farm.
- Buildings should be located in easily accessible areas.
- Farm buildings should not be located on the slope to avoid erosion.
- Residential and office buildings should be located far away from livestock buildings to avoid noise and unpleasant smells.
EVALUATION
- What is farm planning?
- List five factors influencing the siting of a farmstead or a farm.
CALCULATIONS OF AREA OF FARMLAND AND PLANT POPULATION
Area of farmland: This is the area of the shape of the farm, e.g. LXB for rectangular, ½ bh for triangle. Number of plant stands/plant population: This is the number of plants in an area of farmland.
Mathematically:
Plant population =
- Spacing: This is the distance between one crop plant and the next plant, e.g. 60cm by 30cm.
Note that one hectare = 100,000 m2
Example:
If the length and width of a farmland are 60m x 30m.
Calculate
(a) The area of the farmland
(b) The plant population (tomatoes) in the given area
(c) The total population if there are two plants per stand
Solution
Area of the farmland
= Length x Width
= 60m x 30m
= 1800m2
- 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 stands/crops =
= 20,000crops stands
The plant population of tomatoes is 20,000 stands
- Since there are two plant populations
= 20,000 x 2
= 40,000 tomato plants
GENERAL EVALUATION
- What farm survey?
- List five surveying equipment and state their uses.
- What is a farmstead?
- List five factors influencing the siting of the farmstead.
- List five factors coupled with implements.
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
- The surveying equipment used for taking bearings and angular distances is _____
(a) tape (b), ranging pole (c,) offset staff (d,) prismatic compass
- The instrument used for measuring horizontal and vertical angles for planes is _____ (a) theodolite, (b) pin,s (c) beacon, (d) tape
- Which of these is not a factor influencing the siting of a farmstead (a) topography
(b) soil type (c) accessibility (d) weather
- One hectare is ____ square meters (a) 1000 (b) 10,000 (c) 100,000 (d) 1 million
- ½ (A+B)H is the area of ____ (a) triangle (b) square (c) trapezium (d) rhombus
SECTION B
- (a) What is farm surveying?
(b) List four surveying equipment and state their uses.
- (a) Define a farmstead.
(b) Enumerate the importance of farm surveying and planning in agriculture.
See also