MODULE 1

COURSE DESCRIPTION : Introduction to Agriculture

COURSE CODE : CC1-IA
TIME : 8:00AM to 9:00AM
DAY : Monday
NUMBER OF UNITS : 1 (one)
INSTRUCTOR : JERIC D. BORJA

Lesson 1;

➢ Define Agriculture
➢ Branches of Agriculture
➢ Classification of crops

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

➢ To create awareness about food grains

➢ Learners will be able to know the importance of agriculture
➢ To identify the classification of agricultural crops

LEARNING MATERIALS

➢ Cellular phone
➢ Laptop
➢ Modules
➢ Youtube videos

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

➢ Students will be able to understand the importance of agriculture.

➢ Students will be able to learn the branches of Agriculture
 INTRODUCTION

The term agriculture and farming are sometimes interchangeably used. Such usage may
be accurate, but agriculture embraces more than farming. Agriculture is broadly defined as a
science and arts of a systematic production of useful plants and animals for man’s use through
human management. Farming can be defined in the same way but agriculture goes further, for it
applies basic scientific knowledge for better production and covers the processing and
marketing of farm products as well.

As a science, agriculture includes the following sub-areas;

Agronomy-The study of the culture of the field crops and the management of the soil which
support them.
Animal Husbandry- The study of the breeding and management of the animals.
Agricultural Economics- the study of the business aspects of agricultural production, such as
farms management, financing marketing, etc.
Farm Engineering-the study of the applications of engineering techniques to agricultural
production.

BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE
➢ Agronomy
➢ Horticulture
➢ Agricultural engineering
➢ Agricultural economics
➢ Animal Science

Agronomy- from the coined term “Agro” means land and “nomy” as means management.
Horticulture- From the word “Horti” means garden and “Cultura” means cultivation.
Agricultural Engineering – Involves knowledge of farm machines or equipment and their
proper use and improvement.
Agricultural Economics - Deals with the business end of farming.
Animal Science – is basically the breeding and caring of animal for specific purposes, such as
for their meat, milk and fur.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE

Source of food – Agriculture is the cornerstone of human survival; farmers use skills and
knowledge of natural resources to grow food and support their livelihood

Significance in the International trade – International trade is exchange of goods and

services between countries/imports and exports agricultural trades helps to answer possible
food production shortage due to climatic or other reasons.
Source of Raw Materials - in order to produce food, farmers need certain resources
such as seed, fertilizers, pesticides, Packaging materials and many others. Precisely
because of that, transport is an essential aspect of crop production that enables delivery
of agricultural resources farmer.

Foreign Exchange Resources - The nation's export trade depends largely on

agricultural sector. For example, agricultural commodities such as jute, tobacco, spices,
oilseeds, raw cotton, tea as well as coffee accounts for approximately 18% of the entire
value of exports of a country. This demonstrates that agriculture products also continue
to be important source of earning a country foreign exchange.

Great Employment Opportunities - Construction of irrigation schemes, drainage

system as well as other such as activities in the agricultural sector is important as it
provides larger employment opportunities to the labor force that reduce the high rate of
unemployment in developing countries cause by the fast-growing population.

Economic Development - Since Agriculture employs many people it contributes to

economic development. As a result, the national income level as well as people's
standard of living is improved. The fast rate of development in agriculture sector offers
progressive outlook as well as increased motivation for development. Hence it aids to
create good atmosphere for overall economic development of a country. Therefore,
economic development relies on the agricultural growth rate.

Source of Savings - Development in Agriculture may also increase savings. The rich
farmers we see today started savings particularly after green revolution. This surplus
quantity may be invested further in the agriculture sector to develop sector this surplus
amount can be invested in agriculture sector for further development of the sector.
Saving potentials are large in agriculture sector which can be properly tapped for the
development of the country.

Food Security - As stable agricultural sector ensures a nation food security. The main
requirement of any country is food security. Food security prevents malnourishment that
has traditionally been believed to be one of the major problems faced by the developing
countries. Most countries rely on agricultural products as well as associated industries
for their main source of
Income

FIELD CROP PRODUCTION

Application of principles of physical, biological and social science in growing domesticated
plants to meet a diversity of human need in a profitable manner. It is a challenge to increase
yield as population increases. It must be sustainable. (to use current resources in a way to safe
guard future use of these resources.)

Why we study field crop production

• To increase production
• To bring more area under cultivation
• Dependence of agriculture

REASON FOR LOW PRODUCTIVITY OR FACTORS AFFECTING CROP PRODUCTIVITY

1. Climate – is the general weather conditions prevailing in an area over a long period.
2. Soil- it is the upper layer of earth in which plants grows.
3. Socio economic
CLIMATE
Some crops can be grown in one climate while other can be grown in other climates. Some
factors of climate can be manipulated e.g., irrigation makes desert bloom while some climatic
component cannot be manipulated.
Major component of climate
1. temperature
Most crop need optimum temperature.
2. water
Hydrophytes e.g., need a lot of water for optimum growth
Mesophytes some crops need moderate quantities of water
Xerophytes get low quantities of water e.g. grain sorghum.

General Classification of crops

According to the growth habit
HERBS – succulent plants with self-supporting stems with soft stems
VINES - Succulent or woody plants without self-supporting stems
SHRUBS- may have several main branches with no trunk and rarely grows higher than 5
meters
TREES - with single central stem to which branches are attached, usually taller than shrubs.

PLANTS CAN BE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO LIFE CYCLE:

ANNUALS- Complete their life cycle in one year or less. (e.g., Squash)
BIENIALS- Plants ordinarily requires 2 growing seasons with a dormant period between growth
stages to complete their life cycle. (e.g., Carrot, Cabbage, celery)
PERENIALS- Plants that do not die after flowering but live from year to year. (E.g., Asparagus)

MODE OF REPRODUCTION:
a. Sexual - plants that develop after undergoing processes of fertilization in the flower to
produce a viable embryo in the seed.
b. Asexual- plants that produce any vegetative means the union of gametes.

SPECIAL TYPES
a. Parasitic- Parasitic sucking roots
b. Epiphytes – grow upon other plants but not parasitic
c. Saprophytes- grow in places rich in decaying organic substances.

The broader classification of the agricultural crops on the basis of their economical use is
describe on the following;

• Cereal Crops- grown for their grains (E.g., Rice, Wheat, corn, sorghum)
• Legumes- for pods and seed (eg. Cowpea, mungbean, sitao and peanut)
• Root Crops – for enlarged roots/tuberous roots (cassava, ube, arrow fruit)
• Fibre crops - grown for their fibres used in textile, cordage, twine sacks, bags etc. (e.g.,
Cotton, Jute, mesta, abaca etc)
• Oilseed crops - grown for their oil content (eg. Soybean, rapeseed, mustards,
groundnut, sunflower, sesame, coconut etc.
• Sugar Crops- grown for their sugar content (e.g., Sugar cane, sugar beet etc.)
• Fodder Crops- Beverage crops or commercial crops use for brewing non-alcoholic
drinks (e.g. coffee, cacao, tea etc.)
• Spices, condiments essence crops- use to provide special flavour, scent and color to
food perfumes soaps and body dressing. (e.g., Black pepper, vanilla, citronella, ilang
ilang annatto, coriander, chili and mint.
 • Latex and resins – used for extracting sap from the trunk/stem (e.g., rubber, chico, pili
rimas, papaya)
• Medicinal and poison crops – plants with lucrative, laxative and pesticidal properties.
(eg. Lagundi, sambong tobacco.)
• Vegetables – usually eaten with staple crops, further classified according to similarities
in the method of culture

ROOT –radish and carrot

LEAFY- spinach, lettuce
STEM-celery asparagus
FLOWER-squash, katuray
FRUIT- okra tomato, eggplant
TUBER-Potato
BULM-onion

FRUITS - Edible botanical fruits usually use for dessert which may be eaten raw, cooked or in
process form Ex. Pineapple, cashew, mango.

ORNAMENTALS – Plants cultivated mainly for their aesthetic value, further classified according
to their special uses CUTFLOWERING- Gown for its flowers
Ex Roses, orchids
CUT FOLIAGE- foliage provides background in floral arrangement
Ex Ferns, fortune plant, palmera

FLOWERING POT PLANTS- Plants grown in container for their flower usually used for this
display
Ex Poinsettia
LANDSCAPE PLANT – for landscaping purposes
Ex blue palm white grass
FOLIAGE PLANT- for attractive foliage maybe grown indoor or outdoor for decoration
Ex Begonia, philodendron
TURF used in lawns or greens
Ex Bermuda grass, carabao grass, blue grass

C. SPECIAL GROUPS

1. MANURE-A crop that is plowed under while still green and growing to improve the soil
Ex Sesbania

2. Cover Crop- any crop grown to provide soil cover. Prevent soil erosion by wind, or water,
improved soil and control weeds
Ex Centrosema

3. Companion crops – crop sown with another crop and harvested separately. The
combination benefits either or both of the crops.
Ex. Ipil-ipil planted with black pepper

4. Trap Crop- a crop which is planted to protect the main crop from pest by attracting the pest
of the crop itself and later destroying it.
Ex. Main plant is rice and potato planted to crop some rat
5. Catch Crop – a short season crop grown immediately after the failure of the main crop to
utilize residual resources.
Ex. Rice is the main crop but may have been destroyed by typhoon therefore pechay and
mustard planted immediately.

6. Soilage- grasses that are grown cut and directly fed to animal.

7. Silage – grasses grown, cut, fermented and preserved before being fed to animal.

REFERENCES:

Chadha, K.L. (1993). Handbook of Horticulture, ICAR, New Delhib.

Dey, V.K. (1997). Hand Book on Aquafarming: Ornamental fished. Manual. MPEDE, Cochich
Evaluation
Name: ______________________________________________________
Course: _____________________________________________________

ESSAY 10 POINTS EACH

WHAT IS AGRICULTURE IN YOUR OWN IDEA?

HOW AGRICULTURE HELPS YOU?

WHAT IS THE MPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN YOUR OWN?