Welcome to GattPrep!
Hello, future food security expert! 🌱
Have you ever wondered how the tomatoes, maize, or yams you eat are grown? Behind every crop you see in a market stall or on your plate lies a science of decision-making. This lesson will show you how farmers use scientific principles to grow crops efficiently, sustainably, and profitably.
Whether you’re planting vegetables in your backyard or managing a big farm, understanding the principles of crop production helps you make better choices—from seed to harvest. Let’s dig into the science behind it!
Crop production is the science and art of growing plants for human use. It involves selecting suitable crops, preparing land, planting, maintaining the crops, and harvesting them.
Crop production follows principles—basic rules that help farmers get high yields, reduce costs, and avoid damaging the environment.
| Principle | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Right crop selection | Choose crops suitable for the soil, climate, and season. | Growing millet in dry northern areas and cassava in wetter southern zones. |
| Site selection | Pick land with the right sunlight, water availability, and soil type. | Avoiding rocky or waterlogged fields. |
| Land preparation | Remove weeds, loosen soil, and add compost or manure. | Ploughing and harrowing before planting. |
| Propagation methods | Use seeds or vegetative parts (like cuttings or tubers) for planting. | Maize from seeds; cassava from stem cuttings. |
| Planting method and spacing | Plant at correct depth and distance for proper growth. | 75cm x 25cm spacing for maize to avoid overcrowding. |
| Cultural practices | Regular maintenance like weeding, watering, and pruning. | Mulching with dry grass to keep moisture. |
| Pest and disease control | Prevent or treat attacks to keep crops healthy. | Using neem extract to repel pests. |
| Harvesting | Gather crops at the right time and in the right way. | Harvesting yams when leaves start turning yellow. |
| Post-harvest handling | Store and transport crops to avoid spoilage. | Drying maize before storage to prevent mould. |
Crops can be grouped by their use or structure:
Cereals: maize, millet, rice 🌾
Legumes: cowpea, groundnut 🌰
Root crops: cassava, carrot, sweet potato
Tuber crops: yam, cocoyam
Vegetables: okro, lettuce, tomato 🥬
Fruits: mango, orange, pineapple 🍍
Remember: Each crop group may have different growth needs.
These are grouped into internal (genetic) and external (environmental):
A. Internal Factors (Plant-based):
Genetic makeup: Determines size, yield, disease resistance.
Age and health of seed or planting material.
B. External Factors (Environmental):
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| 🌞 Light | Affects photosynthesis. Too little light = weak growth. |
| 🌧️ Water | Needed for nutrient absorption. Overwatering can cause root rot. |
| 🌡️ Temperature | Affects enzyme activity. Some crops grow best in cooler regions (e.g., lettuce), others in heat (e.g., yam). |
| 🌬️ Air (CO₂) | Essential for photosynthesis. |
| 🌱 Soil | Should be fertile, well-drained, and rich in nutrients. |
| 🪱 Pests and diseases | Can damage crops if not managed. |
You are helping a school farm prepare for planting maize. What key principles should you apply from site selection to post-harvest handling?
Site selection: Choose a sunny, flat field with loamy soil.
Land preparation: Clear weeds, plough soil, and apply compost.
Seed selection: Use healthy, disease-resistant maize seeds.
Planting: Sow seeds 3 cm deep at 75 cm x 25 cm spacing.
Cultural practices: Weed regularly, apply water and fertilizer.
Pest control: Monitor for stem borers; use neem-based pesticide.
Harvesting: Pick when husks are dry and brown.
Post-harvest: Dry maize cobs and store in a cool, dry place.
✔️ Answer: Follow the full crop production process from selection to storage, applying the scientific principles at each stage.
(a) Land should be _______ before planting to remove weeds and improve soil texture.
(b) A _______ crop like maize grows best in open, sunny areas.
Answers:
(a) prepared
(b) cereal
| Activity | Principle |
|---|---|
| (i) Applying compost to the soil | A. Post-harvest handling |
| (ii) Choosing cassava for moist soil | B. Right crop selection |
| (iii) Drying yams before storage | C. Land preparation |
Answers:
(i) → C
(ii) → B
(iii) → A
Q: Why is proper spacing important when planting crops?
A: It prevents overcrowding, allows each plant to get enough sunlight, water, and nutrients, and reduces spread of diseases.
In this lesson, we’ve explored:
Crop production is a guided process using science.
Good decisions start with proper site and crop selection.
Environmental and genetic factors affect yield.
Each stage—planting, maintaining, and harvesting—is crucial.
Think of your favorite food crop—maybe maize, tomato, or cassava.
Which three principles would be most important to follow to get a good harvest of that crop?
Write down your answer in your science journal or discuss with a classmate!
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