Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 1

TERM – 3^RD TERM

WEEK ONE

Class: Senior Secondary School 1

Age: 15 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 5 periods each

Date:

Subject: Biology

Topic: AGRICULTURE

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Define Agriculture
2. Describe how agriculture affects the ecological system
3. Identify the importance of pests and diseases of agriculture

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers,

demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating land, raising crops, and rearing animals for food, fiber, medicinal plants, and other products used to sustain and enhance human life. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including planting, harvesting, livestock breeding, and various farming techniques, with the aim of producing food and raw materials on a large scale. Agriculture plays a crucial role in providing sustenance, supporting economies, and influencing cultural practices worldwide.

Agriculture can be classified based on the life cycle of the crops cultivated. The two main categories are:

1. Annual Crops: These are crops that complete their life cycle within one growing season, typically a year. Examples include wheat, rice, and corn.
2. Perennial Crops: These crops have a longer life cycle, lasting for several years. They usually produce crops for multiple seasons. Examples include fruit trees (apple, orange) and perennial grasses.

Effects of Agriculture activities on Ecological system

Agricultural activities can have both positive and negative effects on the ecological system. Positive impacts include food production and economic benefits. However, negative effects like deforestation, habitat loss, pesticide use, and soil degradation can harm biodiversity, water quality, and overall ecosystem health. Sustainable farming practices aim to mitigate these impacts.

1. Habitat Modification and Loss: Agricultural expansion often leads to the clearing of natural habitats, causing loss of biodiversity and disrupting ecosystems.
2. Deforestation: To make space for crops or livestock, large areas of forests are cleared, impacting biodiversity, carbon storage, and contributing to climate change.
3. Soil Degradation: Intensive farming practices, such as monoculture and excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, can degrade soil quality, affecting its structure, fertility, and ability to support diverse plant and microbial life.
4. Water Pollution: Runoff from farms can carry pollutants like pesticides and fertilizers into water bodies, leading to water pollution. This harms aquatic ecosystems and can have cascading effects on organisms within them.
5. Loss of Biodiversity: Monoculture and the use of genetically uniform crops reduce overall biodiversity, making ecosystems more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and environmental changes.
6. Climate Change Contributions: Agricultural activities, especially livestock farming, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, impacting the global climate and causing changes in weather patterns.
7. Altered Nutrient Cycles: Excessive use of fertilizers can disrupt natural nutrient cycles, leading to nutrient imbalances in ecosystems and affecting both terrestrial and aquatic environments.
8. Loss of Pollinators: Pesticide use in agriculture can harm pollinators like bees and butterflies, affecting the pollination of plants and the reproduction of many species.
9. Erosion and Sedimentation: Poor land management practices can result in soil erosion, leading to sedimentation in water bodies. This can degrade water quality and harm aquatic habitats.

Importance of pests and diseases of Agriculture

Pests and diseases in agriculture play a crucial role in the ecosystem by influencing the balance of populations, promoting biodiversity, and contributing to the evolution of plants. While they can have detrimental effects on crops, their importance lies in several aspects:

1. Population Control: Natural predators, parasites, and diseases help regulate the population of pest species, preventing them from reaching levels that could devastate crops.
2. Biodiversity: Pest and disease interactions contribute to biodiversity by influencing the composition and abundance of species in agricultural ecosystems. This diversity is essential for ecosystem resilience and stability.
3. Evolutionary Pressure: Pests and diseases impose selective pressures on crops, leading to the evolution of resistance mechanisms. This natural selection process contributes to the development of more robust and resistant plant varieties over time.
4. Research and Innovation: The study of pests and diseases fosters scientific research, driving innovations in crop protection, pest management strategies, and the development of resistant crop varieties. This research contributes to sustainable agriculture practices.
5. Ecosystem Services: Some pests and diseases may have beneficial roles in ecosystems. For instance, certain insects serve as pollinators, and some diseases can break down organic matter, contributing to nutrient cycling.
6. Balancing Ecosystems: Pests and diseases can help maintain ecological balance by preventing the dominance of a single species. This balance is crucial for the overall health and functioning of ecosystems.

EVALUATION: 1. Define agriculture

2. Identify the two types of agriculture based on life cycle.
3. Mention five importance of pests and diseases of Agriculture.
4. Identify 4 effects of agricultural activities on ecological system

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively