CONTENT:
Definition Of Husbandry
Cultivation of Cereals
Cultivation of Legumes
The cultivation of Roots and Tubers
Husbandry
Animal husbandry is the special branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, eggs, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, cultivation, selective breeding, and the raising of crops and animals.
Cultivation of cereals
MAIZE (Zea mays)
Description
Maize, also called corn, is a member of the grass family (Gramineae). It
produces grains, used as food by human beings and livestock. The seed/fruit is
called a caryopsis.
Varieties/cultivar: Sweet maize, flint maize, dent maize, flour maize and popcorn,
Land preparation: Clearing the land and making ridges either manually or mechanically.
Climatic: Requirement Temperature – 260 °C-300 °C, Rainfall – 75cm-150cm per annum.
Soil requirement: Sandy-loamy soil of PH 6-7,
Method of propagation: By seeds
Planting Date: Early maize – March/April Late maize – July/August
Planting: It can be done manually using a cutlass or mechanically by a planter at 2-3 seeds per hole..
Seed rate: 20-30kg per hectare of land,
Spacing: 80cm between rows and 30cmwithin row
Cultural practices: Supplying, thinning, weeding, fertilizer application, control of pests and diseases.
The maturity period: 90-120 days after planting, depending on varieties.
Harvest: Harvesting can be done manually with a hand sickle or use of a hand sickle and mechanically using a combined harvester.
Processing: It is eaten either boiled, roasted, or processed into corn flour or corn flakes.
Uses: It is consumed by man and farm animals, and as a raw material in the brewery industry
Storage: Dried cobs are stored in cribs, rhombus, or a fireplace.
RICE (Oryza Sativa)
Description: Rice is a member of the grass family (Gramineae). The seed/ fruit is called a caryopsis
Varieties/cultivar: Swamp rice (Toma), and upland rice (Agbede).
Land preparation: Clearing the land and making ridges either manually or mechanically.
Climate: The temperature of 20°C, Rainfall of 75 cm to 120 cm for upland rice and over 250cm for swamp rice.
Soil requirement: Loamy-clayey soil.
Method of propagation: By seeds
Planting Date: South – April/May, North – August/ September.
Planting: Planting can be done by broadcasting, sowing, or drilling.
Seed Rate: 65kg per hectare at 2-3 seeds per hole.
Spacing: 25-30cm apart, depending on varieties.
Cultural Practices: Supplying, thinning, weeding, fertilizer application, control of pests and diseases.
Maturity Period: 4-7 months, depending on varieties.
Harvest: Redheads of rice are harvested with a knife, sickle, or a combined harvester.
Processing: Sun drying, threshing, winnowing, peeling, hulling, and polishing.
Uses: It is consumed by humans and farm animals.
Storage: Grains stored in a silo. Processed form in silos or jute bags.
Evaluation
1. Mention the nutritional value of the following class of crops A. cereals B. legumes, C. vegetables, D. spices E. beverage crops
2. Discuss the cultivation of a named cereal under the following subheadings A. soil and climatic requirement B. cultural practices C. planting Storage Dried cobs are stored in cribs, rhombus or a fireplace, grains stored in a silo. Processed form in silos or jute bags.
Evaluation
1. Mention the nutritional value of the following class of crops: A. cereals, B. legumes, C. vegetables, D. spices, E. beverage crops
2. Discuss the cultivation of a named cereal under the following subheadings: A. soil and climatic requirements, B. cultural practices, C. planting
date, materials, and planting D. maturity period E. harvesting
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