MEANING AND ELEMENTS/ FACTORS OF CLIMATE

Definition: Climate is defined as the average weather condition of a place, measured over a long period of time (over 35 years).

Factors of climate: Factors or elements of climate include (i) Rainfall (ii) Temperature (iii) wind (iv) Relative Humidity (v) Pressure (vi) Light (vii) Radiant energy.

Importance of climate in agriculture

• Climate affects the duration of a cropping season
• It determines the yield of crops and animals
• Climate limits the types of crop or livestock to be grow or reared in an area
• It also affects vegetation distribution and soil formation
• It affects the incidence of pests
• It affects the incidence of diseases

How does climate determine the type of crops and animals found in Nigeria

Essential factors of climate that determine the types of crops and animals found in Nigeria are rainfall and temperature.

Rainfall

• Rainfall is defined as the amount and distribution of water precipitated within a given time, in a given area
• It is brought about by the South-West Trade winds, which blow from the Atlantic Ocean
• As the wind blow from the ocean inland, it drop the water it is carrying
• As a result of this, the coastal areas receive more rainfall per annum than rest of the region
• As the moisture-laden wind moves further inland, the amount of rain decreases
• By the time this wind gets to the northern part of the country, there is little or no moisture left in it
• In the northern areas, less rainfall is experienced per year
• In the coastal areas, rainy season ranges from eight months to all-the-year-round while in the north, rainy season lasts for only three to four months
• This moisture regime affects crops and livestock distribution
• In the coastal areas, which are the more humid southern part, crops which adapt to heavy rainfall are predominant, e.g. rice, maize, fruit, cocoa, forest trees, yam, banana etc.
• Much animal rearing does not take place in heavy rainfall area because of high humidity and tse-tse fly Infestation
• Consequently, only animals such as dwarf sheep, goat, poultry, muturu and N’dama cattle resistant to try panosomasis can be reared
• In the northern parts, with little rainfall, crops which are drought resistant, like guinea corn, millet, cowpea, groundnut, cotton, beniseed etc. are grow
• These crops normally complete their life cycles within three to four months of rainfall. This area is the animal-rearing zone because of few or no tse-tse fy
• Animals like donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, horses, etc. are reare here successfully because sufficient grassland for grazing them

Temperature

• Temperature is defined as a measure of the heat energy which a body contains or the degree of hotness and coldness of a place at a point in time
• There is a variance of temperature from the coastal areas to the extreme north
• During the dry season, the temperature is extremely high in the north but not as high in the coastal areas
• Though many farming activities do not take place in the dry season, the crops found in the north are high, temperature loving plants, like tobacco
• The average minimum temperature varies from 22C in the coastal areas e.g. calabar, during the coldest month of the year to about 13C in the northern areas e.g. Nguru, during the coldest harmattan season
• Owing to this cold, wheat can be successfully grown in the north under irrigation, while it cannot be grown in the coastal areas
• Animals found in the northern area are also well-adapted to withstand the severe heat of the sun.

Climate factors affecting Agricultural production

• Rainfall

Definition: Rainfall is defined as the release of excess condensed water vapor in the atmosphere into the earth.

• It determines the distribution of crops and animals
• It is necessary for seed germination
• Excessive rainfall leads to the leaching of nutrients and causes soil erosion
• It helps to dissolve nutrients in the soil, thereby making the nutrients available to crops
• It determines the type of vegetation of an area
• It determines the seasons in Nigeria i.e., rainy and dry seasons
• It determines the vegetation types in Nigeria – Savanna in the north and forest in the south
• The season also determines when crops will be planted
• The seasons also determine the type of crops to be grown
• Vegetation types in turn determines the types of livestock that can be raised in the different ecological zones
• Insufficient rainfall causes crop failure and poor yield.

Ways in which high rainfall affects Agricultural production

• High rainfall prolongs the cropping season
• It increases the problem of plant diseases
• It determines the type of crop to be grown
• It increases the incidence of erosion or flooding
• It encourages thick forestation thus increasing the incidence of pest e.g. tse-tse flies infestation.
• It encourages the growth of disease-causing organisms (pathogens)
• It increases the leaching of plant nutrients or soil acidity
• It causes waterlogging in clay soil
• It determines the type of crops or livestock grown or reared i.e. distribution of crops and animals
• It encourages faster or rapid growth of weeds

• Temperature

Definition: Temperature is defined as the degree of hotness or coldness of a place.

• Temperature is necessary for the germination of seeds
• It also affects the distribution of crops and animals
• Too hot or too cold temperature does not favour plants and animals growth
• Unfavorable temperature may result in seed dormancy
• High temperature affects evapotranspiration, and reduces the performance of livestock
• It affects the wilting of field crops, ripening and maturity of crops
• Temperature affects microbial activities about the mineralization of organic matter
• High temperature leads to loss of soil nutrients through volatilization
• High temperature may be harmful by causing premature dropping of fruits and sudden death of livestock e.g. heat0stress in poultry
• High temperature reduces the performance of livestock.

Wind

Definition: Wind is defined as air in motion.

• High wind velocity may cause wind erosion
• It aids seed and fruit dispersal
• It can aid pollination and the spread of diseases
• It helps in the distribution of rainfall and changes in seasons e.g. rainy and dry season
• High wind velocity causes damage to crops e.g. lodging
• It determines seasons in Nigeria. For example, South West wind brings rain while North East trade wind brings harmattan or dry season
• Wind affects evapotranspiration
• Wind can cause serious damage to crops inform of lodging e.g. wind storm.

• Sunlight / Sunshine

Definition: Sunshine is the amount of heat and the period the sun’s rays are received at a place.

• Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis
• It affects evapotranspiration
• It affects the productivity of crops due to length of day i.e. Photoperiodism. In other words, light divides plants into three photoperiods:
• Long day plants: These plants require longer day light of between 13-15 hours of sunshine e.g. millet, sorghum (guinea corn)
• Short day plants: These plants require shorter day light period of between 8-10 hours of sunlight e.g. cocoa, kola, oil palm etc.
• Day-neutral plants: These place require equal period of day and night, that is about 12hours of sunshine and 12hours of darkness e.g. tomato
• Light affects the rising and roosting of animals
• It affects the rate of production in poultry
• It determines the productivity of cultivated crops.

• Relative Humidity

Definition: Relative humidity is defined as the amount of moisture in the atmosphere.

• It results in the formation of rain
• It affects the performance of crops and animals
• High humidity in poultry houses causes mouldiness of feed and litters
• Low humidity causes aridity or dryness
• It determines the type of crops growing in an area
• Low humidity leads to heat-stress in animals e.g. cattle, poultry, oig
• It determines the type of crops grown in an area e.g. wheat in the north during harmattan
• It affects the growth rate of crops. For instance, cocoa will not grow well under low relative humidity
• High relative humidity affects food intake and productivity of farm animals
• Relative humidity determines the type of pests prevalent in an area
• Relative humidity determines the type of Pests prevalent humidity favours the growth of disease pathogens.

• Solar Radiation

Definition: Solar radiation is the amount of heat or sun rays radiated to the atmosphere

• High intensity of radiation causes heat-stress in animals, and this reduces their growth, production, and reproduction
• It increases the cost of production because shade has to be provided to protect animals and some crops from the direct rays of the sun
• Solar radiation assists photosynthesis in crops
• Solar radiation assists in drying crops
• Solar radiation is a source of farm power

Biotic factors affecting agricultural production

Soil Organisms

• These include bacteria, fungi, earthworm, rodent, termite etc
• Some, like bacteria and fungi, can cause diseases
• Some aid aeration of soil, percolation, and fertility
• Some, like the root nodule bacteria, can fix nutrients directly to plants and soil
• Some open up wounds on plants or animals for other pathogens to enter
• Some reduce the quality and quantity of crops e.g. potato, yam etc.
• Some help in the decomposition of plant materials to form humus.

Pests

• These include insects, rodents, birds, and some mammals
• They reduce the yield of crops and animals
• They also reduce the quality of crops and animals
• Some are vectors or carriers of diseases
• They reduce the income of the farmers
• The cost of their control increases the cost of production

Parasites

• They include ticks, liver flukes, tapeworms dodder, mistletoe, lice etc.
• Some transmit diseases
• They reduce the quantity or yield of produce
• They also reduce the quality of produce
• They may cause the death of plants and animals
• The reduction of the production capacity of livestock or crops
• Cost of control increases the cost of production.
• They may be external or internal (i.e, ecto or endoparasites)

Diseases

• They may be diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, e.t.c
• They cause a reduction in the yield of crops and animals
• They can cause the loss or death of plants and animals
• The cost of control increases the cost of production
• They cause reduction in farmer’s income

Weeds

They compete with crops for space, water, nutrients and sunlight.

• Some weeds can harbor diseases and pests
• They reduce the yield of crops
• Weed control, increases the cost of production
• Weeds cause poor growth of crops

Predators

These are birds, rodents, praying mantis etc. Some are beneficial in Agricultural production Some are used to control some harmful pests of crops and animals. Some feed on farm animals, for example, hawks feed on chicks.

Human activities

Human activities include the influence of man on the production of plants and animals. His activities may improve the fertility of the soil if he uses fertilizers and manure. There could be increase in yield if he practises crop rotation. There could be an increase in yield if he controls pests and diseases. An increase in yield or production can also be enhanced if he gets rid of weeds from his farm. Continuous cultivation-bush burning, and inability to control erosion can lead to lower agricultural output.

 EDAPHIC FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

SOIL PH

• It affects the growth of plants
• It also affects the availability of soil nutrients to plants
• It affects the presence of soil microorganisms
• It causes toxicity to plants and animals in the soil.

SOIL TEXTURE

• It determines the type of soil in an area.
• It determines the level of soil fertility
• It determines the type of crops to be grown
• It affects the level of leaching and erosion

SOIL STRUCTURE

• It determines the fertility of the soil
• It determines the water-retaining capacity of the soil
• It determines the level of soil organisms
• It determines the level of soil aeration and percolation.

TOPOGRAPHY

• Topography refers to the shape of the landing relation to the underlying rocks of the earth’s surface
• Steep and gentle slopes give rise to soil erosion
• Steep and gentle slopes may also aid the weathering of rocks
• Even or flat slopes can lead to the accumulation of soil
• Even or flat slopes can be better sites for intensive farming.

SOIL FERTILITY

• Fertile soil aids the production of food and cash crops
• Fertile soil leads to the production of forage crops and plants for grazing.
• It minimizes the use of fertilizers and manures
• It leads to the multiplication of beneficial soil organisms
• Fertile soil generally leads to reduction in cost of production.

SOIL TYPES

• Soil types include sand, clay, and loamy soil.
• Loamy soil is rich in soil nutrients, hence it is the best soil for agriculture.
• Sandy soil does not contain enough nutrients, hence it cannot support crop growth.
• Sandy soil encourages leaching and prevents soil erosion.
• Clay soil encourages water-logging and erosion but prevents leaching of plant nutrients.

1. State five climatic factors affecting Agricultural production
2. State 3 major factors affecting agricultural production
3. State five effects of rainfall on Agricultural production
4. State five effects of temperature on Agricultural production