 The content is just an excerpt from the complete note for SS 1 Third Term Agricultural Science Lesson Note – Factors Affecting Distribution and Productivity of Pasture. Check below to download the complete PDF
CLASS: SS 1
TOPIC: Pasture and Forage Crops (continued)
FACTORS AFFECTING DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PASTURE
- DISTRIBUTION
- Climatic factors: These are rainfall, temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine etc. They affect vegetation types and places of their growth eg savanna climate favours the growth of grasses and legumes
- Edaphic/Soil factors: They are soil Ph, texture, structure and fertility. They also influence pasture types and areas of distribution.
- Biotic factors: These influence pasture distribution eg pests diseases, parasites, predators etc
- Other factors include: pollution, topography, farming system, social religion and economic factors
- Productivity
- Aggressiveness: This is an ability to compete with weeds
- Persistence: it is an ability to survive and spread
- Resurgence: it is an ability to grow in spite of trampling and cutting
- Resistance: it is an ability to withstand drought, diseases and pests.
- Seed viability: it is the ability of pasture’s seed to remain alive for a long time
ESTABLISHMENT OF PASTURE
To establish pasture, certain factors must be put into consideration, among these factors are :
- FACTORS AFFECTING ESTABLISHMENT OF PASTURE
- Purpose of pasture establishment whether permanent or short term
- Adaptability of the pasture to local environment
- Palatability of the species i.e the pasture must be acceptable to the animals
- Compatibility of grasses and pasture i.e they should be able to grow together without undue competition
- PROCESS OF PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT
- Site selection
- Clearing and stumping
- Tillage practices
- Planting of forage either by seeds, stem or stolon
- Supplying
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF PASTURE
Pasture should be regarded as crops in order to ensure good management. The methods adopted depend on the farmer’s knowledge and skill. Some of the management practices include
- Fertilizer application or manuring
- Rotational grazing: this is by Click here to download the file
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