SS3 First Term Agricultural Science Lesson Note – Crop Improvements

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WEEK 3

SUBJECT: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

CLASS: SS 3

TOPIC:  CROP IMPROVEMENT

CONTENT:

1. Meaning, Aims and Methods of Crop Improvement
2. Methods of Crop Improvement continued
3. Genetic Terms and Mendel’s Laws of inheritance

SUB TOPIC 1: Meaning and Aims of Crop Improvement

Crop Improvement refers to the ways of developing and breeding of crop varieties which are better than the pre-existing cultivars in a number of characters like taste, height, colour etc for a better yield.

Crop improvement is defined as the science that deals with the development of new crop varieties with superior quality and quantity.

AIMS F CROP IMPROVEMENT

1. To improve the quality of produce
2. To increase crop yield
3. To adapt crops to adverse climatic conditions
4. To induce resistance to pests and diseases in crop plants

METHODS/PROCESS OF CROP IMPROVEMENT

INTRODUCTION: involves movement of plant(s) from the Center of origin of a supposed center of evolution to another place where they can adapt and survive. Such imported crops are usually guaranteed by the nation’s plant quarantine service before introducing it to the country.

ADVANTAGES

1. It is used to upgrade the qualities of the local varieties
2. It brings about varieties adaptable to the soil and climatic conditions of the new area
3. it enhances greater productivities
4. It performs better under good climatic and soil conditions
5. It helps in controlling pests and diseases

DISADVANTAGES

1. There is possibility of introducing new crop disease
2. The introduced crop may not adapt to environmental conditions of the new place

SELECTION: This is the process of picking from a number of individuals in the field found to possess desirable characteristics for further cultivation. Selection has number of methods:

1. Mass Selection-this is a selection of crops that have a desirable trait from large group of crops. It is based on the performance of crop
2. Pure line Selection-it is a situation in which ……

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