Meaning and Characteristics of Pastures and Forage Crops | Common Pastures and Their Botanical Names | Factors affecting Distribution and Production of Forage Crops | Establishment and Common Practices of Pasture SS 1 – Agricultural Science

 

AGRICULTURE

CROP PRODUCTION 

______ TERM

WEEK 

SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (SSS 1)

THEME: CROP PRODUCTION 

PREVIOUS LESSON – 

 

TOPIC – PASTURE AND FORAGE CROPS

 

LEARNING AREA

1. Introduction

2. Meaning and Characteristics of Pastures and Forage Crops

3. Common Pastures and Their Botanical Names

4. Factors affecting Distribution and Production of Forage Crops

5. Establishment and Common Practices of Pasture

 

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES 

By the end of the lesson, most of the students should have attained the following objectives –

1.

 

ENTRY BEHAVIOUR

 

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The teacher will teach the lesson with the aid of:

1. Visit to livestock farm.

 

 

2. Samples of forage crops – grasses and legumes.

 

METHOD OF TEACHING

Choose a suitable and appropriate methods for the lessons.

Note – Irrespective of choosing methods of teaching, always introduce an activities that will arouse pupil’s interest or lead them to the lessons. 

 

REFERENCE MATERIALS

1. Scheme of Work

2. National Curriculum for SSS Classes

3. Course Book

4. All Relevant Material

5. Online Information

 

CONTENT OF THE LESSON  

INTRODUCTION

MEANING OF PASTURE AND FORAGE CROPS

PASTURE can be defined as an area of land covered with forage grasses and legumes used for feeding livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats.

FORAGE CROPS can be defined as grasses and legumes deliberately planted and managed for the purpose of feeding livestock.

 

USES OF FORAGE CROPS

1. It is used for feeding livestock.

 

 

2. It is used for preventing erosion.

3. It is used controlling weeds

4. It improves soil organic matter.

5. It increases seasonal distribution and production.

 

TYPES OF PASTURE

There are two types of forage,

1. Natural Pasture

2. Artificial Pasture

 

NATURAL PASTURE 

Natural pasture can be defined as an area of land covered with forage grasses and legumes not planted by man.

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF NATURAL PASTURE 

1. It is natural grazing land.

2. It is known as primary pasture.

3. Its full of abundant grasses and legumes.

4. It has good ability to regenerate.

5. It cannot be easily eradicate.

6. The soil is very rich in organic matter.

 

ARTIFICIAL PASTURE 

Artificial pasture can be defined as an area of land covered with forage grasses and legumes which are deliberately planted and managed by man.

 

CHARACTERISTICS OF ARTIFICIAL PASTURE 

1. It contains selected grass and legumes.

2. It is deliberately planted and managed by man.

 

 

3. It is man – made vegetation.

4. It also has the ability to regenerate.

5. It contains no weed.

6. It is a secondary pasture.

 

COMMON GRASSES AND LEGUMES USED FOR GRAZING LIVESTOCK WITH THEIR BOTANICAL NAMES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME OF THEM

A. GRASSES 

Common Name                    Botanical Name

1. Elephant grass                  Pennisetum purpureum

2. Guinea grass                     Panicum maximum

3. Carpet grass                      Axonopus compressus

4. Giant Star grass                Cynodon plectostachyum

5. Spear grass                       Imperrata cylindrical

6. Bahama grass                   Cynodon dactylon

 

B. LEGUMES

Common Name                 Botanical Name

1. Calopo                            Calopoganium mucunoides

2. Sun hemp                       Crotalaria juncea

3. Stylo                               Stylosanthes gracilis

4. Centro                             Centrosema Pubescens

5. Kudzu or puero               Pueraria phaseoloides

5. Calopo                            Calopoganium mucunoides

 

FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PASTURE

1. Climatic factor

2. Conditions of the soil

 

 

3. Pests and diseases

4. Availability of seeds

5. Land ownership

6. Cost

7. Good management

 

ESTABLISHMENT OF PASTURE

1. Adaptation of species

2. Compatibility

3. Time

4. Life cycle of the species

 

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF PASTURE

1. Fencing

2. Weed control

3. Pests and diseases control

4. Irrigation

5. Stocking or preservation

6. Use of manure or fertilization

7. Burning

 

PRESENTATION

To deliver the lesson, the teacher adopts the following steps:

1. To introduce the lesson, the teacher revises the previous lesson. Based on this, he/she asks the students some questions; then, the teacher –

2. Discuss the meaning of pasture and forage.

 

 

Student’s Activities – Participate in the class discussion.

3. Leads students to state the characteristics of pasture and forage.

Student’s Activities – State the characteristics of pasture and forage.

4. States the factors affecting the distribution and production of pastures.

Student’s Activities – Discuss the factors affecting the distribution and production of pastures as stated by the teacher.

5. Discuss the establishment and common of pasture.

Student’s Activities – Actively participation in the discussion.

6. Teacher supervises the students to prepare forage crop album.

Student’s Activities – Preparation of forage crop album as group work.

7. Summarizes the lesson on the board.

Student’s Activities – Copy as the teacher writes.

 

CONCLUSION

To conclude the lesson for the week, the teacher revises the entire lesson and links it to the following week’s lesson.

 

LESSON EVALUATION 

Ask students to:

1. Explain the meaning of forage crops.

 

 

2. State 5 uses of forage crops

3. List 5 examples of pasture grasses and legumes.