Agricultural Science For CSEC Examinations

Agricultural Sciencefor CSEC ExaminationsMarion Perrett-PearsonRonald RamharacksinghCSEC is a registered trademark of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).Agricultural Science for CSEC Examinations is an independent publication and hasnot been authorised, sponsored, or otherwise approved by CXC.

Macmillan Education4 Crinan StreetLondon N1 9XWA division of Springer Nature LimitedCompanies and representatives throughout the worldISBN 978-1-380-05465-4Text Marion Perrett-Pearson and Ronald Ramharacksingh 2020Design and illustration Macmillan Education Limited 2020The authors have asserted their right to be identified as the authors of thiswork in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.First published 2011This edition published 2020All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored ina retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the priorwritten permission of the publishers.Designed by Macmillan EducationPage make-up by Ink DesignIllustrated by Angie Bowring, Sean Chris Strydom and Bev VictorCover design by Macmillan EducationThe publishers would like to thank our team of advisors, who have beeninstrumental in providing Caribbean content, and local teaching andagricultural practices: Simon Drakes (Presentation Brothers’ College, Grenada) Sylvia JnoBaptise (St Mary’s Academy, Dominica) Suzette Johnson (Tacius Golding High School, Jamaica) Carlington Lindsay (McGrath High School, Jamaica) Makela Oblington (Brazil Secondary School, Trinidad)Students of Agricultural Science from Grenville Secondary School(Grenada), Presentation Brothers’ College (Grenada), Brazil SecondarySchool (Trinidad) and St Andrew Technical High School (Jamaica)provided valuable feedback on the book’s design and overall approach tohelp create a student-friendly and engaging text.The publishers would also like to thank CARDI (Trinidad), Genaro Chiac(Belize), John Jogie (Grenada) and Tyrone Sankar (St Lucia) for providingrelevant and up-to-date examples of Agricultural Science in the real world.Thanks also go to the following agricultural sites for facilitating researchvisits: Sugarcane Feeds Centre (Trinidad), CARDI (Trinidad and Grenada),UWI Field Station (Trinidad), Mirabeau Propagating Station and FarmSchool (Grenada), Diamond Chocolate Factory (Grenada), River AntoineEstate (Grenada), Dal Douglas Farm (Grenada), Golden Dutchy Farm(Jamaica), Ebony Park (Jamaica) and Bogles Research Station (Jamaica).Printed and bound in Spain2024 2023 2022 2021 2020987654321The authors and publishers would like to thank the following for permission to reproduce their photographs:Alamy Stock Photo/Suzanne Long / Alamy Stock Photo p33, The Oxfordshire Chilli Garden / Alamy Stock Photo p121, blickwinkel / Alamy Stock Photo(tl) p132, Humberto Olarte Cupas / Alamy Stock Photo (bl) p132, Rob Fenenga / Alamy Stock Photo p133, Freeman Keats / Alamy Stock Photo p367,iStock / Getty Images Plus/Jaykayl (tl) p152, iStock / Getty Images Plus/jess311 (tr) p152; Getty Images Filisteen Khan p324, Getty Images/Robert Dalyp387, Getty Images/kate sept2004 p397; Science Photo Library UK Crown Copyright Courtesy of Fera / Science Photo Library p192; all other photoscourtesy of the author.The following farmers supplied photographs for use in this edition: Drone photos: Neil and Sarah Robson, GM & LD Robson, Barratts Cottage Farm, Marton, Warwickshire CV23 9RN Butchery photos: Graham Marshall (butcher) at A & N Ellis & Sons, Hilltop Farm Shop and Butchers, Fosse Way, Hunningham, Leamington Spa,Warwickshire CV33 9EL Digger with crawler tracks photo: Tim Parton, SS & SD Kirk, Brewood Park Farm, Coven, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire WV9 5BW Digital weather station information and photo: Simon Deacon, JW & BA Deacon & Son, Top Barn Farm, Rugby Road, South Kilworth, LeicestershireLE17 6DW Variable rate Nitrogen, nutrient mapping and data management tools: Jim Reeve, Newfields Farm, Shakers Lane, Long Itchington, Southam,Warwickshire CV47 9QB Cattle with sensors and feeding trough with scale photos: Henry Dingle, Moreton Morrell College Farm (Nethermoreton Farm), Warwick New Road,Warwick, Warwickshire CV32 5JEThe authors and publishers are grateful for permission to reprint the following copyright material:P14 Percentage of land used for agriculture provided by World Bank data. 2019 The World Bank Group. https://data.worldbank.org/P251 Extract from ‘Ishemo, Amani and Bushell, Brenda (2017). Farming Cooperatives: Opportunities and Challenges for Women Farmers in Jamaica’.Journal of International Women’s Studies, 18(4), 13–29.)These materials may contain links for third party websites. We have no control over, and are not responsible for, the contents of such third party websites.Please use care when accessing them.

ContentsAbout the authors. viAdvisors and contributors. viPreface. viiHow to use this book. viiiSection A: Introduction to agriculture 1Unit 1Agricultural science and agriculture.1.1 The relationship between agriculture and agricultural science.1.2 The history of agriculture in the Caribbean.1.3 Non-conventional and conventional crop systems.1.4 The principles of organic farming.12235Unit 2Role of agriculture and support services.2.1 The importance of agriculture in national, regional and international economies.2.2 Types of agricultural enterprises.2.3 Institutions concerned with agricultural development in the Caribbean.11121516Unit 3Challenges in agriculture.3.1 Local and regional challenges.2425Section B: Crop production 37Unit 4Anatomy and physiology.4.1 The uses of plants in agriculture.4.2 The structure of plants.4.3 Plant processes.4.4 Sexual and asexual reproduction in plants.4.5 Techniques used in plant propagation.4.6 Conditions necessary for germination.37383844495356Unit 5Environmental factors affecting crop growth.5.1 Effects of environmental factors on plant growth and development.5.2 Process of soil formation.5.3 The importance of a soil profile.5.4 The major components of soil.5.5 The physical and chemical properties of major soil types.5.6 The availability of soil water for crop use.5.7 The importance of major and minor nutrients used in crop production.5.8 The factors affecting soil fertility.5.9 Maintaining soil fertility.5.10 Soil and water conservation methods.6465666869717778818489Unit 6Plant6.16.26.3Unit 7Land preparation and farm machinery.7.1 Land preparation methods.7.2 The importance and functions of machinery used in crop husbandry.7.3 Safety precautions when operating tools, machinery and equipment.7.4 Care and maintenance of tools and equipment.genetics, breeding and biotechnology. 95The principles of genetic inheritance. 96The role of plant breeding. 97Biotechnology in plant improvement. 102107108111114116

ContentsUnit tivation of crops.Major cropping systems.Cultural practices associated with crop production.The effects of weeds on crop production.Methods of weed control.Pests and crop damage.Major crop diseases.Chemicals in the environment.Pest and disease management.The importance of plant quarantine.120121123126127128130132133135138Unit 9Harvesting and post-production management.9.1 Harvesting crops.9.2 Harvesting methods.9.3 Post-harvest handling procedures.9.4 Post-harvest management.141142143144145Section C: Animal production 150Unit 10 Introduction to animal sciences.10.1 Breeds of farm animals.10.2 Uses of different breeds of farm animals.10.3 Species of fish and bees.150151152153Unit 11 Structure, anatomy and physiology. 15611.1 The structures and functions of the digestive systems of non-ruminants and ruminants. 15711.2 The process of digestion. 159Unit 12 Nutrition and management.12.1 The ‘complete ration’.12.2 Rations for broilers and layers.12.3 Feed conversion ratio (FCR).12.4 The importance of FCR.12.5 Systems of grazing.12.6 The importance of forages in livestock feeding.12.7 Feeding ruminants when forage is unavailable.12.8 The care of young chicks and rabbits.12.9 Management practices associated with rearing broilers, layers and rabbits.12.10 Rearing a batch of broilers.12.11 Animal health.12.12 Pests and diseases of poultry and rabbits: symptoms, prevention and control.12.13 Pests and diseases of livestock: symptoms, prevention and Unit 13 Fish and bee management.13.1 Factors in establishing and managing a fish farm.13.2 Factors for the keeping of bees.13.3 Economic importance of keeping bees .13.4 The types of bees in a hive.13.5 The social activities of bees.13.6 Pests and diseases of bees.13.7 Honey and other bee products.186187190190191192193193

ContentsUnit 14 Animal genetics, breeding and reproduction.14.1 Breeding systems in animal production.14.2 Advantages of cross-breeding.14.3 Genetic engineering in livestock production.14.4 Terms used in animal reproduction.14.5 Artificial insemination in farm animals.14.6 Advantages and disadvantages of artificial insemination.14.7 The structure of an egg.14.8 Egg formation and incubation in poultry.198199200203205208209210210Unit 15 Animal products.15.1 Slaughtering procedures.15.2 The dressing percentage of farm animals.15.3 Animal products and by-products.15.4 Rearing layer birds and the production of eggs.215216217218222Section D: The business of farming 226Unit 16 Economic factors of production.

Agricultural Science for CSEC Examinations is an independent publication and has not been authorised, sponsored, or otherwise approved by CXC. Macmillan Education