Agriculture is the science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. It plays a crucial role in providing food, fiber, and other materials for human survival and economic development.
Types of Agriculture
There are various types of agriculture, including:
Subsistence Agriculture: Small-scale farming primarily for family consumption.
Commercial Agriculture: Large-scale farming for profit and trade.
Organic Agriculture: Farming without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
Intensive Agriculture: High-input farming with a focus on maximizing yield.
Extensive Agriculture: Low-input farming with large land areas and lower yields per acre.
Key Elements of Agriculture
Key elements of agriculture include:
Crop Production: Cultivating and harvesting plants for food, feed, fiber, and other uses.
Livestock Rearing: Raising animals for meat, milk, wool, and other products.
Soil Management: Practices to maintain soil fertility and structure for crop growth.
Irrigation: Providing water to crops through artificial means to supplement natural rainfall.
Agricultural Machinery: Use of equipment and machinery for planting, harvesting, and processing crops.
The student demonstrates an understanding of the structure, function, behavior, development, life cycles, and diversity of living organisms by observing and comparing external features of plants and of animals that may help them grow, survive, and reproduce.