Agricultural Science·General agriculture · NSSCO 1.3
Environmental influences on agriculture
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Namibia is one of the driest countries in the world, so the weather is a farmer's biggest boss. In this lesson we meet the four great forces that decide whether a crop thrives or dies — temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind — then learn the clever tricks Namibian farmers use to soften each one. We finish with the water cycle, why boreholes matter so much here, and how mulching and minimum tillage save every precious drop.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Agricultural Science 1.3):
- Explain the effects of temperature on plant growth
- Explain the effect of humidity on the rate of water loss from plants and as a factor in fungal disease attack
- Explain the effects of rainfall on agriculture: variation in distribution, effectiveness, reliability and intensity
- Explain the effects of wind on agriculture: rate of evaporation and transpiration, soil erosion and physical damage to plants
- Suggest ways that farmers can minimise the effects of temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind on agriculture
- Describe the water cycle and the significance of ground water resources
- Describe the importance of water conservation, including the process of mulching and minimum tillage
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