BGCSE Agriculture 0599 flashcards
BGCSE Agriculture 0599 · Build recall with a focused review session.
33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Germination percentage
- The proportion of sown seeds that produce seedlings, calculated as germinated seeds divided by seeds sown times 100. It indicates seed lot quality and helps set seed rates.
- Seed rate
- The weight or number of seeds sown per unit area. It is calculated from target plant population, seed weight, germination percentage and expected field establishment.
- Crop rotation
- Growing different crops in a planned sequence on the same land. It interrupts pest and disease cycles, balances nutrients and helps maintain soil structure.
- Nitrogen fixation
- Conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into plant-usable compounds, carried out by Rhizobium bacteria in legume root nodules. It reduces the need for nitrogen fertiliser.
- Transplanting
- Moving seedlings raised in a nursery to the field. It shortens field occupation, saves seed and allows selection of healthy seedlings, but requires careful watering.
- Gestation period
- The time between conception and birth. Cattle average about 283 days, sheep and goats about 150 days, pigs about 114 days and rabbits about 31 days.
- Feed conversion ratio
- Feed consumed divided by liveweight gain. A low ratio means the animal converts feed efficiently into meat, milk or eggs, improving enterprise profitability.
- Colostrum
- The first milk produced after birth, rich in antibodies and energy. Newborn animals must receive it within the first hours because gut absorption of antibodies is short-lived.
- Rumen
- The largest stomach chamber of ruminants, where microbes ferment fibrous feed. It allows cattle, sheep and goats to digest roughage that non-ruminants cannot use.
- Balanced ration
- A feed mixture supplying energy, protein, minerals, vitamins and water in proportions matching the animal's needs for maintenance and production.
- Soil texture
- The relative proportions of sand, silt and clay particles in soil. It influences drainage, water-holding capacity, workability and nutrient retention.
- Cation exchange capacity
- The ability of soil to hold exchangeable positive ions such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. Clay and organic matter increase this capacity and reduce nutrient leaching.
- Soil pH
- A measure of soil acidity or alkalinity on a scale from 0 to 14. Most crops grow best between 5.5 and 7.0, where nutrients are most available.
- Contour ploughing
- Ploughing across a slope rather than up and down it. The ridges slow runoff and trap soil, reducing erosion on sloping farmland.
- NPK grade
- The three numbers on a fertiliser label giving percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus (as P2O5) and potassium (as K2O) respectively, always in that order.
- Three-point linkage
- The tractor system of two lower links and one upper link that attaches and lifts implements. It must match the implement's category for safe operation.
- Power take-off
- A splined shaft on a tractor that drives powered implements such as mowers and sprayers. Rated speed is commonly 540 rpm at a specified engine speed.
- Field capacity
- The area a machine can work per hour, calculated from implement width and forward speed, before deducting time for turns, filling and adjustments.
- Animal housing ventilation
- The controlled movement of air through a livestock building. It removes moisture, heat and gases, reducing respiratory disease and heat stress in stock.
- Gross margin
- Gross output value minus variable costs for an enterprise. It excludes fixed costs and is used to compare the profitability of different crops or livestock.
- Break-even yield
- The yield at which revenue equals total costs. It is calculated as total fixed costs divided by the difference between price and variable cost per unit.
- Depreciation
- The annual loss in value of an asset such as machinery. Straight-line depreciation equals purchase cost minus salvage value, divided by useful life in years.
- Farm records
- Written physical and financial information about a farm, including yields, inputs, sales and costs. They support planning, credit applications and tax returns.
- Marketing margin
- The difference between the consumer price and the farm-gate price. It covers transport, storage, processing and trader profit along the marketing chain.
- Macronutrients
- Elements needed by plants in large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Each is essential for growth and yield.
- Nitrogen deficiency
- A shortage of nitrogen shown by pale yellowing of older leaves and stunted growth, because nitrogen is mobile and moves to new growth.
- Integrated pest management
- A pest control approach combining resistant varieties, cultural methods, biological control and careful chemical use. Chemicals are applied only when pest numbers justify it.
- Ruminant digestion
- Digestion in cattle, sheep and goats involving the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. Microbial fermentation of fibre occurs before true digestion.
- Pre-harvest interval
- The minimum time allowed between the last pesticide application and harvest. Following it keeps chemical residues in produce within permitted safety limits.
- Zoonosis
- A disease that can pass from animals to people, such as brucellosis, leptospirosis or ringworm. Hygiene and protective clothing reduce the risk of infection.
- Roll-over protection
- A strong frame or cab fitted to a tractor that protects the operator if the machine overturns. It is effective only when used with a fastened seat belt.
- Cover crops
- Plants grown mainly to protect and improve soil rather than for harvest. They reduce erosion, suppress weeds and add organic matter when incorporated.
- Overgrazing
- Grazing beyond the land's carrying capacity, which removes vegetation cover and causes compaction, erosion and slow pasture recovery.