This question was poorly attempted by-most candidates that answered it. Most of the candidates were unable to discuss satisfactorily the effects of sunlight, precipitation, relative humidity and temperature on agricultural production.
The expected answer include:
Effects of Climatic factors on Agriculture:
(a) Sunlight
- Sunlight is responsible for photosynthetic activities of crops
- In general, whenever there is enough sunlight; crop yield is better than when there is reduced sunlight
- Animals derive a lot of vitamin D from solar radiation on the field which gives them strong bones
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Sunlight is a major factor responsible for ripening and maturation of fruits and seeds
- Sunlight dries the seeds/grains of many crops and makes them store for long
(b) Precipitation
- All plants, cultivated or wild, need water to grow well and produce well
- High rainfall causes soil erosion
- Differences in precipitation are responsible for the different vegetational zones in our country
- Differences in rainfall are also partly responsible for the distribution of crops and animals in the country
- Heavy rainfall encourages the growth and prevalence of some pests and diseases
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High rainfall causes leaching of nutrients ' .
(c) Relatively Humidity
- At high relative humidity, animals are generally uncomfortable
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Milk and egg production drastically reduced
- There is general reduction in the health of humans and their livestock
- Diseases spread and development are much higher under high relative humidity than low relative humidity
- Animal feeds are better stored under low relative humidity than high relative humidity because they are better preserved and last longer,
(d) Temperature
- All living organisms need some heat to catalyze metabolic reactions going on in them
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Temperature aids the maturation of seeds and fruits and their ripening
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Optimum temperature is needed for seed germination
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Low temperature may cause seed dormancy
- At high ambient temperature, milk yield, growth rate, egg production are reduced with· generally low productivity. in all animals .
