INTRODUCTION TO
AGRICULTURE AND
ECOSYSTEM
Ecosyste
m
Collection of living organism and
non living matters interacting
together in a defined setting
Characteristic
Use and flow of energy leading to
defined trophic structure, biotic
diversity and material cycles
within the system
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Trophic structure
Refers to level of feeding, and
feeding relationships of various
components in the ecosystem.
Autotrophs produce food for
themselves through the process
of photosynthesis. PS produce
organics used as energy source
and O2 for respiration
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Trophic structure
Organics include sugars, starch,
proteins etc which are produced in
the presence of nutrients from the
soil
Heterotrophs are consumers which
breakdown organics to produce
oxygen and simple organic
materials. They include scavengers
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Ecology
Study of the state of ecosystem
Ecosystem consist of regularly
defined structure with interacting
and independent components.
Interaction involves transformation
of energy
Oikos - house
Systema - system
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Components of ecosystem in
terms of structure
Physical environment
a. Climate -rainfall, temperature,
relative humidity, sunshine, wind,
typhoons
b. Soils fertility, moisture, texture,
etc
c. Topography
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Components of ecosystem in
terms of structure
Abiotic substances nutrients
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Components of ecosystem in
terms of structure
Biotic components living
organism
Producers green plants
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Components of ecosystem in
terms of structure
Producers
Macro-consumers or phagotrophs
mainly animals
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Components of ecosystem in
terms of structure
Micro-consumers
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Macro-
consumers
Hervivorous animals
Carnivorous animals sharks,
eagles
Omnivores feed on plants and
animals - humans
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Microconsumer
s
Called as saprophytes or
osmotrophs
mainly bacteria and fungi
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Material
cycle
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Material
cycle
Gaseous cycle
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Material
cycle
Gaseous cycle
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Material cycle
Sedimentary cycle
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Natural Law in the
Ecosystem
1. Law of conservation of matter
Matter is not created nor destroyed
but simply changed from one form to
another. Ex phosphorous in bones
through erosion may find its way to
seas and incorporated in shells
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1a. Law of Conservation of
matter
Energy does not cycle unlike matter,
it passes through the biosphere
following the law of thermodynamics
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2. Laws of Thermodynamics
First law states that energy is not
created nor destroyed but changes
from one form to another just like
matter
Second law states that everytime it
changes form, some of it dissipates
as heat. It represents loss since heat
cannot be captured and stored.
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2a. Laws of
Thermodynamics
Law applies to ecosystem. Net primary
production from sunlight is only 1%.
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Laws of
Thermodynamics
In every trophic level energy
is lost.
If you have a piece of land
which will produce 100 kilo
of corn, feeding it to cow
will mean loss of 90% to
cows metabolism. So you
will only realize 10 kg of
beef for every 100 kg of
corn 27
3. Leibigs Law
Materials whose availability most closely
approaches the minimum quantity will
tend to be limiting factor in the growth
and reproduction of organism.
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4. Shellfords Law of
Tolerance
Quantitative or qualitative deficiency or excess
of any of one or several factors determines the
survival or the rate of growth and development
of an organism. The extreme of the levels of
these factors determine tolerance.
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Principle of Shellfords
Law
1. Wide tolerance for some factors
and narrow for others.
2. Wide range of tolerance for most
factors are most likely to be
disturbed.
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Principle of Shellfords
Law
3. When conditions are not optimum
to one factor, the limits of tolerance
with respect to other ecological
factors may be reduced.
4. The period of reproduction of
organisms is usually when
environmental factors are most
likely limiting.
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Dynamics of
Ecosystem
Solar energy, water, air, soil
Plants grow, reproduce, grow old
and die
Nourished by plants and other
substances, animals grow and die
These engender change and
renewal in the ecosystem
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Dynamics of
Ecosystem
Solar energy, water, air, soil
Plants grow, reproduce, grow old
and die
Nourished by plants and other
substances, animals grow and die
These engender change and
renewal in the ecosystem
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Dynamics of
Ecosystem
Ecosystem must sustain richness
and diversity to maintain its
balance. All components must be
optimum. It requires:
Solar energy
Temperature
Water
Nutrients
When sunlight is low, production
of green plants is poorer.
Limited food for herbivores.
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Agriculture and the
Environment
Agriculture- viewed what man does to
the natural ecosystem in the
environment to produce food and
other products
Environment- activities, conditions,
circumstances, influences
Holistic agriculture- impact on the
environment
deterioration of the environment
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Agriculture and the
Environment
Ecosystem, climate and social
conditions in agricultural setting are
part of the environment
a.) sunlight - photosynthesis
b.) crops - livestock
c.) water and nutrients - growth
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Agriculture and the
Environment
Social conditions determines
agricultural prosperity
Peace and order
Economic policies
State of Science and Technology
Politics- tarif
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Agriculture and
Society
Civilization and human settlements
Agricultural development is a pre-
requisite for economic development
Strong agriculture, so is economy
Modernize agriculture- less people
involved, more time for non-
agricultural activities
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Agriculture and the
Society
Success of Egyptian society and
Roman Empire from 500 BC to 500 AD
is due to agriculture
3 events in development of civilization
Agricultural revolution in 18th century
Industrial revolution in 19th century
Information technology revolution in the
20th century
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Agriculture and the
Society
Developed countries - transformed
their economies based on industrial
productivity and information
technology
Developing countries - human
resources in agriculture
Ex : US- 2% of population engaged in agriculture
Bangladesh- 65% engaged in agriculture
Singapore- not agricultural but economy prosper
due to information technology
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End!
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