(a) Define: (i) Taungya farming, (ii) Crop rotation. (b) State four advantages of taungya farming. (c) State four principles underlying the choice of a crop...

Answer Details

(a) Definitions

(i) Taungya farming: A system of forestry in which farmers are allowed to grow food/arable crops in-between young forest tree seedlings on the same piece of land during the early years of the plantation, tending the trees until the canopy closes.

(ii) Crop rotation: The practice of growing different types of crops in a definite order (sequence) on the same piece of land over successive seasons or years to maintain soil fertility and control pests and diseases.

(b) Four advantages of taungya farming

• It provides food crops and income to the farmer while the trees are young.
• It reduces the cost of establishing and maintaining the forest plantation (weeding is done free by farmers).
• It makes better use of land and sunlight in the early years.
• It provides employment and helps control weeds around the tree seedlings.

(c) Four principles underlying the choice of a crop rotation system

• Deep-rooted crops should follow shallow-rooted crops.
• Leguminous crops should be included to restore soil nitrogen.
• Crops of the same family (with similar pests/diseases) should not follow one another.
• Heavy feeders should be followed by light feeders or soil-restoring crops, and cover crops included to protect the soil.

(d) Four advantages of crop rotation

• It maintains and improves soil fertility.
• It controls the build-up of pests, diseases and weeds.
• It reduces soil erosion and improves soil structure.
• It gives higher and more varied yields and income.

(e) Situations under which crop rotation is recommended

Crop rotation is recommended where land is limited and must be cropped continuously, where there is a build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases, where soil fertility is declining, and where the farmer wants a steady supply of varied produce without leaving land to fallow.