Introduction to Agriculture : 4.
INTRODUCTION TO PLANT SCIENCE
A rose bush has waxy leaves and petals that make it difficult for herbivores to eat. - correct
answer-False
A soil's structure will affect how much water the soil retains. - correct answer-True
Besides fossil fuels, which of the following is another resource used as fuel? - correct
answer-timber
Both human and animal wastes are sometimes used as fertilizer. How are the two types
treated differently before they are used to fertilize crops? - correct answer-Human waste
goes through physical and chemical treatment; animal waste is used directly.
CAREER CORNER: CAREERS IN FORESTRY
Forestry Technician/Fire Specialist
A career managing forests through prescribed burns, activities that prevent fires, and fighting
forest fires can be very exciting and also very dangerous. Forestry technicians need to be
trained in aspects of forest management, ecology, ecosystems management, and fire
science. To become a forestry technician, you would need to attend a special training
program. Training programs are about the same length as ones for firefighters or police.
Forestry technicians work in the field. They may be required to travel or put in long shifts.
They may be required to be on call for emergencies.
Forester
As a forester, you will work with the state, federal government, or private landowners.
Foresters perform all kinds of forest-management activities like surveying, planning
programs, working with wildlife, marking trees, supervising firefighting personnel, a - correct
answer-
CASE STUDY: SOILS IN THE FOREST
When it comes to soil formation, not all forests are created equal.
In deciduous forests, many of the trees lose their leaves in the winter. In general, leaves
from these trees in deciduous forests take about two years to be fully broken down and
integrated into the soil. They are found in relatively warm temperate climates.
© 2009 Glynlyon, Inc.
Soil
,Some of the greatest agricultural soil is found in deciduous forests, which is why most of the
original forests have disappeared to farming. The rich vegetation, along with the ash, oak,
walnut, hickory, beech, and birch tree leaf mulch, produce very fertile soil. These forests
stretch from Michigan to Florida in the U.S.
SHOW TRANSCRIPT
Transcripts
Some of the greatest agricultural soil is found in deciduous forests, which is why most of the
original forests have disappeared to farming. The rich vegetation, along with the ash, oak, -
correct answer-
Cholera, typhoid, and dysentery are caused by bacteria in water. These kill more than 400
children per hour in Third World countries. - correct answer-True
CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS
Plants can be classified scientifically. They are generally divided into several categories
based on what the individual plants have in common. Plants either do or do not have
vascular tissue for moving water. Plants without vascular tissue are called bryophytes. These
plants grow close to the ground and draw water directly from the ground. Mosses and
liverworts are the major groups of bryophytes.
Plants with vascular tissue can be divided into two groups, those that have seeds and those
that do not. Non-seed plants include ferns, which reproduce by spores. The scientific name
for the group containing ferns is pteridophytes.
The leaves of ferns are fronds. They are important in removing chemical pollutants, such as
benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene, from the air. Additionally, they are
commonly used in the floral and landscape industries.
A common way to classify seed plants - correct answer-
Color and markings are a type of tropism. - correct answer-False
COMPONENTS OF SOIL
Reflection
Why is erosion important in soil formation?
When you look at soil, you can see that it is made up of different things. Most soils contain:
minerals
air
water
organic material
Different types of soil and soil in different areas will have unique mixes of these components.
Soil Horizons
, Soil forms in layers. We call these layers the soil horizons. At different depths, soil will have
different physical and chemical properties. The analysis of the soil in these layers gives us a
soil profile.
Let's look at some basic descriptions of the soil horizons. Select each layer from the graphic
below to learn more about each.
Horizon O links to: Organic material from plants and animals, not decomposed
Horizon A links to: Topsoil, having the most organic material and living organisms
Horizon B links to: Some organic material and many non-organic materials (such as iron,
clay, and aluminum) leac - correct answer-
Extreme acidity in soil helps plants thrive because the hydrogen ions kill off all harmful
microorganisms that may stunt a plant's development. - correct answer-False
FERTILIZERS AND AMENDMENTS
If you were a farmer and noticed that your crops were not growing very fast or being very
productive, what would you do? You could think about whether they were getting enough
sunlight. You might think about how much they are watered. You might even want to make
sure the seed you used was good. If you did this, you would still be missing one very
important possibility. Can you think of what that would be?
If you were a farmer, you would know that one of the first things you should do is evaluate
your soil quality. What makes high-quality soils?
Let's move on with the lesson to find out.
OBJECTIVES
Describe the functions of soil.
Explain the importance of fertilizer.
Identify the components of fertilizer.
Evaluate the quality of soil based on specific components.
Discuss soil structure.
VOCABULARY
aeration introduction of air into a substance
aggregates clumps of soil particles that bin - correct answer-
FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND SEEDS
In flowering plants, flowers are the location for plant reproduction. They are made up of four
different structures, from outside to inside: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals are
green and found at the base of the flower. They look like leaves. Before the flower blooms,
the bud is enclosed in the sepals. Just inside the sepals are the petals. Petals are often
INTRODUCTION TO PLANT SCIENCE
A rose bush has waxy leaves and petals that make it difficult for herbivores to eat. - correct
answer-False
A soil's structure will affect how much water the soil retains. - correct answer-True
Besides fossil fuels, which of the following is another resource used as fuel? - correct
answer-timber
Both human and animal wastes are sometimes used as fertilizer. How are the two types
treated differently before they are used to fertilize crops? - correct answer-Human waste
goes through physical and chemical treatment; animal waste is used directly.
CAREER CORNER: CAREERS IN FORESTRY
Forestry Technician/Fire Specialist
A career managing forests through prescribed burns, activities that prevent fires, and fighting
forest fires can be very exciting and also very dangerous. Forestry technicians need to be
trained in aspects of forest management, ecology, ecosystems management, and fire
science. To become a forestry technician, you would need to attend a special training
program. Training programs are about the same length as ones for firefighters or police.
Forestry technicians work in the field. They may be required to travel or put in long shifts.
They may be required to be on call for emergencies.
Forester
As a forester, you will work with the state, federal government, or private landowners.
Foresters perform all kinds of forest-management activities like surveying, planning
programs, working with wildlife, marking trees, supervising firefighting personnel, a - correct
answer-
CASE STUDY: SOILS IN THE FOREST
When it comes to soil formation, not all forests are created equal.
In deciduous forests, many of the trees lose their leaves in the winter. In general, leaves
from these trees in deciduous forests take about two years to be fully broken down and
integrated into the soil. They are found in relatively warm temperate climates.
© 2009 Glynlyon, Inc.
Soil
,Some of the greatest agricultural soil is found in deciduous forests, which is why most of the
original forests have disappeared to farming. The rich vegetation, along with the ash, oak,
walnut, hickory, beech, and birch tree leaf mulch, produce very fertile soil. These forests
stretch from Michigan to Florida in the U.S.
SHOW TRANSCRIPT
Transcripts
Some of the greatest agricultural soil is found in deciduous forests, which is why most of the
original forests have disappeared to farming. The rich vegetation, along with the ash, oak, -
correct answer-
Cholera, typhoid, and dysentery are caused by bacteria in water. These kill more than 400
children per hour in Third World countries. - correct answer-True
CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS
Plants can be classified scientifically. They are generally divided into several categories
based on what the individual plants have in common. Plants either do or do not have
vascular tissue for moving water. Plants without vascular tissue are called bryophytes. These
plants grow close to the ground and draw water directly from the ground. Mosses and
liverworts are the major groups of bryophytes.
Plants with vascular tissue can be divided into two groups, those that have seeds and those
that do not. Non-seed plants include ferns, which reproduce by spores. The scientific name
for the group containing ferns is pteridophytes.
The leaves of ferns are fronds. They are important in removing chemical pollutants, such as
benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene, from the air. Additionally, they are
commonly used in the floral and landscape industries.
A common way to classify seed plants - correct answer-
Color and markings are a type of tropism. - correct answer-False
COMPONENTS OF SOIL
Reflection
Why is erosion important in soil formation?
When you look at soil, you can see that it is made up of different things. Most soils contain:
minerals
air
water
organic material
Different types of soil and soil in different areas will have unique mixes of these components.
Soil Horizons
, Soil forms in layers. We call these layers the soil horizons. At different depths, soil will have
different physical and chemical properties. The analysis of the soil in these layers gives us a
soil profile.
Let's look at some basic descriptions of the soil horizons. Select each layer from the graphic
below to learn more about each.
Horizon O links to: Organic material from plants and animals, not decomposed
Horizon A links to: Topsoil, having the most organic material and living organisms
Horizon B links to: Some organic material and many non-organic materials (such as iron,
clay, and aluminum) leac - correct answer-
Extreme acidity in soil helps plants thrive because the hydrogen ions kill off all harmful
microorganisms that may stunt a plant's development. - correct answer-False
FERTILIZERS AND AMENDMENTS
If you were a farmer and noticed that your crops were not growing very fast or being very
productive, what would you do? You could think about whether they were getting enough
sunlight. You might think about how much they are watered. You might even want to make
sure the seed you used was good. If you did this, you would still be missing one very
important possibility. Can you think of what that would be?
If you were a farmer, you would know that one of the first things you should do is evaluate
your soil quality. What makes high-quality soils?
Let's move on with the lesson to find out.
OBJECTIVES
Describe the functions of soil.
Explain the importance of fertilizer.
Identify the components of fertilizer.
Evaluate the quality of soil based on specific components.
Discuss soil structure.
VOCABULARY
aeration introduction of air into a substance
aggregates clumps of soil particles that bin - correct answer-
FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND SEEDS
In flowering plants, flowers are the location for plant reproduction. They are made up of four
different structures, from outside to inside: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals are
green and found at the base of the flower. They look like leaves. Before the flower blooms,
the bud is enclosed in the sepals. Just inside the sepals are the petals. Petals are often
