Introduction:
Food production and storage are integral components of agriculture, directly influencing ecosystem dynamics. In the WAEC Biology examination, understanding the interplay between agricultural practices and ecological balance is crucial. This topic delves into the methods of food production and storage, and their subsequent effects on the environment.
Key Concepts:
1. Food Production Methods:
- Crop Cultivation: Involves land preparation, planting, maintenance, and harvesting of crops.
- Animal Husbandry: The breeding and management of livestock for meat, milk, and other products.
- Aquaculture: The farming of aquatic organisms like fish and shellfish.
- Horticulture: Cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
2. Food Storage Techniques:
- Drying/Dehydration: Removal of moisture to inhibit microbial growth.
- Salting: Using salt to preserve food by drawing out moisture.
- Refrigeration: Slowing down microbial activity by storing food at low temperatures.
- Canning: Sealing food in airtight containers after heating to destroy microorganisms.Facebook+2WAEC Online+29as.ng+2
- Use of Silos: Storing grains in large containers to protect from pests and moisture.
3. Effects on Ecosystem:
- Soil Degradation: Over-farming and improper practices can lead to nutrient depletion and erosion.Wikipedia
- Water Pollution: Runoff from fertilizers and pesticides contaminates water bodies, leading to eutrophication.Wikipedia+1EduPadi+1
- Loss of Biodiversity: Monoculture practices reduce genetic diversity, making ecosystems more vulnerable.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Certain agricultural practices release methane and nitrous oxide, contributing to climate change.
- Habitat Destruction: Expansion of agricultural land can lead to deforestation and loss of natural habitats.
4. Sustainable Practices:
- Crop Rotation: Alternating crops to maintain soil fertility and reduce pests.
- Organic Farming: Avoiding synthetic chemicals to promote environmental health.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combining biological, cultural, and chemical tools to manage pests sustainably.
- Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems to enhance biodiversity.
- Conservation Tillage: Reducing soil disturbance to maintain structure and reduce erosion.
Study Tips:
- Understand Key Terms: Familiarize yourself with definitions and examples of various food production and storage methods.
- Analyze Environmental Impact: Study how different agricultural practices affect ecosystems.
- Use Diagrams: Visual representations can aid in understanding processes like eutrophication or food chains.
- Review Past Questions: Use the questions below for study and practice.
- Engage in Group Discussions: Collaborate with peers to discuss and clarify complex topics.
Conclusion:
A thorough understanding of food production and storage, along with their ecological implications, is vital for the WAEC Biology examination. Emphasizing sustainable practices ensures not only food security but also the preservation of our environment for future generations.
OBJECTIVES
1. The importance of practising crop-rotation in agriculture is to
A. control soil erosion. B. maintain the fertility of the soil. C. improve the nutritional value of crops. D. ensure growth of cash crops.
2. The practice of warming soup regularly as it concerns food preservation is essentially to
A. retain the taste. B. help to break down the cellulose. C. remove the excess water. D. raise the temperature.
3. The major reason why foods should be properly covered is that
A. micro-organisms in air would contaminate the food. B. hot foods cool off easily when properly covered. C. the taste of the food is maintained when covered. D. all water easily evaporates from uncovered food.
4. In which of the following are food grains best preserved.
A. Silos. B. Sacks. C. Refrigerators. D. Ovens.
5. Which of the following methods is used in food for preservation for a long period? A.
A. adding oil to food. B. Exposing food to fresh air. C. keeping the food in a store. D. Salting and drying the food.
6. Maize is best stored against insect attack
A. on raised platforms, B. in fumigated silos. C. in a sunny area. D. while still on the cob.
7. The earthworm is important because
A. its body is always moist. B. each of its segments has chaetae. C. it has a clitellum. D. it aerates the soil.
8. Which of the following is the effect of continuous tillage on an ecological system?
A. Addition of more humus to the soil. B. Decrease in productivity. C. Increase in yield. D. Improved fertility.
9. The following are the effects of overgrazing except
A. depletion of useful fodder crops. B. soil and wind erosion of pastureland. C. epidemics of cattle diseases. D. migration of herdsmen.
10. Crops grown mainly to feed animals are called-
A. forage crops. B. fibre crops. C. wood crops. D. oil a crops.
11. The farming practice by which an exhausted farm land is left for a number of years before cultivation is known as
A. crop rotation. B. continuous cropping. C. monocropping. D. bush fallowing.
12. The burning of farmlands should be discouraged because it
A. destroys some plant pests. B. reduces the population of wild animals on the farm. C. makes bush clearing more difficult. D. destroys the organic part of the soil.
13. Which of the following can cause desert encroachment?
A. Afforestation. B. Irrigation. C. Planting of trees. D. Overgrazing.
14. Conservation of soil fertility employs crop rotation because
A. crops are allowed to grow at their own rates. B. it encourages the healthy growth of plants. C. it allows utilization of soil nutrients at different levels. D. different crops grow, at the same time.
15. Prevention of erosion could best be carried out by A.
A crop rotation and mulching. B. contouring of sloping ground and afforestation. C. grazing terracing and shitting cultivation. D. strip cropping and poaching.
16. Maize grains are best stored against insect attacks by
A. keeping in a silo. B. storing in the room. C. leaving them on their cobs. D. covering with leaves.
THEORY
1. State three causes of food spoilage.
2. Mention four ways in which modern agricultural activities may threaten the survival of species.
3. State four ways of maintaining food hygiene in the community.
4. Describe two methods for improving crop yield. (b) Explain the principle involved in preserving and storing and As food.
5. Mention six ways by which the government is contributing towards self-sufficiency in food production.
6. (a) State the principles involved in the following methods of food preservation: (i) Salting (ii) Refrigeration (iii) Drying (iv) Smoking (v) Chemicals (b) Explain three ways by which the government may increase food production.
7. Explain how three named agricultural practices can destroy the balance of an ecosystem.
8. (a) Explain briefly the biological basis of preserving foods using each of the following methods: (i) salting; (ii) irradiation; (iii) smoking
