CBC LESSON NOTES

AGRICULTURE
GRADE 5 NOTES

FREE LESSON NOTES FOR GRADE FIVE

AGRICULTURE GRADE 5 LESSON NOTES
1.0 Conserving our Environment
1.1 Soil Conservation
1.1.1 Soil recovery

Soil is important in a number of ways. They Include:

 It’s our life support system

 It provides anchorage for plant roots
 It holds water and nutrients
 It’s a home for various micro-organisms
 We build on soil.

Therefore soil plays a vital role in our environment. As without soil

human life would be very difficult.

It’s therefore a resource that should be guarded with a lot of caution.

This is why to keep this resource in good we should limit chances of
various factors doing away with it.
 Soil erosion is the removal of the top soil from one place to another by

means of water, wind, or animal activities.

 Eroded soils by water are deposited to other places by siltation.

 Silt is the deposited soil and is rich in humor such soil very fertile. It

comprises of organic matter and can be recovered. Silty soil is slippery when
wet, not grainy or rocky

Soil recovery/restoration

 This is the process of collecting eroded soil from its deposition back to the

farm for farming.

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 Importance of soil recovery

 Soil conservation is key to environmental sustainability

 It helps protect natural resources and watersheds,

 restores habitats for plants and wildlife,

 Improves water quality, and makes soil healthier.

 Soil conservation also creates economic opportunity.

We should therefore look for eroded places and recover the soil and conserve our

environment for the future.

 Runoff water is the water that runs on the ground at high speed and it

removes the soil from its path leaving behind a gully.

 Soil eroded by runoff are deposited at the river banks, on the sides of the

roads or in places where there are cover crops.

 Recovering soil is important to crops because it is very fertile, comprising of

decomposed organic matter.

 Runoff water has the energy to detach soil particles by scour and to transport

entrained soil materials either in suspension or by pushing or rolling larger

particles.

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 Observing runoff

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Soil deposit site

1.1.2 Soil Improvement

 Soil improvement is the addition of soil nutrients to poor and non-productive

soils. This can be done by addict organic manure.

Methods of soil conservation

 These include fallowing,

 using compost, manure, crop residues,
 Using fertilizer trees (e.g Calliandra and Pygeum africana),
 intercropping legumes with cereals and including the principles of conservation
agriculture (crop rotation, ensuring permanent cover for the soil and no

disturbing of the top soil layer).

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  Organic manure can be prepared by the use of organic materials such as

plants materials, animal waste, food remains or kitchen wastes. This can be

done by the method of hip compost or pit compost.

 With hip compost, the organic materials are hipped on the ground and left to

decompose for some time and then transported to the farm where planting

takes place.

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 Constructing compost pit

In the absence of compost pit or residue pit, we may use drum or wood

pallet as compost bin.”

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Wood pallet compost pit

Drum

 On the other hand, pit manure is prepared by digging underground and

dumping all organic waste materials inside. These materials are left for

sometimes to decompose then are used in the farm to improve soil.

 Once the waste materials have decomposed fully we can plant a suitable crop

in the waste pit.

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  Dumping green and dry plant remains, food remains and kitchen wastes in a

pit situated on a poor soil site is a god farming practice.

 This is because once the organic waste materials decay, they release

nutrients that are required for the growth of pants.

 Therefore if an area has poor soil, it can be improved using organic manure, a

crop can be grown successfully.

Importance of conserving soil

1. The soil is literally the foundation of plant life. A tree will not be a tree without soil.

While there are some plants that can live in water or air, most plants need to be rooted

to the ground.

It is the soil that provides nutrition to this plant life. It is through this vegetation that

nourishes the humankind and the animal kingdom. Plants are important resource of food

and fuel and of wood and other by-products that make our other life functions possible.

2. The soil additionally supports the animal kingdom. Our agriculture also relies on soil,

for its location and for other functions to be derived from its existence. It will be

almost impossible to support the animal and human life without land.

3. The soil is necessary for water supply. This is the magic of nature. The land is also

necessary to ensure the quality of water we derive from our earth. Soil and water co-

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 exist. So do we and soil co-exist? Taking good care of our soil equates to taking care of

our water supply.

1.2 Water Conservation

Water conservation is the process of retain water in the soil for planting. Water

conservation can be done through mulching, shading, and cores cropping.

i. Mulching

 Is the process of soil water conservation by spreading dry leaves or planting

on the ground surface where the crops are planted.

 The dry leaves are called mulch where they are used to conserve soil

water/moisture.

 Mulching prevents direct sunshine to the soil surface which lowers the rate

or evaporation.

ii. Shading

 This is done by constructing a shade structure and covering its top with dry

leaves.

 This is usually constructed on top of seedbeds to protect the seedling from

the scotching sun and also to protect the soil from losing water through

evaporation.

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 iii. Cover Cropping

 Cover cropping is the process of soil water conservation through planting

short crops that spread wide on the ground.

 Plants used for cover cropping are bean plants, peas and green grams.

 Water just like soil, is an important resource in our environment for farming

practices. We can use mulching, cover cropping and shading to conserve soil

moisture.

 These farming practices reduce loss of water from the soil.

 Conserving water ensures that water in our farms is well used throughout

the growing season

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It is important to conserve water because it is an important resource for farming

in our homes. Without water, the plants will not grow to produce food for us.

Importance of water conservation

 Without fresh water you will die in just a few days.

 Conserving water is important because it keeps water pure and clean while

protecting the environment

 Water conservation reduces energy use and can even save your household

money.

1.3 Living better with wild animals

 Wild animals are very useful to use. Some are dangerous like the leopard and

the lion.

Importance of wild animals

1. Wildlife provides nutrients to humans

2. People depend on wildlife for their livelihoods

3. Wildlife has cultural significance

4. Wildlife is important for the economy

5. Protecting wildlife creates more jobs

 Wild animals generate revenue through local and international tourism. Some

animals destroy our crops and some kill our domestic animals.

 We can scare and keep away wild animals without killing them.

 We can keep away animals by the use sounds, using smells and use of smelly

and bitter tasting plants.

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 i. Use of Sounds

Some animals are often scared by sounds made by people talking or shouting.

Animals like monkeys and squirrels can be scared away by the use of sounds made

by radio. A radio is switched on and put in a plantation to scare wild animals’ away.

ii. Using Smells

Some wild animals are repellant to bad smells. Smells can be produced by burning

items such as rugs, plastics or tires. This smell is used to keep away animals such as

rodents.

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 iii. Use of Smelly and bitter tasting plants

Some animals avoid smelly and bitter tasting plants. This method keeps away root

eaters (rodents) such as the mole from destroying farm plants, and digging holes in

the farm.

iv. Care and Safety from Wild Animals

Some wild animals can be dangerous. They can attack us or even kill us, they include

the wild dog, wild cat and monkeys. Such animals can also transmit dangerous

diseases such as rabies. We should always keep a safe distances from wild animals.

We should not touch or provoke wild animals.

1.4 Growing Climbing fruit Plants

 Fruits are source of food rich in vitamins.

 They are important for our bodies for growth vitamins are nutrients needed

by the body to repair warm out tissues.

 Climbing fruits plants have a stem called a vain. Vains are weak and

therefore are needed to be supported using wood or wires.

 Such fruits plants can also be made to climb along the fence. They include

the passion fruits, grapes, blackberries, kiwi fruits, raspberry fruits and

gooseberry fruits.

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 1.4.1 How to Plant

 Climbing fruit plants can be planted from seeds or from stem cutting. Fruits

seeds can be found from the market or can be prepared at home for

planting.

 To prepare fruits seeds, get a fruit from a tree or from the market, extract

seeds from it and wash.

 Dry the seeds on the sunlight and select the best seeds for planting.

Prepare a seedbed and plant your seeds.

 Always water your seeds regularly until the seeds germinate. After

germinating and the seedlings are strong, you can transfer them to their

place of planting.

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  This process of transferring seedlings from the seedbed to their place of

planting is called transplanting.

Passion fruit seeds

 To prepare stem cutting select a sweet able fruit plant to get the stems

form. Using a knife, cut the stem into small pieces of about one feet.

 Insert the cuttings into a planting site such as a container or a socket. Take

care of the planted cutting by watering them, shading and removing weeds.

When the cuttings start to develop leaves and roots, you can transplant

them to their new places.

stem cuttings

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  Young climbing fruits plants should be taken care of. We should make a

shade of them to prevent them from direct sunlight.

 We should also construct a support structure using strong poles and wires

for the fruit plant to support itself on.

 We also need to guide the plant along wires the process of guiding a climbing

fruit plant along a wire is called Training.

Ways of training a plant

 A grower trains plants to:

 Improve flower or plant appearance and management,

 improve flower and fruit size and quality and

 to protect plants from damage.

 Training plants is done by:

o supporting,

o thinning,

o stopping,

o disbudding and

o pruning.

 Water the young fruit plant regularly and apply manure at its roots.

Artificial fertilizer can also be used at minimal quantities to ensure safe

food, protect the plant from any weeds by weeding them regularly by

uprooting weeds from the stem.

1.5 Managing Climbing fruit plants

 This is taking care of the plant to ensure that it grows until the harvesting

stage. The process of managing fruits plant include, watering, weeding,

manure application, training and harvesting.

 This can be well achieved by developing a project schedule.

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  The planted climbing fruit plant should be watered regularly on the

established site.

 Weeding should be done to reduce competition from weeds for nutrients,

water and light.

 It is important to make a shade over the young plants. The shade protects

them from direct heat of the sun. It is important to make a fence around

them.

 A fence protects them from being damaged by animals.

 Well-rotted manure should be applied from time to time to ensure that the

fruit plants grow healthy.

 Climbing fruit plants also need to be supported so that they grow well and

receive adequate light.

i. Harvesting

 Fruits can be harvested at their right time of harvest. Once the fruits are

mature, they should be harvested. The right time for fruit harvesting can be

determined by observing the colour of the fruit.

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  Some fruits like the yellow passion fruit turn their colour to yellow and

become a bit softer, smoother and sweet smelling. Some fruits such as the

passion fruits fall of from the tree when they are ready for harvesting.

ii. Harvesting Process

 Climbing fruit plant can easily be damaged during the harvesting process. We

should take care not to pull the fruits from climbing fruit plant.

 Pulling the fruits can damage both the fruit and the plant. Tender fruits

such as berries should be placed in small container immediately after

harvesting to prevent damage.

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 DOMESTIC ANIMALS
2.0 Domestic Animals

 Domestic animals are the animals that are kept at home. They include cow,

donkey, chicken, duck, horse, rabbit, cat, dog etc.

 Domestic animals are important to human life because:

o They provide, meat for food, milk,

o security, eggs,

o manual Labour and

o May be sold to generate income.

o Some animals like cows, donkey, horses and rabbits produce wastes to

make manure.

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Animal welfare

 Domestic animals are of great use to us. They should be treated well and

showed love.

 To care for domestic animals,

o They should be kept clean and

o Given medication for good production.

o Food and water should be provide pastes and

o Parasites should be controlled and treated to ensure good health

among domestic animals.

o Water should be given to them and

o They should be protected from extreme temperatures.

Uses of animals

Cat

 Its kept for beauty

 Provide safety against rats at home

Rabbit

 Provides meat

 Kept for beauty at home

Dog

 Provides security at home

 Used for transport

 Provides companionship

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Pig

 Sold to give us money

 Provides pork and bacon

Fish

 Is a source of food

Camel

 Used for transport

 Provides milk.

Horse

 Used for sports

 Used for riding

 Used during war

Camel

 Provides labour when ploughing land

 Used for transporting goods and people

 Provides fur

Bees

 Gives us honey

 Pollinate our fruit crops

 All domestic animals are important to us. Some domestic animals provide

beauty at home, others provide security while others provide us various food

products such as meat, milk and honey.

 Some domestic animals also provide us with transport.

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  Various communities in Kenya use some of the domestic animals during

cultural ceremonies e.g. the Somali community use camels as payment for

dowry during marriage ceremonies.

 We should therefore love and take care of all the domestic animals. We

should also encourage other people to treat them well.

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 3.0 GARDENING PRACTICES
3.1 Indigenous Food Crops

 Indigenous food crops are the crops that grow naturally in the garden. Some

of these indigenous food crops have been adopted by human beings and they

are now grown artificially to provide food for Kenyans Examples of these

crops include; spider weeds, arrow roots, cassava, sorghum, sweet potatoes

and black night shade.

 Indigenous foods crops are much important to our nutrition because they

provide required nutrients and minerals to our body.

 They provide carbohydrates from root tubers, vitamins from leafy crops and

minerals such as zinc and iron from plant like the black night shade and the

spider weeds.

Night shade spider sheet

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Sweet potato arrowroot

Cassava sorghum

 Indigenous foods are foods that our great grandparents used to eat

 These foods benefit us in a number of ways like providing us with

carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins that protect us from diseases, they also

help in healing of wounds.

 Also when surplus are sold they generate income

 Some these plants need to be handled with care like stinging nettle can

cause an itching sensation on the skin and should be handled with care.

Ensure you put on gloves when handling such leaves.

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  Therefore they are important in reducing food shortage and hunger in the

country. Most of these crops can be grown using organic manure, hence no

need of buying expensive artificial fertilizer.

3.2 Vegetable gardening practices

 Vegetable gardening is the process of growing vegetable crops. Vegetable

group are important to our bodies because the provide carbohydrates to the

body.

 Vitamins are best nutrients for the body because they protect our bodies

against diseases. Vegetable crop include; tomatoes, cabbage, kales, spinach,

cucumber and carrots. A vegetation is a part of a plant that is used as food.

Preparing a seedbed

 A part from providing food, vegetables can also be sold to earn income for

farmers.

 Some vegetable are first raised in a nursery before being transplanted. A

nursery bed is a small area of land for raising young seedling before they

are transplanted to a permanent place called a seedbed.

 A nursery bed is prepared to comprise of fine soil particles. Fallow are made

using a stick or an index finger, after leveling the nursery bed and mixing

the soil with organic manure.

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Sowing seeds on a nursery bed

 The seeds are then spread along the fallows in the process called drilling.

Cover the seeds with a thin layer of fine soil.

 Apply dry plant materials to mulch the nursery bed and water it on top of

the mulch.

Care for the vegetable seedlings in the nursery

 Vegetable seedlings are taken care of by constructing a shade on top of

them to prevent being weakened by direct sunlight and to preserve water, by

preventing water lose from the nursery bed through evaporation.

 The seedlings should be watered regularly and weed removed from their

midst. When the seedlings are ready, you should transplant them into a

seedbed.

Preparing a seedbed for planting vegetable seedlings.

 Transplanting seedlings in the seedbed should be taken care of. This is

through weeding, watering and application of fertilizer or manure. Dried up

seedlings after transplanting should be replaced in the process called

gapping.

 Other practices such as mulching, shading application of pesticides to

control pests and diseases are important. Pruning of some vegetables such

as tomatoes is needed. This is cutting of excess branches.

 Tall tomatoes varieties need to be trained, so that they grow upright. Once

the crops are ready, they need to be harvested in time.

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  It is important to keep records of various gardening activities such as the

date of planting. This can help us to estimate the expected date of

harvesting.

 Some vegetables such as cabbages take between two to three months

before they are harvested. Other vegetables may take longer than this.

 Some vegetable fruits are harvested when they are big in size and when

they start changing colour. E.g. tomatoes and hot pepper turn red while some

pumpkins turn orange.

 However, other vegetable fruits such as sweet pepper may still be harvested

when they are green in colour.

 The ripe fruits are picked by the hand. Care is taken so as not to damage the

skin of the fruit. Harvesting of the fruit should be done at the right time to

avoid over ripening which lowers their quality.

 For leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach, it is good to harvest when the

leaves are tender and green. The lower outer leaves are broken from the

stem to allow the plant to produce more.

 The cabbage head is removed by cutting the base of the stalk with a sharp

panga.

 Bulb onions are harvested when the top leaves start bending and turning

yellow. Soil is loosened around the bulbs and then the bulbs are pulled out.

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 3.3 Innovative Gardening
3.3.1 Vertical and Horizontal Gardening

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 Vertical gardening is crowing crops above the ground. This is used to minimize
the space for practicing crop production. It can be used in places where is enough

land to practice gardening on a large piece of land. This practice also save water.

The importance of vertical gardening is that it is easy to control weeds, pest and

diseases. Crops produced from vertical gardens are also clean because they don’t

get into contact with soil.

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Leafy vegetables such as kales and spinach are harvested when they large enough

to use for cooking. They are carefully plucked using hands to avoid uprooting the

whole plant.

Fruit vegetables are plucked when they are ripe. Tomatoes should be carefully

picked when they are ripe.

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