Meaning of Climate
Climate can be defined as the average weather conditions of a place over a long period usually 30-35 years. Similarly, It refers to the average weather condition of a place, location, or region over a long time.
The determination of climate as an average weather condition can be within a country, a region, or even at a global level.
Climate unlike weather does not change quickly, it takes less time for climate to change. This accounts for the reason why the measurement must be the average weather condition of a place.
The day-to-day changes in the atmospheric conditions, that is sunny, cold, dry, and rainy do not imply that the climate is changing.
These trends are only associated with the change in weather conditions of the atmosphere, For these weather conditions to be termed climate change, it must have been recorded over a long time.
This record can only be possible from the frequency determination or measurement of climate elements such as temperatures, rainfall, wind, relative pressure, and more.
These elements have a certain influence on plant growth and development, and the effect of climatic elements can determine the level of food production.
changes or variations of these elements can have positive or negative consequences on food availability. Sourcing for food for an exponentially growing population and an increased rate of urbanization in the face of climatic variation have devasting effects on food availability with food importations as an indicator.
Additionally, in this present time, many countries are seeking healthy food to feed their growing population, with the presence of modern technology.
Climate change has exerted a negative impact on food production, thereby decreasing the rate of food importation around the world.
Similarity Between Weather and Climate
The similarities between the two terms are:
- Both weather and climate occur in locations or regions.
- Both weather and climate can be measured or determined using temperature, pressure, humidity, rainfall and snowfall, wind speed, sunshine, and many other factors
Difference Between Climate and Weather.
The differences between the two terms are tabulated below
| S/no | Climate | Weather |
| 1 | It is an average weather condition over 30-35 years | It is the day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere i.e. in minutes, hours, days, or months |
| 2 | It occurs in a single location, large area, or globally. | It occurs only in a local condition i.e. a particular place or location |
| 3 | It changes slowly | It changes quickly in a single location from day to day (for example, cold and rainy one day, followed by hot, dry conditions the next day), |
| 4 | It is influenced by all the elements such as pressure, relative humidity, rainfall, wind, and, sunshine | It is influenced by only one of all the elements which could either be pressure, relative humidity, rainfall, wind, or sunshine |
| 5 | It is usually studied using climatology tools such as historical weather data, and statistical analysis. | Weather is usually forecasted with the aid of meteorological facilities such as weather models and observations. |
| 6 | It is studied by climatologists | It is studied by meteorologists |
Importance of Climate on Agriculture
Climate plays a significant role in influencing food production across the globe. Some of the influences of climate on agricultural production as listed by the West African Examination Council 2005 are:
Duration of a Cropping Season
Climate affects the duration of a cropping season across the globe. Climate has divided the seasons into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. certain crops are grown during spring, summer, and autumn.
In sub-Saharan Africa, climate divides the season into two, the dry season and the rainy season which have affected the duration of planting.
The dry season brings in the harmattan season which brown from the Sahara desert while the rainy seasons mark the end of the dry season which is usually the planting season. Certain crops don’t grow in the dry season, even in the rainy season climate influences the cropping season.
Some parts of the West African sub-region and Nigeria particularly have different months of rainy seasons, in the south they have no specific period of the rainy season so different types of crops can be grown, in the North some areas have 6-7 months of rainy season while others have 3-5 months of raining seasons this have adverse effects in the types of crops to be cultivated.
Maize, groundnut, melon millet, cassava, yams, and cowpea are planted in the early planting season February to May, while orange, oil palm, rice, cashew, rubber, etc. are planted around June to July to enable them to establish before the raining season ends.
Determines the Yield of Crops
Climate affects the yield of crops. Climatic elements like temperature may cause heat stress on plants and may lead to a delay in growth or even the death of the plants.
Reports from researchers have shown that high temperature affects the ripening and maturity of fruits thereby determining the yield of crops. Climatic elements determine the photoperiodism of crops which makes crops respond to daylight.
Certain crops perform very well under moderate temperatures, while others perform very low under low temperatures. Crops such as maize, rice, and millet perform poorly under low temperatures.
Rainfall affects the rate of seed germination, while water stress produces important changes in the carbohydrates and nitrogen metabolism of plants.
Too high rainfall leads to leaching; erosion of plants’ nutrients, soil acidity, and increases the growth of disease-causing organisms which decreases the yield of crops.
Determines the Yield of Animals
Climate influences the yields of farm animals. Climatic elements like rainfall, temperature, and wind play one or two roles in the growth and development of farm animals.
Climatic elements like temperature cause heat stress on animals leading to abortion in farm animals; egg reduction; poor feed intake; and decrease in soil fertilities, and hatchability.
Moderate or ideal temperature makes birds spread evenly and feed well during brooding, leading to better egg production. In the temperate region high rainfall encourages thick forestation leading to the incidence of pests like tsetse flies’ infestation and growth of disease-causing organisms (pathogens) such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
High rainfall encourages the spread of pests and diseases. Rainfall determines the types of animals to be reared i.e. the distribution of animals.
Temperature affects the performance of farm animals and at the same time heat stress in farm animals may lead to the death of farm animals.
Determine the Types of Crops to Grown
Climate affects the types of crops to be cultivated in an area. Climatic elements like temperature and rainfall determine the types of crops that can survive in one location or the other.
Climate determines the distribution of crops. In the temperate region crops such as oil palm, rubber, cocoa, oranges, and cassava can be confidently cultivated. While in the tropics such crops cannot survive, except crops like millet, wheat, and barley. all this accounts for the impact of climate on the nature of crops to be cultivated
Influence the Type of Livestock to be Reared
Climate determines the types of animals or livestock to be reared in an area. Climatic elements like temperature and rainfall determine the types of animals or livestock to be reared in one location or the other.
Climate determines the distribution of farm animals that can be reared in the temperate or the tropics. In the temperate region farm animals such as snails, grass cutters, sheep, pigs, fish, and goats can be confidently reared. while animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats can also be reared in the tropical region due to low incidents of tsetse-fly.
Determine Vegetation Distribution
Climate affects the types of vegetation found in an area. Climatic elements like temperature and rainfall determine the types of vegetative distribution found in one area or the other.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria climate determines the distribution of vegetation in the countries. In Nigeria, the climate has divided the vegetation into six vegetative zones e.g. rainforest zone, tropical rainforest, mangrove swamp forest, guinea savannah, Sudan savannah, and Sahel savannah animals.
The first three forest zones i.e. rainforest zone, tropical rainforest, and mangrove swamp forest are found in southern Nigeria while the last three, i.e. guinea savannah, Sudan savannah, and Sahel savannah animals are found in the northern part of the country.
These vegetative types have also affected the types of economic trees found in these locations.
Influence on Pests
Climatic factors such as rainfall encourage the activities of pests which constitute a serious attack on crops. In the rainforest zone, high rainfall encourages thick forestation which leads to the outbreak of pests like tsetse-fly infestation.
Many pests of crops and animals lay their eggs and hatch in the rain and begin to infest crops. High rainfall encourages the spread of pests.
In the rainy season, pests like butterflies are usually high which aids the pollination of crops. High temperature makes animals or crops prone to pest infestation.
Influence on Disease
Rainfall encourages the growth of disease-causing organisms (pathogens) such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa which affect crop and animal productivity.
High rainfall encourages the spread of disease. High temperatures expose animals to disease attacks. Lower relative humidity makes food too moldy which leads to the growth of aspergillosis. High humidity encourages the spread of diseases.
Determine the Rate of Weed Growth
Climate determines the rate of weed growth in an area. Weed flowered in the rainy season while the seed splits in the dry.
The seed that splits during the dry season will remain dormant in the soil until the rainy season before germination. Some weed reaches their threshold level during the rainy season.
At high temperatures, weed begins to die and dry off, as weeds dry and die, the environment may completely turn to dry soil but when the rains start weeds will begin to germinate.
High rainfall encourages rapid growth of edible and medicinal weeds such as water leaf, green amaranthus, bitter leaf, tractor leaf plant, and miracle leaf plants.
Influences Soil Fertility
Climatic factors such as temperature and rainfall have various degrees of influence on the nutrient level of the soil. High rainfall leads to leaching and erosion, while high temperatures lead to the drying and caking of the soil structure.
at moderate rainfall and temperature, there are high activities of soil microorganisms such as earthworms, centipedes, millipedes, scorpions, fungi, bacteria, etc. which burrow into the soil and help to improve the soil structure.
the activities of these micro and micro organisms help to decay plant and animal material in the soil thereby increasing soil fertility.
High rainfall will lead to leaching, soil erosion, and acid rain which leads to soil acidity which decreases the yield of crops.
FAQs
what are the 10 importance of climate in agriculture?
the 10 importance of climate in agriculture are:
- It influences the types of livestock to be reared
- It determines the types the crops to be grown.
- It determines the yields of farm Animals.
- It influences soil fertility.
- It influences the incidence of disease.
- It determines vegetative distribution.
- It determines the yield of crops
- It influences the rate of weed growth
- It influences the duration of a Cropping Season
- It determines the incidence of pests.