Components of An Agroecosystem and Everything You Need Know

Components of An Agroecosystem

 Some of the Components of An Agroecosystem as stated by studysmarter. com are:

1.  Biotic Components of An Agroecosystem

2. Abiotic Components of An Agroecosystem

3. Autotrophic Components of An Agroecosystem

4. Heterotrophic Components of An Agroecosystem

Biotic Components of An Agroecosystem

These are the living components of an Agroecosystemwhich includes all living organisms in the environment.

They interact with other abiotic factors in the environment. Examples of biotic factors are producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Producers (Autotrophs)

As the name sounds, are organisms that can produce their food using the energy from the sun along with water and carbon dioxide. In agriculture, the example of these organisms includes all green plants and algae. Producers are also called autotrophs because they make use of abiotic factors to produce their food.

Consumers (heterotroph)

these are dependent components of an Agroecosystem, they do not make their food but rather depend on the autotroph for food. In the food chain, they are referred to as secondary or tertiary organisms. They derive their energy from the producers. Examples of Consumers are predators and parasites.

Decomposers (Saprotrophs)

These are organisms that feed on death and decayed plants and animal materials. They break down organic matter into inorganic components, like carbon and nitrogen. The inorganic matter so broken down by these organisms will return to the soil as nutrients for plant use. Examples of decomposers in the soil are bacteria, fungi, earthworms, etc

 

Abiotic Components of An Agroecosystem

These are non-living components of an Agroecosystem that influence both biotic and abiotic components. Abiotic factors that influence both biotic and other abiotic factors in agroecosystems are climatic factors and edaphic factors.

Climatic factors: the climate factors in the agroecosystem  are:

1. Sunlight:  this is the major source of energy in the Agroecosystem, the energy derived from the sun can be used by plants in manufacturing their food. Without sunlight, green plants cannot synthesize their food.  Green plants depend on energy from the sun to synthesize their food, sunlight affects evapotranspiration on crops and determines crop reaction to daylight (photoperiodism). Sunlight provides light used by farm animals for movement and determines the laying ability of boilers.
2. Temperature:  temperature ranges can be minimum, optimal, and maximum. The range of this temperature has implications for the performance of plants and animals in the Agroecosystem. Prolonged drought leads to heat stress and water losses as well as the scarcity of water in the farmstead. Prolonged drought plants will result in wilting of leaves, and the development of thick bark or leaves to survive the adverse effect of temperature. Temperature is one of the necessary conditions for seed germination and determines microbial activities with the mineralization of organic substances. The range of temperature has implications on the ripening and maturity of fruits. Temperature can also exert an effect on other abiotic factors like rock, as high or low temperatures affect rock formation and conversion of rock from one form to another.
3. Wind: the direction or the speed of movement of air in the atmosphere affects the performance of plants and animals in the Agroecosystem. High wind velocity can result in wind erosion, and destruction of farmstead and structures in the farmstead as it relates to other abiotic factors, like soil and water. It aids the dispersal of seeds and spreads wildfire. Wind affects temperature as well as evapotranspiration in crops and evaporation in soil, air, and surface waters respectively. Wind can determine rainfall distribution and patterns as well as rock abrasive action.
4. Rainfall: this refers to precipitation. Water is essential for the survival of plants and animals in the Agroecosystem. Rainfall water causes the expansion of chemical changes in rock minerals and aids the chemical weathering of rock as well as soil erosion and leaching of important soil minerals.  In the fish pond water contains nutrients, gases, and food sources that fish and aquatic animals depend on. Water causes logging in clayey soil as it affects other abiotic factors.  Rainfall determines the types of crops and animals grown and reared. I.e. the distribution of crops and animals.
5. Relative humidity: This refers to the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere affects the performance of plants and animals in the agroecosystem. Relative humidity determines food quality in farm animals and causes the spread of disease.

 

Edaphic Components of An Agroecosystem

These are soil factors affecting the plants and animals in the agroecosystem, they are:

1. 1. Topography: The shape of land in agriculture can be flat, sloppy, or undulating, each of the shapes of land has serious implications on the land,  including all the biotic factors. sloppy and hilly land surfaces encourage soil formation and erosion. the topography of the land determines the distribution of plants and animals which influences the process of soil formation and rock weathering. also, flat soil disposes of the soil to equal environment which reduces the rate of soil formation in the soil.
   2. soil Ph: this refers to the level of acidity or alkalinity of the soil. extreme pH value affects the activities of biotic factors in the soil e.g. plants and animals such as microorganisms. also, high pH is known to affect the solubility of some elements in the soil which may be toxic to crops at higher concentrations.
   3. Soil Texture: the fineness and coarseness of the soil influence both biotic and abiotic components of the soil. if the soil particle is closely packed like clayey soil, the rate of water-holding capacity of the soil will be low, and if it is loosely packed as in the case of sandy soil, the rate of water drainage will be high. moderate soil texture like loamy soil retains the best water and minerals that are available for plant growth and productivity. also, soil texture affects the rate of plant root penetration in the soil.
   4. soil consistency: this is the ability of the soil to supply all the necessary nutrients required for plant growth and productivity despite the pressure and other physical manipulation.
   5. soil type: the type of soil on the farm whether loamy soil, clayey, or sandy soil affects the activities of living organisms in the agroecosystem. poor soil affects the growth of plants and productivity while soil with good water and nutrient retention capacity will plant growth and serve as the home for microorganisms.

 

Autotrophism Components of An Agroecosystem

In these components of an Agroecosystem, living organisms can manufacture their food from inorganic matter (i.e. Matters that do not contain carbon).

Autotrophic organisms such as crops, green grasses, phytoplankton, algae, and bacteria can produce their food from inorganic matter.

Autotrophic organisms can synthesize their food from organic matter by reducing inorganic matter using external energy as a source.

The types of Autotrophism in the agroecosystem include photoautotrophism and chemoautotrophism.

1. Photoautotrophism: in this type of autotrophic, agricultural plants, phytoplankton, and algae in the fish pond can use light energy and inorganic carbon to produce organic matter.  These plants can convert carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen with the help of sunlight.
2. Chemoautotrophism: this is a process whereby living organisms produce their food through the use of chemical energy. These groups of organisms do not use sunlight to produce their food, rather they use chemical energy from food. These organisms convert carbon into glucose and nutrient bacteria. They use hydrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide, and methane as sources of energy instead of sunlight. Bacteria such as cyanobacterials use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates.

 

Heterotrophism Components of An Agroecosystem

This is the ability of an organism to produce organic material only from the organic carbon of animal or plant sources.

Organisms in heterotrophic components of the Agroecosystem depend on the producers for food. Heterotrophy organisms cannot synthesize their food, rather they depend on another organism for food.

They cannot synthesize their food like green plants because of the absence of chlorophyll (green color pigment), hence they are referred to as secondary or tertiary consumers.

Farm animals (such as goats, cattle, sheep, fish pigs), parasites, and non-photosynthetic plants are referred to as heterotrophs. Three modes of feed exist under the Heterotrophism components of an Agroecosystem. They are:

1. Holozoic Mode of Feeding: The holozoic mode of feed involves the process whereby farm animals feed on complex organic food materials. These food materials taken in by the farm animals are slowly broken down into tiny particles in the form that they can assimilate into the body. This type of Heterotrophism mode of feeding in farm animals includes ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and excretion.  Holozoic modes of feeding in farm animals are classified into three types Herbivores: These are farm animals that feed only plants. Examples of herbivores are cattle, goats, sheep, horses, donkeys, and tilapia. Carnivores: These are farm animals that feed only on flesh. Examples of carnivores are catfish,  Gymnacus niloticus. Omnivores: These are farm animals that feed on both plants and animals. Examples of omnivores are, pigs and poultry
2. Saprophytic Mode of Feeding: This is another type of Heterotrophism Components of an Agroecosystem in which animals and plants such as mushrooms feed on dead and decomposed substances. In agriculture, these organisms that feed on dead and decomposed materials are called saprophytes. Organisms that fall under this category are millipedes, earthworms, centipedes, and fungi. These organisms play a vital role in the agroecosystem since they help to break down organic matter substrate to form soil.
3. Parasitic Organism: Parasites are living organisms that depend on another living organism called the host for food. The relationship that exists between the parasites and the host is only beneficial to the host. Parasites have negative effects on plants and animals. When parasites affect plants or animals they reduce the economic value, increase the farmers’ cost of production, and become secondary hosts for pathogens. Examples of parasites are plant parasites like mistletoe, ticks, lice, liver fluke, etc. There are two main types of parasites, they are EctoParasites and Endoparasites. Parasites are of two types. they are EctoParasites: These are a parasite that lives outside the body of their host (plants and animals), where they derive their sources of livelihood. Examples are lice, ticks, fleas, mites, liver flukes, tsetse-flies, etc. Endoparasites: These are parasites that live inside the body of the host where they derive their sources of livelihood. Examples of Endoparasites are Tapeworms and ascaris.

 

Continue Reading on:  11  Principles of Agricultural Ecology That You Are Not Aware of 

 

How Farm Crop/Animals Interact With Other Organisms and Non-Living Things Under Different Farm Settings

 The interaction between living organisms in terrestrial and Agroecosystems occurs in the following ways

Fish Ponds

 In the pond algae and phytoplankton attract the carbon dioxide from the pond environment which they use in the manufacturing of food.

In the process of food making, the producers give out oxygen as a product, which is used by consumers such as fish and aquatic organisms in the pond.

The pond agro ecosystem contains animals such as frogs, fishes, and insects, as well as bacteria, fungi, algae, and phytoplankton.

In the pond, there are different types of plants, animals, and insects some are on top of the water surface while others in the bottom of the pond covered by the water.

Some water birds may be swimming in the pond, or flying on top of the water surface, searching for fish to catch as food. Frogs eat small insects while Fishes feed on insects, frogs, and other Small animals in the pond.

 

Monocropping or Sole Cropping

This involves the planting of one type of crop on a piece of land. The planting of one type of crop on one piece of land leads to the buildup of pests and diseases on the farm.

These pests and diseases die to add manure into the soil, Crops on the other hand release oxygen as a by-product which are used by pests for respiration.

Mixed Cropping System

 This refers to the planting of different types of crops on the same pieces of land.

if leguminous plants are introduced into the farm, nitrogen will be added to the soil because legume plants can fix the atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, and other plants in the same farm can utilize Nigeria added to the soil for growth and Development.

Crops with different rooting systems will extract nutrients from different depths of the soil, and when the plant dies and decays the plant adds soil nutrients to the soil.

Mixed Farming

In this system of farming both crops and animals are raised on the same piece of land. Since the farmer cultivates crops and rears animals on the same pieces of land.

Plants and animals together in the agroecosystem. The farmer can harvest the crop to feed the farm animals with crops or waste products from the crops.

Animal dung and urine can be used as farm yard manure to increase soil fertility. Crops can use atmospheric carbon dioxide to synthesize their food in the process gives out oxygen as a by-product, which is used by animals as a source of life.

Rainforest or Savanna

The rainforest is made of tall trees, shrubs, epiphytes, and climbers which make the forest very dense and thick.

Producers in the rainforest savanna need inorganic and organic substances present in the atmosphere and soil for food synthesis. Small animals such as caterpillars, ants, beetles, flies, spiders, and grasshoppers feed on tree leaves while animals such as cane rats destroy the bark of trees.

Other animals such as birds, snakes, and lizards derived their means of livelihood from the forest. These organisms interact with one another for food, energy, oxygen, and other components which are essential for their survival and life processes.

In conclusion

The components of an agroecosystem include biotic, abiotic, autotrophic, and Heterotrophic components of an agroecosystem. These factors are interrelated and independent of each other.

This article vividly discusses the components of an agroecosystem to enable farmers to manage their farms and create a sustainable environment for plants and animals in ecosystem.