New CAPS Subjects: Agricultural Studies

Here are the eight (8) topics that you study in Agricultural Science in your Grade 10 to 12:

1. Soil Science
2. Plant Studies
3. Animal Studies
4. Agricultural Economics
5. Basic Agricultural Chemistry
6. Basic Genetics and Biological Concepts
7. Sustainable Natural Resource Utilization
8. Agro-ecology

Soil Science

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• The concepts of soil
• The basic components of soil
• Soil minerals and rock formation
• Weathering processes
• The main soil forming processes and factors
• The physical and morphological characteristics of the soil
• Soil texture
• Soil structure
• Soil moisture
• Soil pores
• Soil temperature
• Soil profile
• Soil classification and evaluation
• The chemical properties of the soil
• Soil organic matter (living and non-living)

Plant Studies

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• General classification, importance and economic value of plants
• Suitability for cropping based on climatic conditions and soil requirements  
• Field crops
• Horticultural crops
• Fodder crops
• Forests
• Photosynthesis
• Water and nutrients
• Mineral nutritional requirements
• The fundamental minerals or elements needed by plants for optimal growth and production
• Organic and inorganic fertilizers
• Mineral supplementation in plants and the analysis of plant mineral status
• The different methods of plant reproduction
• Fertilization
• Fruit setting
• Seed germination
• Plant improvement and biotechnology
• Plant diseases and control
• Plant pests and control
• Integrated pest management and biological control
• Plant weeds and control

Animal Studies

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• General importance, economic value and classification of farm animals
• Animals’ distribution and adaptation to various climatic areas
• Cattle breeds
• Sheep breeds
• Goat breeds
• Pig breeds
• Poultry breeds
• Horse breeds
• Game animals
• Animal nutrition requirements, digestion and the alimentary canals of farm animals
• The fundamental feed components needed by animals for optimal growth and production
• Scientific feeding
• Mineral and ration supplementation for animals
• Calculation of the digestibility of feeds and feed flow programmes
• Types of animal production systems
• Animal shelter, protection and housing
• Behaviour and handling of farm animals
• Reproductive organs of farm animals
• Systems and processes of reproduction of farm animals
• The most common livestock diseases, their prevention and control

Agricultural Economics

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• The importance of the agricultural industry
• Land redistribution, development and ownership
• The economic values of various animals and plants
• Value of indigenous knowledge systems
• The impact of secondary and tertiary agricultural development in South Africa
• Agricultural organisations
• Agricultural legislation
• The supply and demand of agricultural products
• The marketing systems commonly used in agriculture
• Price determination of agricultural products
• Agricultural production factors
• Risks in Agriculture
• The concepts: market chain or supply and demand chain, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship and business plan

Basic Genetics And Biological Concepts

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• The plant and animal cells
• The structures in plant and animal cells
• Cell divisions processes 
• Genetics and heredity
• Mendel’s laws of heredity
• Variation and mutation
• Selection and breeding processes
• The pattern of inheritance that leads to different phenotypes
• The concept: pre-potency and atavism
• Genetic modification/engineering

Basis Agricultural Chemistry

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• Basic chemistry terminology important in Agriculture
• The use and interpretation of the periodic table of elements
• Chemical bonding
• Organic and inorganic substance formations and their molecular structures
• Alkanes and alcohols
• Fatty acids
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Carbohydrates

Sustainable Natural Resource Utilisation

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• Agricultural resources
• Sustainable utilisation of natural resources in Agriculture
• Soil conservation and management
• Water quality and management
• Agricultural pollution
• Agriculture legislation for the protection and conservation of the environment 
• Soil surveying and planning
• Sustainable use of water in agriculture
• Controlled agricultural production systems
• Soil classification and evaluation for agricultural purposes

Agro-Ecology

Here is what you will study in this topic:

• The concepts: biome, ecology, ecosystem, adaptation and ecological pyramid
• Components of the ecosystem
• The biomes of Southern Africa
• The grazing ecology and veld/pasture management
• Farming systems that use Agro-ecological principles
• Climate change or effects of different weather phenomena