Category: P

pH scale: A measure of acidity or alkalinity. Managing soil and water pH levels ensures optimal growing conditions for crops and healthy environments for livestock.

pen: A small enclosure for animals or poultry. Verb to enclose animals such as sheep in a pen. Properly designed pens ensure animal welfare and easy management.

potash: Any potassium salt. Helpful content: Potash is a vital nutrient for plant growth, helping with water regulation, enzyme activation, and photosynthesis. Proper application of potash fertilizers can enhance crop yields and improve soil fertility.

pale leaf spot: White spots that form on the leaves of clover plants due to potash deficiency. Identifying and addressing nutrient deficiencies in plants can prevent yield losses and maintain healthy crops.

parasiticide: A substance that kills parasites. Using parasiticides helps maintain the health and productivity of crops and livestock.

porcine spongiform encephalopathy: A brain disease which has been induced in pigs experimentally. Abbr PSE. Helpful content: Understanding and preventing PSE is important for maintaining pig health and ensuring food safety. Research and biosecurity measures can help mitigate the risk of this disease in pig populations.

pomegranate: A semi-tropical tree (Punica granatum) native to Asia, but now cultivated widely. The fruit are round and yellow, with masses of seeds surrounded by sweet red flesh. Helpful content: Pomegranates are valued for their health benefits and market potential. Farmers can benefit from growing this crop by implementing best practices for cultivation, pest control, and post-harvest handling to ensure high-quality fruit.

precision drill: A seed drill which sows the seed separately at set intervals in the soil. Helpful content: Precision drills ensure accurate seed placement, leading to uniform crop stands and efficient use of resources. This technology can enhance yields and reduce seed wastage, benefiting overall farm productivity.

picker: A person who picks crops, e.g., a fruit picker, grape picker, cotton picker. Employing skilled pickers ensures efficient and high-quality harvests, improving farm productivity.

plant food ratio: The ratio of nitrogen to phosphate and potash in a fertilizer. Helpful content: Knowing the plant food ratio is vital for farmers to provide balanced nutrition to their crops. Proper fertilization based on this ratio can enhance plant growth, improve yields, and prevent nutrient deficiencies.

prolactin: A hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates milk production. Helpful content: Prolactin is crucial for lactation in dairy animals. Managing prolactin levels through nutrition and health care can optimize milk production and improve dairy farm profitability.

planning permission: An official agreement allowing a person or company to plan new buildings on empty land or to alter existing buildings. Helpful content: Obtaining planning permission is a critical step for farmers undertaking new construction or major renovations. This approval ensures that projects are legally sanctioned and compliant with zoning laws.

power take-off: A mechanism providing power to drive field machines from a tractor. Abbr p.t.o. Helpful content: The power take-off is a critical component for operating various farm machinery. Understanding its use and maintenance ensures efficient operation of equipment like mowers, balers, and harvesters, improving farm productivity.

plantain: A name given to various types of banana, used for cooking and brewing. It has a lower sugar content than dessert bananas. Helpful content: Plantains are a versatile crop that can provide additional income for farmers. They are used in a variety of culinary dishes and can be processed into products like chips and flour, expanding market opportunities.

pectin: A sticky mixture of various polysaccharides found in plant cell walls. Pectin is used in food processing, especially in making jams and jellies, providing added value to fruit crops.

pelleted seed: A seed coated with clay to produce pellets of uniform size and density. Pelleting is done to make the sowing of very fine seed easier. Using pelleted seeds ensures uniform planting and better crop establishment.

PEG: Abbreviation production entitlement guarantee. Understanding agricultural policies like PEG helps farmers navigate subsidy systems and optimize farm income.

potato harvester: A machine which lifts the crop onto a sorting platform, where up to six pickers sort the potatoes from soil and stones. The potatoes are then raised onto a trailer. Helpful content: Potato harvesters streamline the harvesting process, increasing efficiency and reducing labor requirements. Proper use and maintenance of these machines can enhance productivity and ensure high-quality produce.

pale soft exudative muscle: A condition where an animal’s meat becomes pale and lacks firmness. Abbr PSE. Managing livestock stress and diet can prevent this condition, ensuring better meat quality.

pesticide: A chemical used to kill or control pests. Using pesticides correctly helps protect crops from damage while minimizing environmental impact.

pink-eye pink-eye pink-eye: A disease of cattle and other animals, causing redness and discharge from the eye. Managing livestock health includes monitoring and treating diseases like pink-eye to prevent complications.

pigpen: A small enclosure for pigs. Properly designed pigpens ensure animal welfare and easy management, improving farm productivity.

Policy Commission on Farming and Food: The Curry Report. Helpful content: The Policy Commission on Farming and Food provides recommendations for sustainable agriculture practices. Farmers can benefit from these guidelines to improve farm management, increase productivity, and enhance environmental stewardship.

photoperiod: The number of hours of light in each 24-hour period. Managing photoperiods in crop production can enhance flowering and fruiting, leading to better yields.

plant passport: Passport for plants. Helpful content: Plant passports are essential for tracking the movement of plants and ensuring they are free from pests and diseases. This certification helps farmers comply with regulations and maintain the health of their crops during transportation and trade.

Poaceae: The grasses, which is a very large family of plants including bamboo and cereals such as wheat and maize. Former name Gramineae. Helpful content: Understanding the Poaceae family is essential for farmers growing cereal crops. Knowledge of grass biology and growth patterns can help optimize crop management and improve yields.

pot-bound plant: A plant which is in a pot that is too small and which its roots fill. Helpful content: Managing pot-bound plants involves timely repotting and ensuring adequate space for root growth. Proper care can promote healthier plants and better growth in controlled environments.

pillory pillory pillory: A device used for public punishment. Ensuring farm security includes using structures like pillories to protect resources and prevent theft.

Penicillium: The genus of fungus from which penicillin is derived. Understanding the origins of antibiotics aids in effective disease management in agriculture.

post-harvest: The period after crops are harvested, focusing on storage, processing, and marketing. Effective post-harvest management ensures the quality and value of agricultural products.

parturition: The act of giving birth to offspring, when the fetus leaves the uterus, called by different names according to the animal. Calving, farrowing, foaling, lambing. Understanding parturition helps in managing livestock breeding and ensuring healthy births.

perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years. Perennials provide long-term benefits to the farm by reducing the need for replanting and improving soil structure.

Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome: A disease of pigs causing blotches under the skin. The cause of this disease is not yet known. Abbr PDNS. Helpful content: Early detection and management of PDNS can help mitigate its effects on pig health. Farmers should work with veterinarians to develop effective treatment and prevention strategies, ensuring the well-being of their herds.

petroleum jelly: A type of grease which is produced from petroleum and is used as a lubricant and for treating sores on animal skin. Using petroleum jelly helps in treating minor injuries and maintaining livestock health.

prod: A spiked metal rod used to make cattle move forward. Helpful content: Proper use of a prod helps in handling and moving livestock safely and efficiently. It ensures minimal stress to animals and enhances their welfare during transportation and management.

poussin: A young chicken killed for the table. Helpful content: Poussin is a delicacy in many markets, providing an additional revenue stream for poultry farmers. Proper rearing and processing techniques ensure high-quality meat and meet market demand.

pan-: Prefix affecting everything or everywhere. Understanding prefixes helps in grasping agricultural terminology more effectively.

pipette pipette pipette: A small tube used to measure and transfer liquids. Using pipettes in laboratory work improves precision and accuracy in research and development.

podsolic: Referring to podsol. Helpful content: Knowledge of podsolic soils helps farmers implement soil management practices that enhance fertility and support sustainable agriculture. Understanding soil characteristics allows for better crop selection and nutrient management.

potassium chloride: A colorless crystalline salt used as a fertilizer and in photography and medicine. Formula: KCl. Helpful content: Potassium chloride is a common and effective source of potassium for crops. Its proper application can improve soil fertility and support healthy plant growth.

parameter: 1. A factor that defines the limits or actions of something 2. A variable quantity or value for which a measurement is attempted, e.g., mean height. Understanding parameters helps in precision agriculture and data-driven decision-making.

pluck: 1. To remove the feathers from a bird’s carcass. 2. To remove the internal organs from an animal carcass after slaughter. 3. To remove the leaves from a plant such as the tea plant. Helpful content: Efficient plucking techniques are important for maintaining the quality of poultry and other animal products. This process is essential for preparing meat for market and ensuring food safety.

pilot pilot pilot: A person who operates or navigates a vehicle, e.g., a pilot of a tractor. Employing skilled pilots ensures efficient and safe farm operations.

piggery: A place where pigs are reared. Managing piggeries efficiently provides high-quality meat products and ensures animal welfare.

plot: A small area of cultivated land, which has been clearly defined. Helpful content: Managing small plots effectively can allow farmers to experiment with different crops and techniques. Small-scale farming on plots can be highly productive and sustainable, providing diverse produce for local markets.

persistent: 1. Describing a plant that grows year after year 2. Describing a disease that remains in the body and is difficult to cure. Managing persistent plants and diseases is crucial for sustainable agriculture and maintaining crop and livestock health.

pig nutrition: The study of feeding pigs to ensure proper growth and production. Providing balanced nutrition for pigs ensures their health and productivity.

patho-: Prefix disease. Understanding prefixes helps in grasping agricultural terminology more effectively.

processing and marketing grant: A sum of money given to farmers under the ERDP to help with packaging and marketing their products. Helpful content: Processing and marketing grants support farmers in adding value to their products and improving market access. These grants can fund infrastructure improvements, equipment purchases, and marketing initiatives, enhancing farm profitability.

PSPS: Abbreviation for Pesticide Safety Precaution Scheme. Helpful content: The Pesticide Safety Precaution Scheme offers valuable information on safe pesticide use. Farmers can enhance crop protection and ensure environmental safety by adhering to these guidelines.