Agriculture Glossary
Tapping
Tapping is the technique of extracting latex from the trunks of rubber trees or the sap from papaya plants.
Terminal Market
A terminal market is a large, metropolitan market that manages all types of agricultural commodities. An example is the San Francisco Wholesale Produce and Fruit Market.
Top Dressing
Top dressing refers to the application of lime, fertilizer, or manure to soil either after preparing the seedbed or after the plants have started to grow.
Topsoil
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil used for cultivation, typically rich in organic matter compared to the layers beneath it.
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)
TDN represents the total sum of all the nutrients in animal feed that can be digested by the animal.
Transpiration
Transpiration is the process where water vapor is lost from the leaves and stems of plants to the atmosphere.
Thinning
Thinning involves removing excess plants from densely populated crop areas to ensure an optimal number of plants.
Tillage
Tillage is the agricultural practice of using implements to prepare the soil for planting. This process helps loosen the soil, mix in fertilizers, and create fine soil aggregates. In rainfed agriculture, proper tillage is crucial for preparing seedbeds, controlling weeds, conserving moisture, establishing uniform stands, and enhancing water infiltration. Different types of tillage practices include deep tillage, off-season tillage, and shallow tillage.
Topping (Tobacco)
Topping in tobacco cultivation involves removing the terminal bud and sometimes some of the top leaves just before or after the flower bud emerges.
Total Mixed Ration
A total mixed ration is a feed diet where all ingredients are thoroughly blended to ensure each bite is nutritionally balanced.
Toxin
A toxin is a harmful substance produced by a living organism.
Traditional Agriculture
Traditional agriculture involves farming practices such as crop rotation, using animal manure instead of chemical fertilizers, and relying on animal power.
T-Value
The permissible annual soil loss rate for sustained productivity.
Tachinid Fly
A parasitic insect used in biological pest control.
Tachyspory
Rapid seed dispersal mechanism in certain plant species.
Tagasaste
A fodder shrub used in agroforestry systems.
Tagging
The process of labeling plants or livestock for identification.
Tail Water
Irrigation runoff collected for reuse.
Tail-End Reach
The farthest point in a water delivery or irrigation system.
Take-All Disease
A serious root disease in cereals like wheat.
Tame Pasture
Managed and cultivated pasture with improved forage species.
Tannin
Plant compounds that may affect livestock digestion.
Tank Irrigation
Water storage method using tanks for irrigation, especially in South India.
Tap Root
The primary, central root growing vertically downward.
Tapping
Extraction of latex or resin from trees such as rubber or pine.
Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ)
Import system allowing specific quantities at lower tariffs.
Tarpaulin
Protective sheet used in drying or covering agricultural products.
Tarsonemid Mites
Tiny mites that infest horticultural crops.
Tassel
The male flowering part of maize responsible for pollen production.
Tasseling
The stage in maize when tassels emerge.
Tat Soi
An Asian leafy green vegetable used in diversified cropping.
Tatura Trellis
A V-shaped orchard training system improving light exposure.
Taxonomic Key
A tool for systematic identification of plants and organisms.
Taxonomy
The science of naming, defining, and classifying organisms.
TDR (Transferable Development Rights)
A zoning tool used to manage land-use changes.
Teak (Tectona grandis)
A valuable hardwood species cultivated in plantations.
Technified Agriculture
High-tech farming using mechanization and precision tools.
Tef (Eragrostis tef)
A cereal crop native to Ethiopia, gluten-free and nutritionally rich.
Temperature Inversion
Weather phenomenon affecting spray drift and air circulation.
Temperature Stress
Stress in crops due to excessive heat or cold.
Temperate Crop
Crops suited to cool climates with seasonal variation.
Temporary Wilting Point
Plant wilting condition that recovers upon watering.
Tenancy Farming
Farming done by tenants on rented land.
Tenure Security
The right to use and control land without risk of eviction.
Terminal Bud
The growing point at the tip of a stem or branch.
Terracing
Forming stepped levels on sloped land to prevent erosion.
Test Cross
A genetic cross to determine unknown genotypes.
Test Weight
A grain quality parameter based on volume weight.
Tethering
Tying livestock for controlled grazing.
Thiamethoxam
A neonicotinoid insecticide effective against sucking pests.
Thigmomorphogenesis
Plant growth alteration due to touch or mechanical stimulation.
Thigmotropism
Growth response of plants to physical contact.
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Technique to identify pesticide or plant compounds.
Thin-skinned Varieties
Fruits or vegetables with delicate skins, prone to damage.
Thinning
Removal of excess plants or fruits for improved spacing and quality.
Thixotropy
Soil behavior where structure becomes fluid under stress.
Threshing
Separating grains from plants after harvesting.
Threshold Level
Pest population level at which management action is triggered.
Throughput
The quantity of produce or inputs processed in a system.
Thrombe Wall Greenhouse
A passive solar greenhouse using heat-absorbing walls.
Tillage
Soil preparation by plowing, turning, or loosening.
Tillering
Development of side shoots in cereal crops.
Tilth
Soil’s physical condition related to seedbed quality.
Time of Sowing
The ideal period for seed planting.
Time Temperature Indicator (TTI)
Tool to monitor food packaging temperature changes.
Timothy Grass
A cool-season forage grass used in hay and pasture.
Tissue Culture
Micropropagation technique using plant tissues in lab conditions.
Tipburn
Calcium-deficiency disorder seen in leafy crops like lettuce.
Tolerant Level
The maximum stress a plant can endure without significant yield loss.
Top Cross
A breeding method crossing a line with a genetically diverse population.
Top Dressing
Application of fertilizers to growing crops for nutrient supply.
Top Grafting
Grafting on older trees to change variety or rejuvenate.
Top Kill
Death of the upper portion of a plant due to external damage.
Topsoil
The nutrient-rich upper soil layer essential for plant growth.
Topsoil Erosion
Removal of topsoil due to water or wind action.
Topping
Removal of terminal parts to stimulate lateral growth.
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)
The sum of all digestible organic nutrients in feed.
Total Hardness (Water)
A measure of calcium and magnesium in irrigation water.
Trace Elements
Essential micronutrients required in small amounts.
Traceability
Ability to track agricultural produce through the supply chain.
Traditional Agriculture
Farming based on indigenous practices and tools.
Traditional Knowledge
Community-based agricultural knowledge passed through generations.
Trade Barrier
Measures restricting the flow of agricultural imports/exports.
Trade-off Analysis
Assessment of competing agricultural strategies for optimal outcomes.
Tractorization
Introduction and increased use of tractors in farming.
Transboundary Pest
Pests that cross international borders, requiring cooperative management.
Transgenic Crop
Crop with genes inserted from another species for improved traits.
Translocation
Movement of nutrients, water, or chemicals within a plant.
Transpiration
Water loss from plant leaves through evaporation.
Transpiration Ratio
The ratio of water transpired to dry matter produced.
Trellis System
Structural support for climbing or vine crops.
Triticale
Hybrid cereal developed from wheat and rye.
Trickle Irrigation
Another term for drip irrigation, applying water near plant roots.
Triacontanol
A naturally occurring plant growth regulator.
Tropism
Directional growth response of a plant to environmental stimuli.
Tropical Crop
Crops adapted to grow in warm and humid conditions.
Tropical Fruit
Fruits cultivated in hot climates like mango, banana, and papaya.
Tropical Soils
Soils found in hot, humid regions, often low in fertility.
Tropophyte
A plant adapted to alternate between wet and dry periods.
Tuber
An underground storage organ (e.g., potato) capable of vegetative propagation.
Tungro Disease
A viral disease in rice caused by two viruses transmitted by leafhoppers.
Turnover
Total value of goods or produce sold over a period.
Turfgrass
Grasses grown for lawns, sports fields, and landscaping.
Turion
A specialized bud in aquatic plants for perennation.
Turnip Mosaic Virus (TuMV)
A viral disease affecting cruciferous crops.
Twining Habit
Growth form of plants that climb by spiraling around a support.
Type I Error
False positive result in agricultural statistics or experimental research.
Type II Error
False negative result, failing to detect a real effect.
Typhlodromus
A genus of predatory mites used in pest control.
Tyrosine
An amino acid involved in plant and animal protein synthesis.
Tyzzer’s Disease
A bacterial disease affecting young livestock.
T-Zone Spray
A method of herbicide application targeting specific weed zones.
