Category: S

slender foxtail: same as blackgrass. Managing slender foxtail helps farmers control invasive weeds, ensuring healthy crop growth and better yields.

synthetic zeolite: an artificial zeolite. Understanding and using synthetic zeolites effectively supports efficient farm operations and productivity.

subdominant: (of a species) being not as important as the dominant species. Understanding subdominant species helps farmers manage biodiversity and ecological balance on farms.

shade: A place sheltered from direct sunlight. Farmers benefit from providing shade to protect crops and livestock from excessive heat and sun exposure.

stock breeder: a farmer who specialises in breeding livestock. Properly managing stock breeding programs ensures healthy and productive livestock, supporting farm profitability and genetic improvement.

stone-ground flour: a type of flour made by grinding with millstones. Properly managing stone-ground flour production ensures product quality and market value, supporting farm income and consumer trust.

sporicidal: able to kill spores. Using sporicidal products helps farmers manage pests and diseases, ensuring healthy crop growth and better yields.

sharp eyespot: A soil-borne fungus (Rhizoctonia solani) affecting cereals, which can cause lodging and shrivelled grain. Farmers benefit from managing sharp eyespot to protect cereal crops and ensure high yields.

soya bean: 1. a bean from a soya plant 2. same as soya. COMMENT: Soya beans are very rich in protein and apart from direct human consumption are used for their oil and as livestock feed. After the oil has been extracted, the residue is used as a high-protein feedingstuff. Other by-products are soya bean milk and soy sauce, both widely used in China and Japan. Soya beans are widely grown in China, where they are the most important food legume, in Brazil, and in the USA. Growing soya beans provides farmers with a versatile crop for multiple markets, enhancing farm income and sustainability.

specificity: the characteristic of having a specific range or use. Understanding the specificity of agricultural inputs ensures efficient resource use and optimal outcomes, supporting productive farming.