M

miticide: a substance that kills mites. Understanding the application and effects of miticides can help farmers manage mite infestations more effectively, ensuring better crop and livestock health.

moisture: a slight amount of water as found in the soil or air. Understanding moisture levels can help farmers manage irrigation and crop health more effectively, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

milfoil: same as yarrow. Understanding the uses and management of milfoil can help farmers improve soil and crop health, ensuring better productivity and sustainability.

macronutrient: a nutrient that an organism uses in very large quantities, e.g. oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium or iron. Knowing the macronutrient requirements of crops and livestock can help farmers ensure proper nutrition, leading to better growth and yields, ultimately improving farm productivity and profitability.

millet: a cereal crop grown in many of the hot, dry regions of Africa and Asia, where it is a staple food. Genera: especially: Panicum or Eleusine. The two most important species are finger millet and bulrush millet. Millet grains are used in various types of food. They can be boiled and eaten like rice, made into flour for porridge, pasta or chapatis, and mixed with wheat flour to make bread. Millets can be malted to make beer. Millets are also grown as forage crops, and the seed is used as a poultry feed. Growing millet can provide farmers with a versatile and high-yield crop, particularly in regions with suitable climates, contributing to food security and economic stability.

Mg: symbol magnesium. Understanding the role of magnesium in soil and livestock nutrition can help farmers prevent deficiencies and ensure better crop and animal health and productivity.

myoglobin: the iron-containing protein that binds oxygen in muscle tissue, similar to the haemoglobin in blood. Understanding the role of myoglobin can help farmers manage livestock health and meat quality more effectively, ensuring better productivity and marketability.

monoplane leaf: a leaf that is flattened out horizontally and does not have a ridge or prominent vein. Understanding the characteristics of monoplane leaves can help farmers manage crop health and productivity more effectively.

modified atmosphere: an oxygen-depleted atmosphere enriched with carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide, used for disinfestation of pests or for increasing the shelf life of food. Abbr MA. Understanding the uses and effects of modified atmosphere can help farmers manage pest control and food preservation more effectively, ensuring better crop and product quality and marketability.

methyl phosphine: a compound with specific action against phosphine-resistant strains of storage pests. Understanding the uses and effects of methyl phosphine can help farmers manage pest infestations in stored products more effectively, ensuring better storage and marketability.