Agriculture
The term Agriculture is divided from two latin words ager which means field and culture means cultivation.The production, processing, and marketing of food, fiber, and renewable natural resources. Processing involves the changing of a raw natural product and converting it into a useable, consumable product.Grain and Feed Milling, Meat Processing, Saw Mills, etc.
Agriscience is defined as the application of scientific principles and new technologies relating to agriculture.
The Basic Sciences
o Horticulture
o Animal Science
o Agronomy
o Agriculture Mechanization
o Aquaculture
o Integrated Pest Management
o Irrigation
Growth Factors
• Population Growth & Migration
• Cheaper Land
• Transportation Corridor Development
• Spreading Infrastructure
• Larger Lots
Other Factors
• Absentee Ownership
• Farm Revenue decreases
• Off farm employment
• Cheaper imports
Environmental Impacts
• Farmland / Open land
• Storm water sponge
• Heat Island sink
• Air Quality buffer
• All of these factors will have to be mitigated upon conversion
Basic Properties of crop production
• Cultivation of crop includes several activities undertaken by farmers over a period of time.
• These activities are referred to as agriculture practices.The activities are:
• Preparation of soil
Turning and Loosening of soil.
This allows the roots to penetrate deep in soil .The loosened soil helps in the growth of earthworms and microbes present in the soil.Turning and loosening of soil brings the nutrient- rich soil to the top so that plants can use these nutrients.
• Sowing
Selection of seeds
This is done by soaking the seeds in a beaker containing water.Damaged seeds become hollow and are thus ligter.Therefore they float on water.This is a good method for separating good,healthy seeds from damaged ones.
• Adding manure and fertilizers
The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilizers.
Manuring: Farmers have to add manure to the fields to replenish the soil with nutrients.This processing is called manuring.
Advantages:
· It increases the number of friendly microbes.
· It improves the texture of soil.
· It enhances the water holding capacity of soil.
• Irrigation
The supply of water to crops at different intervals is called irrigation.The time and frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop,soil to soil and season to season.Water is absorbed with plant roots.Along with water fertilizers and minerals are absorbed.
• Protecting from weeds
In a field many other undesirable plants may grow naturally along with the crop.These undesirable plants are called weeds.
Weeding: The removal of weeds is called weeding.Weeding is necessary since weeds compete with the crop plants for water,nutrients,space and light.
• Harvesting
The outing of crop after it is mature is called harvesting.Harvesting is done by:
Manually by sickle.
Machine called as harvester.
• Storage
If the crop grains are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from moisture ,insects and microorganisms.Before storing the grains are properly dried in the sun to reduce the moisture in them.This prevents the attack by insects, fungi and all.
The term Agriculture is divided from two latin words ager which means field and culture means cultivation.The production, processing, and marketing of food, fiber, and renewable natural resources. Processing involves the changing of a raw natural product and converting it into a useable, consumable product.Grain and Feed Milling, Meat Processing, Saw Mills, etc.
Agriscience is defined as the application of scientific principles and new technologies relating to agriculture.
The Basic Sciences
- Biology
- Earth Science
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Physics
o Horticulture
o Animal Science
o Agronomy
o Agriculture Mechanization
o Aquaculture
o Integrated Pest Management
o Irrigation
Growth Factors
• Population Growth & Migration
• Cheaper Land
• Transportation Corridor Development
• Spreading Infrastructure
• Larger Lots
Other Factors
• Absentee Ownership
• Farm Revenue decreases
• Off farm employment
• Cheaper imports
Environmental Impacts
• Farmland / Open land
• Storm water sponge
• Heat Island sink
• Air Quality buffer
• All of these factors will have to be mitigated upon conversion
Basic Properties of crop production
• Cultivation of crop includes several activities undertaken by farmers over a period of time.
• These activities are referred to as agriculture practices.The activities are:
• Preparation of soil
Turning and Loosening of soil.
This allows the roots to penetrate deep in soil .The loosened soil helps in the growth of earthworms and microbes present in the soil.Turning and loosening of soil brings the nutrient- rich soil to the top so that plants can use these nutrients.
• Sowing
Selection of seeds
This is done by soaking the seeds in a beaker containing water.Damaged seeds become hollow and are thus ligter.Therefore they float on water.This is a good method for separating good,healthy seeds from damaged ones.
• Adding manure and fertilizers
The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilizers.
Manuring: Farmers have to add manure to the fields to replenish the soil with nutrients.This processing is called manuring.
Advantages:
· It increases the number of friendly microbes.
· It improves the texture of soil.
· It enhances the water holding capacity of soil.
• Irrigation
The supply of water to crops at different intervals is called irrigation.The time and frequency of irrigation varies from crop to crop,soil to soil and season to season.Water is absorbed with plant roots.Along with water fertilizers and minerals are absorbed.
• Protecting from weeds
In a field many other undesirable plants may grow naturally along with the crop.These undesirable plants are called weeds.
Weeding: The removal of weeds is called weeding.Weeding is necessary since weeds compete with the crop plants for water,nutrients,space and light.
• Harvesting
The outing of crop after it is mature is called harvesting.Harvesting is done by:
Manually by sickle.
Machine called as harvester.
• Storage
If the crop grains are to be kept for longer time, they should be safe from moisture ,insects and microorganisms.Before storing the grains are properly dried in the sun to reduce the moisture in them.This prevents the attack by insects, fungi and all.