An agronomist, field-sampling a trial plot of flax.
This topic of agronomy involves selective breeding of plants to produce the best crops for various conditions. Plant breeding has increased crop yields and has improved the nutritional value of numerous crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat. It has also resulted in the development of new types of plants. For example, a hybrid grain named triticale was produced by crossbreeding rye and wheat. Triticale contains more usable protein than does either rye or wheat. Agronomy has also been instrumental for fruit and vegetable production research. Furthermore, the application of plant breeding for turfgrass development has resulted in a reduction in the demand for fertilizer and water inputs (requirements), as well as turf-types with higher disease resistance.
Agronomists use biotechnology to extend and expedite the development of desired characteristics.[1] Biotechnology is often a laboratory activity requiring field testing of new crop varieties that are developed.
In addition to increasing crop yields agronomic biotechnology is being applied increasingly for novel uses other than food. For example, oilseed is at present used mainly for margarine and other food oils, but it can be modified to produce fatty acids for detergents, substitute fuels and petrochemicals.
Agronomists study sustainable ways to make soils more productive and profitable. They classify soils and analyze them to determine whether they contain nutrients vital for plant growth. Common macronutrients analyzed include compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Soil is also assessed for several micronutrients, like zinc and boron. The percentage of organic matter, soil pH, and nutrient holding capacity (cation exchange capacity) are tested in a regional laboratory. Agronomists will interpret these laboratory reports and make recommendations to modify soil nutrients for optimal plant growth.[2]
Soil conservation
Additionally, agronomists develop methods to preserve soil and decrease the effects of [erosion] by wind and water. For example, a technique known as contour plowing may be used to prevent soil erosion and conserve rainfall. Researchers of agronomy also seek ways to use the soil more effectively for solving other problems. Such problems include the disposal of human and animal manure, water pollution, and pesticide accumulation in the soil, as well as preserving the soil for future generations such as the burning of paddocks after crop production. Pasture management techniques include no-till farming, planting of soil-binding grasses along contours on steep slopes, and using contour drains of depths as much as 1 metre.[3]
Theoretical production ecology is the quantitative study of the growth of crops. The plant is treated as a kind of biological factory, which processes light, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients into harvestable products. The main parameters considered are temperature, sunlight, standing crop biomass, plant production distribution, and nutrient and water supply.[citation needed]
agronomy, confused, with, agricultural, economics, also, known, agronomics, broader, coverage, this, topic, agricultural, science, also, agriculturist, science, technology, producing, using, plants, agriculture, food, fuel, fiber, chemicals, recreation, land, . Not to be confused with agricultural economics also known as agronomics For broader coverage of this topic see Agricultural science See also Agriculturist Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants by agriculture for food fuel fiber chemicals recreation or land conservation Agronomy has come to include research of plant genetics plant physiology meteorology and soil science It is the application of a combination of sciences such as biology chemistry economics ecology earth science and genetics Professionals of agronomy are termed agronomists Contents 1 History 2 Plant breeding 3 Biotechnology 4 Soil science 4 1 Soil conservation 5 Agroecology 6 Theoretical modeling 7 See also 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External linksHistory EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it April 2023 Plant breeding EditMain article Plant breeding An agronomist field sampling a trial plot of flax This topic of agronomy involves selective breeding of plants to produce the best crops for various conditions Plant breeding has increased crop yields and has improved the nutritional value of numerous crops including corn soybeans and wheat It has also resulted in the development of new types of plants For example a hybrid grain named triticale was produced by crossbreeding rye and wheat Triticale contains more usable protein than does either rye or wheat Agronomy has also been instrumental for fruit and vegetable production research Furthermore the application of plant breeding for turfgrass development has resulted in a reduction in the demand for fertilizer and water inputs requirements as well as turf types with higher disease resistance Biotechnology Edit An agronomist mapping a plant genome Agronomists use biotechnology to extend and expedite the development of desired characteristics 1 Biotechnology is often a laboratory activity requiring field testing of new crop varieties that are developed In addition to increasing crop yields agronomic biotechnology is being applied increasingly for novel uses other than food For example oilseed is at present used mainly for margarine and other food oils but it can be modified to produce fatty acids for detergents substitute fuels and petrochemicals Soil science EditMain article Agricultural soil science Agronomists study sustainable ways to make soils more productive and profitable They classify soils and analyze them to determine whether they contain nutrients vital for plant growth Common macronutrients analyzed include compounds of nitrogen phosphorus potassium calcium magnesium and sulfur Soil is also assessed for several micronutrients like zinc and boron The percentage of organic matter soil pH and nutrient holding capacity cation exchange capacity are tested in a regional laboratory Agronomists will interpret these laboratory reports and make recommendations to modify soil nutrients for optimal plant growth 2 Soil conservation Edit Additionally agronomists develop methods to preserve soil and decrease the effects of erosion by wind and water For example a technique known as contour plowing may be used to prevent soil erosion and conserve rainfall Researchers of agronomy also seek ways to use the soil more effectively for solving other problems Such problems include the disposal of human and animal manure water pollution and pesticide accumulation in the soil as well as preserving the soil for future generations such as the burning of paddocks after crop production Pasture management techniques include no till farming planting of soil binding grasses along contours on steep slopes and using contour drains of depths as much as 1 metre 3 Agroecology EditAgroecology is the management of agricultural systems with an emphasis on ecological and environmental applications 4 This topic is associated closely with work for sustainable agriculture organic farming and alternative food systems and the development of alternative cropping systems Theoretical modeling EditTheoretical production ecology is the quantitative study of the growth of crops The plant is treated as a kind of biological factory which processes light carbon dioxide water and nutrients into harvestable products The main parameters considered are temperature sunlight standing crop biomass plant production distribution and nutrient and water supply citation needed See also EditAgricultural engineering Agricultural policy Agroecology Agrology Agrophysics Crop farming Food systems Horticulture Green Revolution Vegetable farmingReferences Edit Georgetown International Environmental Law Review Hoeft Robert G 2000 Modern Corn and Soybean Production MCSP Publications pp 107 to 171 ASIN B0006RLD8U Arya R L Arya S Arya Renu Kumar J 2015 01 01 Fundamentals of Agriculture ICAR NET JRF SRF CSIR NET UPSC amp IFS Scientific Publishers ISBN 978 93 86102 36 2 Iowa State University Undergraduate Program Agroecology Archived from the original on 7 October 2008 Bibliography EditWendy B Murphy The Future World of Agriculture Watts 1984 Antonio Saltini Storia delle scienze agrarie 4 vols Bologna 1984 89 ISBN 88 206 2412 5 ISBN 88 206 2413 3 ISBN 88 206 2414 1 ISBN 88 206 2415 XExternal links Edit Look up agronomist in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wikimedia Commons has media related to Agronomy Wikiquote has quotations related to Agronomy At Wikiversity you can learn more and teach others about Agronomy at the Department of Agronomy The American Society of Agronomy ASA Crop Science Society of America CSSA Soil Science Society of America SSSA European Society for Agronomy The National Agricultural Library NAL Comprehensive agricultural library Information System for Agriculture and Food Research Portals Agriculture Ecology Environment Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Agronomy amp oldid 1148116934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
