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Impact of agriculture on environment
What is sustainable agriculture essays
Essay on sustainable agriculture
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Recommended: Impact of agriculture on environment
There are many different types of agricultural practices in the world including both large scale factory farming and subsistence farming. One sustainable agriculture technique is called crop rotation. Crop rotation is when farmers grow different crops in succession right I the same exact field. The is a very powerful practice of sustainable agriculture. Another reason this is a powerful and important practice is because it avoids the consequences of putting the same exact plants in the soil throughout the future years to come. This method also is great because it prevents pests from messing with the crops because a lot of pests prefer to stick to using the same crops because it guarantees them a steady food supply. Rotation also reduces the pressure caused by the pests on all of the crops in the rotation by breaking reproductive pest cycles. Farmers can plant crops in rotations which replenish the plants nutrients, which reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. …show more content…
Another sustainable agriculture practice is called soil enrichment. Soil enrichment is the most valued element of agriculture ecosystems. Insects and microbes are usually killed by the use of pesticides. Good soil helps yields and makes crops less susceptible to pests. Abused soils usually require a lot more fertilization applications to produce high yields. The quality of soil can be enhanced in many different ways, such as leaving the residue of crops inside the field after harvest, plowing, or adding animal manure or composted plants. Another sustainable agriculture technique is called cover crops. Cover crops is when farmers have plants growing in the soil at all times because it helps suppress weeds, it prevents soil erosion, reduces the need for chemical inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, and it enhances the soil quality
This research plans to compare and contrast the similarities and differences in agricultural development between the Jericho Valley,in present day Palestine, and that of the Andes Mountains. There are several aspects to compare in these regions. First and perhaps most obvious is the environmental differences of these regions as well as the ecological changes in each region has itself undergone. Closely linked to these environments is the native biological species, how these native species have been domesticated, as well as looking at what crop species have been introduced to the regions, and their effect on the native species. After explaining the differences in climate of the two regions it is important to understand who was doing the farming in these areas. This will be looked at in terms of cultural evolution, groups' social approach to farming and how that affects land use and technical procedure.
Reducing how often fields are tilled, reduces erosion and soil compaction , builds soil organic matter, and reduces runoff. Sustainable agriculture is the production of food, fiber, or other plant or animal products using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, human communities, and animal health. If we change from normal agriculture to sustainable agriculture we can reduce many impacts that are caused by farmers using bad methods to produce food. If we change our way of farming from industrialized to sustainable agriculture the environment will improve and we will not have to worry too much about the things that were caused by industrialized
By implementing new farming techniques provided with the new technological advances in machines we can see abundant harvest in even the poorest third world countries. For example, the Green Revolution has already showed admirable progress in the northern part of India ever since it took start in 1950. By 1997, northern India increased its grain production by 37 percent. This has proven that traditional farming methods are being rendered obsolete. And because by the year 2000, there will be half the land per person in developing countries as there was in 1970, we need to apply ultra-efficient methods to sustain the growing need. Not only does the Green Revolution enhances food output, it also preserves the environment.
That said, long term these practices are unsustainable and the reality is that the solution of greater rotation in crops also means less flooding and healthier soil during drought – mutually beneficial to the land, the farmers, and the consumers alike. This shows that apart from future generations, our lives become better via that repayment to the land as well – with greater access to healthier, more diverse
With the increased growth of the organic market, farmers have taken a lot of interest in finding other ways to control pests and diseases. The use of pesticides has led to great disasters on the soil, health, and food for the consumers. This and many other factors have made people come up with alternatives to control pests. Sustainable agriculture is a new way that will help solve the pesticide issue. Alternative measures that can be taken include; use of crop
“Sustainable agriculture involves food production methods that are healthy, do not harm the environment, respect workers, are humane to animals, provide fair wages to farmers, and support farming communities” (Table, 2009). Local farming methods do not always use sustainable methods. Researching about the methods local farmers use is important in the decision to buy locally.
For years organic farmers and conventional farmers have feuded over which is superior. Organic farmers argue that their product is more eco-friendly because they do not use the synthetic chemicals and fertilizers conventional farmer’s use. Conventional farmers argue that their product is healthier and yields more. People tend to have stereotypes regarding the two types of farmers. Organic farmers are usually thought of as liberal, hippy, tree-huggers while conventional farmers are usually thought of as right-wing, industrialists. Obviously, some do adhere to this stereotype, but a majority of these farmers are normal, hardworking people. Although these farmers, both believe in their methods, one is no better than the other. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but there is no true superior method of crop farming.
Organic agriculture is a form of agriculture that aims to reduce harm to the environment by using natural methods of maintaining crops, instead of synthetic chemicals such as synthetic nitrogen fertilizer (United States Department of Agriculture, 2014). The alternatives to the chemicals include the use of cover crops, manures, and crop rotation (Badgley C. et al. 2006). Conventional agriculture is another type of agriculture that uses ecologically harmful chemicals. Conventional agriculture commonly uses genetically modified crops while organic produce is not genetically modified (United States Department of Agriculture, 2014).
As the global population continues to rise, the amount of food needed to feed the people will increase as well. Two types of agriculture systems have been the backbone for crop production for decades if not centuries: conventional and organic agriculture— both methods could not be any more different. Conventional agriculture, a method that uses synthetic chemical pesticides, technologies or additives, and practices that are unsustainable is the leading producer for our food. On the other side of spectrum, organic agriculture generally, performed in a much smaller scale, does not use synthetic chemicals and utilize methods that are environmentally sound. Most conventional
They take pride in caring for the land, water and natural resources in several ways. One way is by using cover crops which are plants grown to protect the soil and put healthy nutrients back into it, while slowing erosion, controlling pests, and increasing organic matter. They also use crop rotation by planting different crops in the same field but during different times. This keeps the land fertile because not all of the nutrients are being used with each crop. Buffer zones are another technique farmers use to plant strips of vegetation between the fields and bodies of water to keep the soil out of the water source. No till fields are used to keep the soil in place when it rains, helping moisture stay in the
An efficient system of rotational grazing allows the farmers achieve this. There are various systems available including Paddock Grazing, Strip Grazing, Block Grazing, Set Stocking, Creep Feeding, leader follower system, Zero grazing and Mixed Grazing.
The greenhouse gases are those that absorb the Earths radiation and thus contribute to the greenhouse effect, but water is also a major absorber of energy. Where there is an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (as with CO2 due to the burning of fossil fuels) this results in an enhanced greenhouse effect - which is of concern as it could lead to climate change (i.e. global warming).
People have depended on agriculture for years as the primary source of getting food. We have developed all kinds of ways to manipulate nature so what we can produce higher yield crops, more nutritious crops, bigger crops, crops that withstand cold, and farming equipment that allows us to manufacture these crops with relative ease. Why then are there five billion people being malnourished and forty thousand children dying each day from hunger? It seems as though world hunger is more a result of the lack of distributing the food properly than the lack of quantity. agriculture has turned into a high profit business and biotech companies like Monsanto are constantly trying to come up with better and more efficient ways of farming. Are they doing this to try to solve the world hunger crisis, or merely to make a profit?
The growth of the world’s population has led to a growth in animal agriculture, because as population grows, the need for food does as well. Animal agriculture is the use of animal farms to produce animal products that are then consumed by the general public. As agribusiness expands, issues such as the need for farm insurance and animal rights have received more awareness. Modern day industrialism is being applied to animal agriculture in developed nations such as the United States and Canada. Farm Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on research in agribusiness and improving the economy through agriculture, claims that “the North American livestock industry is expected to
Soil is the most important non-renewable resource on any farm. Healthy soil is key to a good