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impact of agriculture on environment
what is sustainable agriculture essays
essay on sustainable agriculture
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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.
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between organic and non organic food? Some may say there aren’t any differences in the food itself, but the real difference lies in the means of producing the food. The controversy here is the environmental effects of different farming methods. Some believe that organic farming methods are better than conventional farming methods and some believe the opposite. There are many factors to determine which method is better but we are here to investigate the environmental aspect of the question. In short organic farming is a method of farming where the techniques used are less damaging to the environment by not using synthetic chemical fertilizers and herbicides and limiting the amount of pesticides. Conventional farming is the method of farming that uses synthetic fertilizers pesticides and herbicides to ensure the production of higher yield crops. Conventional farmers often use genetic mutated seeds to cut the cost of chemical pesticides and increase the size of the fruit to be harvested. There are many pros and cons to both sides of this issue but after researching I will say that I believe that organic farming is definitely the way to go. Not only is it better for your own personal health through the consumption of the products derived from the methods used, it is also less damaging to the environment in many ways.
For farmers, foresters, and plant ecologists, understanding which nutrients are essential, and why, is basic to understanding why certain plants thrive and others fail. Now, where do these nutrients come from? The answer—soil—is simple. But soil itself is astonishingly complex. Grow crops and food for us to live (FREEMAN) Without plants we can not grow and survive it is essential to our lives. Farmers especially have to explore this process to see which will help them yield better crops and is cost effective. Vegetable we consume for energy to live and grow deficiency of it will affect us as well. It is important to know which soil to pick one that gives us plants right away to satisfy food requirements for the rapid growing population or to pick one that will will be free of chemicals and won't harm our body. Plants contain essential elements for our survival from the food we eat to our medicine we
...eory, and organic farming also can get some benefits from learning some industrial farming methods. When we develop the organic agriculture, at the same time, we do not need to give up the traditional agriculture, we should combine the organic farming and the industrial farming together, and from a better agriculture method.
Constraints in the production of this commodity may be due to limited land, and unsustainable farming system. Some of the effects of unsustainable farming results to the decreasing quality of soil and pest outbreaks. Asio et al. (2009) added also that the status of soil resources worldwide degrades at an exceptional rate brought about by various activities of humans. Thus, it is the making of humans why such problem is
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.
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
Sustainable crop production is a way of growing or raising food in an ecologically and ethically responsible manner. FThis includes adhering to agricultural and food production practices that do not harm the environment, that provide fair treatment to workers, and that support and sustain local communities. FSustainable crop production is in contrast to industrial crop production, G which generally relies upon monocropping (growing only one crop in a large area of land), intensive application of commercial fertilizers, heavy use of pesticides, and other inputs that are damaging to the environment, to communities, and to farm workers. In addition, sustainable crop production practices can lead to higher yields over time, with less need
The students prefer organic farming because of the following reason. First, organic farming is environment friendly. It improves the general condition of the soil and promotes biodiversity. One of the methods in organic farming is the natural fertilizers where the farmer uses cow manure and chicken dung and other animal manure for fertilizer. Application of organic materials attracts lot of small organisms such as termites, insects, earthworms, bugs, etc. that converts the organic matter into smaller units. Because of these, microorganisms flourish and the interaction of these different organisms improves soil quality and health. Scientific research has demonstrated that organic agriculture significantly increases the density and species of soil’s life. Suitable conditions for soil fauna and flora as well as soil forming and conditioning and nutrient cycling are
Soil is the most important non-renewable resource on any farm. Healthy soil is key to a good
Agriculture is an integral part of the general development system. The development of agriculture and sustainable development are interdependent and interrelated in more than one way. Thus to maintain the sustainability of agriculture, the state government encourages the people of the state towards organic farming. Organic farming is considered necessary to conserve natural resources and safeguard our environment. It is, thus, not only eco-friendly farming but also contributes in improving the quality of fruits and vegetables which have a potential export market. Some of the major components of organic farming that has been in practice is the adoption of crop-rotations, enhancement of soil fertility through biological fixation of nitrogen, the addition of organic manures, IPM and use of micro-organisms.
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
Based on the article from Encyclopedia Britannica, organic farming is also called organic gardening system of crop cultivation. It uses earth safe methods of fertilizing and keeping their produce away from bugs. Pesticides injure your health and they are not healthy for the environment. Organic methods, for example, cow manure, straight from the cow instead of a fertilizer with a lot of chemicals is better for the earth because cow manure is natural. The article "Organic Farming" in the journal The Alert Collector authored by Kelly Myer Polacek and Florian Diekmann, taught me much about, as it’s title says, organic farming. I learned that organic farming has been practiced for more than a hundred years. That means since the 1900s, or even later, organic farming methods have been applied to farms, making the environment, and the people healthier, because there are no pesticides involved.
Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals--environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. A variety of philosophies, policies and practices have contributed to these goals. People in many different capacities, from farmers to consumers, have shared this vision and contributed to it.
Today agriculture is the livelihood of most poor underdeveloped nations. This communal life blood provides a majority of the population with a source of employment, nourishment and income. It is considered to be an invaluable skill, that is taught down from generation to generation along with a sense of respect for the environment. However as a nation begins to undergo development, so do their food production systems. The country's newfound development causes significant restructuring of their agricultural production practices. This restructuring leads to poor environmental practices, and adverse agriculture methods. Increased economic development/production negatively affects a country's environmental and agricultural health.