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 for expensive and environmentally damaging inputs. FSustainable 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.
It stated how agricultural biotechnology is beneficial to the environment by reducing carbon dioxide and fuel use which may cause pollution. The second advantage of agricultural biotechnology is that agricultural biotechnology provide the farmers with abilities to e... ... middle of paper ... ...isolate the plants and not letting the wildlife get in contact of the plants. These disadvantages can actually not be a disadvantage at all if you think about it. In conclusion, agricultural biotechnology have many advantages that can benefit the environment, consumer, and economy as well as disadvantages that can harm the environment and consumers. The advantages of agricultural biotechnology can help create less pollution as well as solve famine problem in a nation and on the other hand, the disadvantages of agricultural biotechnology can damage the food chain and harm human health.
Selective application prevents such instances from occurring under drip irrigation. Effects on Soil Irrigation plays a significant role in soil structure. The effects could be either beneficial or harmful to the soil, while separately affecting its short term crop productivity. Long-term damage to the soil, however, will result in decline of soil productivity. Farming techniques which use earth-moving machines can appear effective for crop production, but will eventually damage the topsoil (McLaren, 1990).
Soil erosion can arise due to complete harvesting of the crops (Jose et.al, 2008). Corn which is one of the plants used to produce biofuels requires intense irrigation and a serious environmental concern is raised by the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Biotechnology can be used to alter the crops so that their production does not harm the environment, however this might lower the process (Demirbas, 2009). Biodiversity and tropical forests Some biofuels that are derived from agricultural, forest-product, and municipal waste these have less impact on biodiversity as they use unwanted waste (Lian and Ghazoul, 2008). Biotechnology has a full potential... ... middle of paper ... ...such as skin cancer ( Giampietro and Mayumi.2009).
At the gene level, “traditional and adapted seeds are preferred for their greater resistance to disease and resilience to climatic stress”1. Wildlife tend to thrive in areas surrounding organic farms due to the decreased chemical contamination that is found in high concentration near industrial agricultural factories. These species in combination with the plants grown organically, help optimize nutrient and energy cycling in the ecosystem1. Additionally rotating crops that are seldom found in the environment can help to use the surplus of unused nutrients, allowing the depleted sources to rebuild soil fertility and restore the balance of soil nutrients. The lack of pesticide use and attracting new or re-colonizing species to the organic area help to increase the benefits of organic farming and create a healthier gene pool from which adaptation occurs1.
Overall, the almond farmers in California can significantly contribute towards the conservation of water during the drought by practicing agriculture in a manner that their crops only require a minimal amount of water for growth. They can again introduce water and moisture retention techniques in their forms. For example, they could do mulching, use drip irrigation, using domestic wastewater, and by applying a limited amount of water in the farms to allow the crops to adapt to the new situation by growing their roots deep into the soil in search of moisture. There is also the need to trap rainwater and channel the same to the plantations. Building terraces might also contribute to water retention by minimizing the runoffs.
Another method that many organic farms use is called “farmscaping.” Farmscaping is the sculpting of the agricultural environment to attract helpful insects rather than bothers . These methods attempt to protect the environment and try not to part take in things that have negative impacts on the environment. Organic farming not only avoid polluting the environment they attempt to sustain it as well. A key element to sustainable farming is what is known as “nutrient cycling”. This means designing the farm so that key nutrients are periodically recycled into the soil, nutrients such as water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous .
Surprisingly, the land used to raise and grown organic produce is positively affected by the lack of chemicals used. The Food and Agricultural Organization quantified, “It aims to produce food while establishing an ecological balance to prevent soil fertility or pest problems. Organic agriculture takes a proactive approach as opposed to treating problems after they emerge” (Par. 1). The natural balance in minerals and nutrients released from these foods has been linked to the enhancement of soil productivity, therefore producing more potassium, phosphate, calcium, magnesium.
Furthermore, the desiccation of single stands of forested areas for this type of agriculture promotes local extinctions and loss of biodiversity. Once the land is exhausted, it is then left, only for another stand to be destroyed. This predictable loss of land can be avoided by employing the sustainable farming of soybeans. Soybean production has a higher potential to both increase economic prosperity and environmental quality (Dooyou). Due to the destructive nature of slash and burn agriculture, soybean production is a much healthier approach to farming in the Tambopata Reserve.
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.