Agriculture

Agriculture

What is it?

Agriculture: (AKA Farming or Husbandry)- Cultivating another species for our benefit.(note: collecting wild species does not classify as agriculture)

What do we cultivate:- Plants- Animals- Fungi

Benefits of Agriculture1) Reliable supply of food and materials needed to sustain life. 2) People no longer needed to travel in search of food and supplies

Examples of Uses-Food-Dyes-Perfume-Resin-Fibre-Medicines-Biofuel

Quick History of Agriculture-Earliest forms of altering plant communities: controlled burningBeginning of Agriculture-Evolved 10,000 years ago-People began collecting the seeds of the plants they ate and sowed them close to homeFertile Cresent: A cresent Shapes area of land extendingFrom Asia, Egypt, and India

Key Steps to Developing Modern Agriculture

1) Irrigation2) Crop Rotation3) Fertilizers4) Pesticides

Irrigation

Irrigation: Man made sources of water constructed for the purpose of cultivating plants.

Purpose: 1) Brings water to areas during

times of drought 2) Allowed people to cultivate

plants in areas that do not have a natural source of water

IrrigationTypes of Irrigation: 5 main types of irrigationDetermined by… The method of obtaining water The method of distributing water.

Irrigation

Surface Irrigation: Move water over the land by gravity. Gravity pulls it into the soil. Most common method used historically. Process:

Irrigation

Surface Irrigation: Move water over the land by gravity. Gravity pulls it into the soil. Most common method used historically. Process: 1) The field is surrounded by walls of soil2) Water is pumped into the field in order to flood it.3) Excess Water is then pumped out

Irrigation

Localized Irrigation: Water is deposited through a network of pipes and distributed in a predetermined pattern.Process:

Irrigation

Localized Irrigation: Water is deposited through a network of pipes and distributed in a predetermined pattern.Process: 1) A line of pipes is setup from the

water supply2) Either a sprinkler or a Spray bar

is placed on the end which distributes the water over a field

Irrigation

Drip Irrigation: Water is deposited drop by drop only at the root system of the plant. Less random which means less water is wastedProcess:

Irrigation

Drip Irrigation: Water is deposited drop by drop only at the root system of the plant. Less random which means less water is wastedProcess: 1) A dripper or small line is placed at

the root of the plant2) When the system is active a water

drops trickle into the root system . The system is then shut off before the water saturates below the root ball

Irrigation

Center Pivot Irrigation: Sprinkler irrigation involves the distribution of water form a single central pointProcess:

Irrigation

Center Pivot Irrigation: Sprinkler irrigation involves the distribution of water form a single central pointProcess: 1) A rigid pipe lined with sprinklers

is attached at one end to a central water source

2) The pipe then spins around the central pivot watering a circular area

IrrigationLateral Move Irrigation: Sprinkler irrigation involves the distribution of water in a stripProcess:

IrrigationLateral Move Irrigation: Sprinkler irrigation involves the distribution of water in a stripProcess: 1) A rigid pipe lined with

sprinklers is attached to a series of wheels or motorized cars

2) By spinning the wheels the pipe is driven down the length of the field

Assignment

Questions: