plant science 2/3

Agriculture Definition and Keywords

• Definition of Agriculture: The science, art, and practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops and livestock, and preparing products for consumption.
• Important terms associated with agriculture:
  • Science: Systematic study of agriculture and its practices.
  • Art: Skill involved in agricultural practices.
  • Practice: Routine application of agricultural techniques.
  • Cultivating the soil: Preparing the land for planting.
  • Producing crops and livestock: Growing plants and raising animals for food.

Sectors of Plant Science in Agriculture

• Agronomy:
  • Focuses on field crops; includes grain, fiber crops, and legumes (row crops).
  • Examples: Corn, wheat, soybeans.
• Horticulture:
  • Focuses on fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and flowers (excluding tree cultivation).

Life Before Agriculture

• Hunting and Gathering: How humanity survived prior to the advent of agriculture.

Notable Figures in Agricultural History

• Theophrastus:
  • Scholar of botany, considered the father of botany.
  • Important contributions include identifying edible plants and their medicinal uses.

First Site of Crop and Animal Domestication

• Fertile Crescent:
  • Region includes modern-day Egypt, and between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
  • Recognized for its crescent shape and fertile land due to river bottom soils.

Modern Agriculture Statistics

• Major Global Crops:
  • Top four: Sugarcane, corn, wheat, rice.
  • These crops account for half of all acreage worldwide and a significant presence in processed foods.
• Number of Farms in the US:
  • Decreasing number of farms over time.
  • Average farm size is increasing.
• Agricultural Census Definition:
  • A farm is defined as a location where agricultural products are produced and sold, with minimum sales expected to reach over $1,000.

Commodities and Agricultural Exports

• US Major Crops:
  • Key crops contributing to US cash flow from agriculture.
  • System for classification based on cash income rather than volume.

Crop Classification Definitions

• Cultivar: A cultivated variety, often bred for specific characteristics.
• Variety: Naturally occurring types of plants within a species, not bred.
• Hybrid: A cross between two species, marked by an 'x' in the scientific name.

Taxonomy and Scientific Naming

• Taxonomy: Practice of naming and classifying organisms, pioneered by Carolus Linnaeus in the 1700s.
• Binomial Naming System:
  • Two-part scientific name consisting of genus (capitalized) and species (lowercase), italicized.
  • Example: Glycine max for soybean.

Plant Lifespan Classifications

1. Annual Plants:
   • Complete life cycle from seed to seed in one growing season (e.g., corn).
2. Biennial Plants:
   • Complete life cycle in two growing seasons (e.g., carrots).
3. Perennial Plants:
   • Live for an indefinite time, continually producing seeds (e.g., trees, cotton).

Importance of Lifespan Classifications

• Understanding plant lifespans aids in agricultural practices and cultivation expectations.

Climate Adaptation in Crops

• Climate Adaptation: Classifying crops based on their environmental requirements (e.g., tropical vs. temperate crops).

Classifying Crops

• Ways to classify include:
  • Scientific Name
  • Use (feed, food, fiber, etc.)
  • Lifespan (annual, biennial, perennial)
  • Climate adaptation

Issues in Modern Agriculture

1. Increasing World Population: Creates greater demand for agricultural products.
2. Decreasing Arable Land: Challenges agricultural efficiency and production.
3. Erosion and Soil Vulnerability: Reduced soil quality impacts productivity.
4. Water Availability: Essential for crop growth; drought poses significant risks.

Understanding Supply and Demand in Agriculture

• Increase in demand against a backdrop of decreasing supply leads to higher prices for agricultural products.

Conclusion of Unit One

• Foundations of understanding agriculture material discussed before moving to Unit Two: Plant Cells and Tissues.