Agronomy - Crop Improvement, Managing The Soil, Managing Pests And Diseases, Agricultural Systems - Animal husbandry
crops animals breeding management
Agronomy can be defined as those branches of agricultural science that deal with the production of both plant and animal crops, and the management of soil. The subject matter of agronomy is quite diverse, but falls into three major categories: (1) crop breeding and the genetic improvement of varieties; (2) methods of cultivation of crops (both plants and animals); and (3) sustainability of the agricultural enterprise, especially with respect to fertility of the soil.
Devising better systems in which to raise animals as crops is another important aspect of agronomy. Considerations in animal husbandry include optimization of the productivity of the animals, achieved through selective breeding, and careful management of diet, disease, and housing. Agronomists concerned with animal husbandry are also interested in improving the nutritional quality of the food products, disposal of waste materials, and humane treatment of the livestock.
Additional Topics
Most varieties of agricultural crops look and grow very differently than their wild progenitors. In fact, almost all of the domesticated species of plants and animals that humans depend upon as sources of food, materials, or energy have been selectively bred for various desirable traits. This evolutionary process has resulted in the development of substantial genetic differences between domesticat…
The quality of agricultural soils can be easily degraded by various cultural influences, but especially: (1) nutrient removal; (2) loss of organic matter; (3) acidification; and (4) erosion that is caused when soils are plowed and crops are harvested. Soil degradation is one of the most important problems associated with agricultural activities, because of the obvious implications for the longer-t…
Ultimately, the goal of agronomy is to develop agricultural systems that are sustainable over the long term. An agricultural system involves particular combinations of crop species, along with methods of tillage, seeding, pest management, and harvesting. Furthermore, agricultural systems may involve the growth of successive crops in a carefully designed rotation, or perhaps the growth of several c…
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