Agronomy

Short description: Science of producing and using plants

Agriculture

History

* History of organic farming
* Neolithic Revolution
* Agriculture in Mesoamerica
* Austronesian Expansion
* Ancient Egyptian agriculture
* Agriculture in ancient Greece
* Agriculture in ancient Rome
* Arab Agricultural Revolution
* British Agricultural Revolution
* Green Revolution
* Chinampa
* Monoculture

On land

* Animal husbandry
* cattle
* pigs
* poultry
* sheep
* Dairy
* Dryland
* Extensive
* Fertilizer
* Free-range
* Grazing
* Convertible husbandry
* Rotational grazing
* Hobby
* Intensive
* animals
* pigs
* crops
* Natural
* Orchard
* Organic
* Paddy field
* Ranching
* Sharecropping
* Slash-and-burn
* Terrace
* Steam sterilization

Hydroculture

* Aquaculture
* Aquaponics
* Hydroponics
* Aeroponics

Related

* Agribusiness
* Agricultural engineering
* Agricultural machinery
* Agricultural science
* Agricultural technology
* Agroecology
* Agroforestry
* Agronomy
* Animal-free
* Crop diversity
* Ecology
* Livestock
* Mechanisation
* Permaculture
* Sustainable
* Urban

Lists

* Government ministries
* Universities and colleges

Categories

* Agriculture
* by country
* companies
* Biotechnology
* Livestock
* Meat industry
* Poultry farming

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Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants by agriculture for food, fuel, fiber, chemicals, recreation, or land conservation. Agronomy has come to include research of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. It is the application of a combination of sciences such as biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, earth science, and genetics. Professionals of agronomy are termed agronomists.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Plant breeding
* 3 Biotechnology
* 4 Soil science
* 4.1 Soil conservation
* 5 Agroecology
* 6 Theoretical modeling
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 Bibliography
* 10 External links

## History

## Plant breeding

Main article: Biology:Plant breeding

An agronomist, field-sampling a trial plot of flax.

This topic of agronomy involves selective breeding of plants to produce the best crops for various conditions. Plant breeding has increased crop yields and has improved the nutritional value of numerous crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat. It has also resulted in the development of new types of plants. For example, a hybrid grain named triticale was produced by crossbreeding rye and wheat. Triticale contains more usable protein than does either rye or wheat. Agronomy has also been instrumental for fruit and vegetable production research. Furthermore, the application of plant breeding for turfgrass development has resulted in a reduction in the demand for fertilizer and water inputs (requirements), as well as turf-types with higher disease resistance.

## Biotechnology

An agronomist mapping a plant genome.

Agronomists use biotechnology to extend and expedite the development of desired characteristics.[1] Biotechnology is often a laboratory activity requiring field testing of new crop varieties that are developed.

In addition to increasing crop yields agronomic biotechnology is being applied increasingly for novel uses other than food. For example, oilseed is at present used mainly for margarine and other food oils, but it can be modified to produce fatty acids for detergents, substitute fuels and petrochemicals.

## Soil science

Main article: Earth:Agricultural soil science

Agronomists study sustainable ways to make soils more productive and profitable. They classify soils and analyze them to determine whether they contain nutrients vital for plant growth. Common macronutrients analyzed include compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Soil is also assessed for several micronutrients, like zinc and boron. The percentage of organic matter, soil pH, and nutrient holding capacity (cation exchange capacity) are tested in a regional laboratory. Agronomists will interpret these laboratory reports and make recommendations to modify soil nutrients for optimal plant growth.[2]

### Soil conservation

Additionally, agronomists develop methods to preserve soil and decrease the effects of [erosion] by wind and water. For example, a technique known as contour plowing may be used to prevent soil erosion and conserve rainfall. Researchers of agronomy also seek ways to use the soil more effectively for solving other problems. Such problems include the disposal of human and animal manure, water pollution, and pesticide accumulation in the soil, as well as preserving the soil for future generations such as the burning of paddocks after crop production. Pasture management techniques include no-till farming, planting of soil-binding grasses along contours on steep slopes, and using contour drains of depths as much as 1 metre.[3]

## Agroecology

Agroecology is the management of agricultural systems with an emphasis on ecological and environmental applications.[4] This topic is associated closely with work for sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and alternative food systems and the development of alternative cropping systems.[5]

## Theoretical modeling

Theoretical production ecology is the quantitative study of the growth of crops. The plant is treated as a kind of biological factory, which processes light, carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients into harvestable products. The main parameters considered are temperature, sunlight, standing crop biomass, plant production distribution, and nutrient and water supply.[citation needed]

## See also

* Agricultural engineering
* Agricultural policy
* Agroecology
* Agrology
* Agrophysics
* Crop farming
* Food systems
* Horticulture
* Green Revolution
* Vegetable farming

## References

1. ↑ Georgetown International Environmental Law Review
2. ↑ Hoeft, Robert G. (2000). Modern Corn and Soybean Production. MCSP Publications. pp. 107 to 171.
3. ↑ Arya, R. L.; Arya, S.; Arya, Renu; Kumar, J. (2015-01-01) (in en). Fundamentals of Agriculture (ICAR-NET, JRF, SRF, CSIR-NET, UPSC & IFS). Scientific Publishers. ISBN 978-93-86102-36-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=Rss4DwAAQBAJ&q=no-tilling+crops,+soil-binding+grasses+and+contour+drains&pg=PA236.
4. ↑ "Iowa State University: Undergraduate Program - Agroecology". http://www.agron.iastate.edu/academic/undergraduate/options/agro_ecol.aspx.
5. ↑ Rosenberg Agronom

## Bibliography

* Wendy B. Murphy, The Future World of Agriculture, Watts, 1984.
* Antonio Saltini, Storia delle scienze agrarie, 4 vols, Bologna 1984–89, ISBN 88-206-2412-5, ISBN 88-206-2413-3, ISBN 88-206-2414-1, ISBN 88-206-2415-X

## External links

* The American Society of Agronomy (ASA)
* Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)
* Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)
* European Society for Agronomy
* The National Agricultural Library (NAL) – Comprehensive agricultural library.
* Information System for Agriculture and Food Research

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Botany

History of botany

Subdisciplines|

* Plant systematics
* Ethnobotany
* Paleobotany
* Plant anatomy
* Plant ecology
* Phytogeography
* Geobotany
* Flora
* Phytochemistry
* Plant pathology
* Bryology
* Phycology
* Floristics
* Dendrology
* Astrobotany

Plant groups|

* Algae
* Archaeplastida
* Bryophyte
* Non-vascular plants
* Vascular plants
* Spermatophytes
* Pteridophyte
* Gymnosperm
* Angiosperm

Plant morphology
(glossary)

| Plant cells|

* Cell wall
* Phragmoplast
* Plastid
* Plasmodesma
* Vacuole

|

Tissues|

* Meristem
* Vascular tissue
* Vascular bundle
* Ground tissue
* Mesophyll
* Cork
* Wood
* Storage organs

Vegetative|

* Root
* Rhizoid
* Bulb
* Rhizome
* Shoot
* Stem
* Leaf
* Petiole
* Cataphyll
* Bud
* Sessility

Reproductive
(Flower)|

* Flower development
* Inflorescence
* Umbel
* Raceme
* Bract
* Pedicellate
* Flower
* Aestivation
* Whorl
* Floral symmetry
* Floral diagram
* Floral formula
* Receptacle
* Hypanthium (Floral cup)
* Perianth
* Tepal
* Petal
* Sepal
* Sporophyll
* Gynoecium
* Ovary
* Ovule
* Stigma
* Archegonium
* Androecium
* Stamen
* Staminode
* Pollen
* Tapetum
* Gynandrium
* Gametophyte
* Sporophyte
* Plant embryo
* Fruit
* Fruit anatomy
* Berry
* Capsule
* Seed
* Seed dispersal
* Endosperm

Surface structures|

* Epicuticular wax
* Plant cuticle
* Epidermis
* Stoma
* Nectary
* Trichome
* Prickle

* Plant physiology
* Materials

* Nutrition
* Photosynthesis
* Chlorophyll
* Plant hormone
* Transpiration
* Turgor pressure
* Bulk flow
* Aleurone
* Phytomelanin
* Sugar
* Sap
* Starch
* Cellulose

Plant growth and habit|

* Secondary growth
* Woody plants
* Herbaceous plants
* Habit
* Vines
* Lianas
* Shrubs
* Subshrubs
* Trees
* Succulent plants

Reproduction

* Evolution
* Ecology

* Alternation of generations
* Sporangium
* Spore
* Microsporangia
* Microspore
* Megasporangium
* Megaspore
* Pollination
* Artificial
* Pollinators
* Pollen tube
* Self
* Double fertilization
* Germination
* Evolutionary development
* Evolutionary history
* timeline

Plant taxonomy|

* History of plant systematics
* Herbarium
* Biological classification
* Botanical nomenclature
* Botanical name
* Correct name
* Author citation
* International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN)
* International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP)
* Taxonomic rank
* International Association for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)
* Plant taxonomy systems
* Cultivated plant taxonomy
* Citrus taxonomy
* cultigen
* cultivar
* Group
* grex

Practice|

* Agronomy
* Floriculture
* Forestry
* Horticulture

* Lists
* Related topics

* Botanical terms
* Botanists
* by author abbreviation
* Botanical expedition

* Category
*   * WikiProject

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