Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
maximum rainfall because, if a barrier is too shallow, saturation of the soil that will be
detrimental to plant growth could occur. When rain falls it can penetrate to this barrier,
but then it cannot percolate deeper into the soil. The water is thus captured in the upper
soil for plant use. This approach has been investigated and can be effective. In most
cases mulch should be used to prevent water loss from the soil surface. However,
installing such a layer is cost and labor intensive and thus is not be useful in most cases.
Temperature is a critical factor in crop production. In most cases it is low tempera-
ture that is of the most concern. Temperatures of small areas can be controlled in a
number of different ways. Cold frames have been used in many places to get plants
started earlier in the spring. In this case a frame, made of 15-cm-wide boards is
placed on an area and a piece of plastic or glass placed over it. This works as a
shallow greenhouse keeping young plants from being adversely affected by low
temperatures in the spring and allowing plants to be started earlier.
The more commonly seen are greenhouses, made of glass or plastic, which can be
heated or cooled such that plants can be grown all year long. Although greenhouses are
common throughout the world, they are generally only economical for high-value crops
such as flowers. They are also commonly used to start plants early in the growing
season. These plants are then transplanted outside when the weather permits, thus
allowing for earlier and longer production. The cost of building a greenhouse is not
great, but the expense of heating and cooling it can be excessive in cold climates.
Conservation or control of water available to plants will result in dramatic
increases in crop production. For this reason water and soil conservation, drainage,
irrigation, and mulching are all activities that farmers can undertake to increase
productivity
in
all
environmental
conditions.
Many
of
these
activities,
such
as
keeping the soil covered at all times, are not expensive and can be done anywhere.
Note that leaving organic matter in the field on the soil surface means that there
will be more organic matter in soil, and this will also increase the soil's ability to
hold water for plants. Thus another thing all farmers can do to increase agricultural
production is increase soil organic matter by leaving as much organic matter in the
field as possible, applying animal manure and compost, and by growing green
manure crops. Also the use of organic mulches will result in increased organic
matter in soil and thus increase the soil's water holding and supplying capacity.
Mulches can also protect the soil surface between crops if it is not totally decomposed
during the growing season, which is generally the case.
Farm animals are adversely affected by both high and low temperatures and must
have readily available water and food. Animals must be protected from low tempera-
tures and will not produce well in very hot climates. Thus barns or similar structures
are used to house animals in the winter, and shade is provided for animals during hot
weather. Animals need drinking water, and there must also be enough rainfall to
allow for the growth of plants they can eat.
In many countries animals are constantly kept in buildings, for example, Steve's
swine operation, where water and food are provided either at certain times or on a
continuous basis. In these cases the building must be either heated or cooled, depending
on the outside weather. In some cases all three, that is, water, food, and climate are con-
trolled automatically, and the farmer need only make sure that all systems are functional.
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