Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
20 Crop Science and
Production Technology
Peter R. Hobbs and Larry W. Harrington
contents
Abstract .................................................................................................................. 317
Introduction............................................................................................................ 318
Molecular Biology ................................................................................................. 318
Marker-Assisted Breeding................................................................................. 319
Genomics........................................................................................................... 320
Transgenic Crops............................................................................................... 321
Tissue Culture ................................................................................................... 324
Efficient Crop Production ...................................................................................... 324
Conservation Agriculture .................................................................................. 325
Organic Farming ............................................................................................... 327
Precision Agriculture......................................................................................... 328
Dryland Agriculture .......................................................................................... 328
Extension of Technology ....................................................................................... 329
Conclusions and Study Topics ............................................................................... 331
References.............................................................................................................. 331
AbstRAct
In the last 40 years, world food production has risen dramatically, resulting in
improved global food security. Production of the three main food grains (wheat,
rice, and maize) increased threefold between 1961 and 2006 (from 642 million to
nearly 2 billion metric tons). Increased food production was a result of increased
acreage and higher yields (+250%) as a result of green revolution practices: stron-
ger plants, more nutrients, better pest and disease resistance, and more irrigation.
Production increases also occurred in other crops (e.g., vegetables, oil seeds, fodders,
and fruits), although some dryland crops such as pulses and small grains lost ground.
The purpose of this chapter is to identify new post-green revolution technology in
crop science that will help achieve future global food needs. Future increased pro-
duction will be required in many crops as well as cereals as consumers demand more
nutritious food and more meat-based products. Important technologies discussed
include major advances in molecular biology leading to more efficient development
of improved varieties and improved crop management in irrigated, but also dry rain-
fed environments where many of the rural poor subsist (e.g., improved rainfall har-
vest). Conservation agriculture is described as one way to achieve the management
317
 
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