Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The fact that genetically modified seeds are patented, forcing
farmers to purchase these seeds on an ongoing basis, which
could lead to only a few companies having power over the en-
tire global food supply
The potential to build crops that use less fer-
tilizer and water
Crop Diversity
Our current food supply uses only a small sampling of existing crop types. Critics contend that this could make
the agricultural industry susceptible to widespread devastation by an unforeseen event targeting one type of es-
sential crop. One way to lessen this danger is by preserving diverse seed types, including wild varieties. For
this purpose, seed banks exist throughout the world. Housing and preserving many seed types is a way to pro-
tect seed genetic diversity along with safeguarding our food supply in case of disaster.
Deforestation
Historically, in order to create land for agriculture, people have cleared forests and other land. While deforest-
ation may have short-term benefits on food production, it has a negative and potentially disastrous effect on
wildlife, ecosystems, and long-term human sustainability. Forests provide food, shelter, and habitat for an
enormous variety of organisms; hold soil in place and reduce erosion; act as "carbon sinks," trapping carbon
dioxide; and provide resources for human use. Deforestation devastates ecosystems, reduces biodiversity, can
destroy human populations, and has long-term global ramifications.
Irrigation
Supplying water for agricultural purposes is called irrigation. Irrigation allows areas that would otherwise be
dry and unusable for agriculture to become fertile and productive. However, if land is over-watered, it can be-
come waterlogged, a condition in which soil becomes saturated or oversaturated and the water table rises. This
can ultimately suffocate plant roots, compact soil, and lead to salinization. Salinization occurs when salts ac-
cumulate on the soil's surface. When water evaporates from the soil's surface, it leaves behind the salts that
were once dissolved in it. This salinization can reduce crop productivity. Salinization is more common in arid
regions where there is limited precipitation, but it also can occur from over-irrigation and water logging.
Ways to reduce salinization include the following:
• Ensuring proper drainage
• Using only the necessary amount of water for irrigation
• Planting crops according to water need (not planting crops that require large amounts of water in areas
with minimal natural water sources)
• Using low-salt irrigation water
Many modern irrigation systems use drip irrigation, which allows water to drip directly onto plants, as op-
posed to mass spraying of water onto an entire field. This increases water efficiency while reducing saliniza-
tion.
Sustainable Agriculture
Some modern farmers use a variety of methods to reduce the environmental impact of growing crops, includ-
ing conservation of soil, land, and water. Ironically, many of these methods were common in traditional agri-
culture, including the following:
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