– History:
– Agronomy involves selective breeding of plants for best crops in various conditions
– Plant breeding increased crop yields and improved nutritional value of crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat
– Development of new plant types like triticale through crossbreeding
– Plant breeding used for fruit, vegetable, and turfgrass development
– Turfgrass breeding resulted in types with higher disease resistance
– Plant Breeding:
– Agronomists use biotechnology to develop desired plant characteristics
– Biotechnology extends and expedites development of new crop varieties
– Biotechnology applied for uses beyond food, like producing fatty acids for detergents and fuels
– Field testing essential for new crop varieties
– Oilseed can be modified for various industrial applications
– Soil Science:
– Agronomists study ways to make soils more productive and profitable
– Soils analyzed for nutrients crucial for plant growth
– Macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium analyzed
– Micronutrients such as zinc and boron also assessed
– Soil pH, organic matter percentage, and cation exchange capacity tested
– Soil Conservation:
– Agronomists develop methods to preserve soil and reduce erosion effects
– Techniques like contour plowing used to prevent soil erosion
– Soil conservation helps in effective use of soil for various purposes
– Methods to tackle issues like water pollution, pesticide accumulation, and manure disposal
– Techniques include no-till farming and planting soil-binding grasses
– Agroecology:
– Agroecology focuses on managing agricultural systems with ecological and environmental emphasis
– Associated with sustainable agriculture, organic farming, and alternative food systems
– Aims to develop alternative cropping systems
– Emphasizes ecological and environmental applications
– Focuses on sustainable agricultural practices and systems
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.