Agriculture and Agricultural PracticesThe costs and benefits of modern food production

Ecosystems Interaction of

biotic and abiotic factors

Cycle/Re-cycle matter (C, N, P, etc)

Transfer energy

Farms are ecosystems Managed by humans Goal = maximize NPP Cycling of matter is

managed Manage biodiversity Manage

predators/competitors Manage matter

cyclingManaged Ecosystems

Modern v. Traditional Agriculture Traditional agriculture = ~10,000 years old

Utilizes biodiversity to manage ecosystem relationships and water

Modern agriculture = 75-100 years old Relies on ‘inputs’ Mechanization Irrigation Fertilizers Pesticides

Which one is ‘better’?

Traditional Agriculture Sometimes called

‘sustainable’ or ‘organic’

Inputs may be absent, reduced or different

What are the costs and benefits? Food Production Environmental Economic

Modern Agriculture Sometime called

‘industrial’ agriculture

Reliance on some/all of the inputs

What are the costs and benefits? Food Production Environmental Economic

Inputs – Mechanization Started with draft

animals Internal combustion

engine resulted in modern equipment

Wide range of options – tractors, combines, etc.

Reduce human labor/increase efficiency

Costs and Benefits?

Inputs – Irrigation Manages abiotic

factor and matter cycling

Use since the beginnings of agriculture

Surface water and ground water

Need is specific to crop and location

Costs and Benefits?

Inputs – Fertilizers Manages matter

cycling Nutrients include N, P,

K and various micronutrients

Specific to crop, climate and soil

Traditional systems use compost, manure and crop rotation

Modern systems use synthetic fertilizers made from fossil fuels and atmospheric NCosts and

Benefits?

Inputs – Pesticides Manages biotic factors Kill or remove any

competitors for the crop Includes herbicides,

insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides and predator control

Traditional systems rely on natural predators

Modern systems rely on chemical control

Costs and Benefits?