Agricultural reforms

Our current agricultural system is severely flawed with inefficiency and uncertain practices. Sustainable farming is a journey rather than a destination; aims to preserve the environment, support biodiversity, and tolerate the challenges of our fragile world. This article outlines three major issues — land loss, water scarcity, and food security — and explores possible solutions. At present, there is no fully sustainable agricultural system in place, but the future points to the potential for greater development.

Soil is the key to life on earth; Good soil is the most important factor in plant growth. Therefore, soil erosion is a major obstacle for farmers around the world. Soil should be treated as a non-renewable resource; It takes at least 100 years for a single soil to be formed, according to the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. The amount of soil that was degraded during our lifetime will not change for many generations. Soil erosion removes top and bottom soils, which tend to have the highest biological activity and the highest number of soil organisms. This causes loss of nutrients and often creates a negative environment for plant growth. Plants need this soil to grow roots, to prevent them from being blown away and washed away by the weather, as well as a great depth of water, air and nutrients. When nutrients cannot support plant growth on the site, the soil can accumulate in water and cause many environmental problems, such as algal blooms and lake eutrophication.

This problem is not new, and many practices are in place to prevent further erosion. The Erosion Act of 1935, the first national land conservation program, was the answer to the greatest erosion problem ever, a dustbin. It has established the Soil Conservation Service, now the USDA-NRCS, or Natural Resource Conservation Service, to help farmers and ranchers adopt conservation strategies in their countries. These practices include plowing, pruning, plowing, tillage, sheltering, crop rotation, and legumes or crop residues.

Due to unnecessary irrigation, grazing, and farming practices, excess water / rainfall is not enough to meet our agricultural needs. A major problem with water resources was created in the 1950's, with the introduction of electric pumps, which allowed the use of groundwater for irrigation. The pre-development groundwater system is a long-term equation; removed water is measured by the water included, and the final water volume remains constant.

While the reliance on irrigation farming will never end, clever ways of irrigating and conserving water are available. Soil moisture testers can only be used to irrigate fields when the soil is dry, to prevent congestion and to reduce water waste. The times / methods of morning / evening irrigation can be used to reduce water loss to evaporation, and to use less water as needed. Withdrawals from rivers can be reduced in these ways, as well as better crop selection (grow less maize, less water waste), revise which crops need more irrigation and ethanol), and reduced reductions in high-water crops (higher costs of high water use). Also, these crops are grown in areas where they are not naturally grown. For example, most of the acreage of irrigated maize in the U.S. is in four categories: Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, and Colorado. These four provinces have different climates and soil types. Switching to growing plants in an area where its needs can be better met naturally will greatly reduce irrigation systems.

Flood irrigation is one of the most popular ways to irrigate crops. Water is pumped or brought to the fields and allowed to flow through the ground between crops. This method is simple and cheap, and is widely used by communities in less developed parts of the world and in the U.S. However, it is neither effective nor sustainable; about half of the water used ends up in the plants.

Sewage can be reduced by measuring the fields; flooding uses gravity to move water, so the water rushes down the slopes and does not cover the field evenly. By measuring the field, the water will be able to flow evenly throughout the fields. It can also be reduced by rising floods. It is a small traditional type of flood irrigation; usually, water is simply released into the field, but the floodwaters release the water at prearranged times, reducing the unwanted flow. Eventually, catching and reusing runoff will increase efficiency. A large amount of irrigation water is wasted because it runs to the edge and behind the fields. Flow water can be caught in ponds and blown back into the field, where the next irrigation cycle is used.

Trickle irrigation is known as the most irrigating method of irrigation. The water flows directly near the root zone of the plant with a dripping motion. This requires a wide tube to ensure that all the plants in the garden are accessible by irrigation, but it leads to less water loss. The system can be set to timer, manually used, or configured to respond to current situations. If the system is properly installed, you can effectively reduce water loss through evaporation and flow, as well as reduce weed growth. Trick irrigation also reduces nutrient losses in the soil, reduces local water and water infiltration, and reduces water loss due to evaporation. Soil erosion caused by spraying and other types of irrigation is also reduced.

These problems are exacerbated by our current investment plan; Many crops are grown in arid areas, and require artificial fertilizers, irrigation, and pesticides. An effort to plant plants that are more efficient and naturally sound is GMO crops. These genetically modified crops were challenged in class discussion and favored by a number of students. While the current system has many problems, its future power is not taken into account. My classmates made the decision to oppose technology for a number of reasons, including the curiosity and beauty of natural / organic foods, ignorance of the toxic effects of GMO foods. They also criticized agricultural enterprises for profit-making without worrying about potential risks, and the government for failing to exercise proper oversight.

Tolerance of extreme drought, cold, and salt is probably one of the most important changes in the future of agriculture. As the value of the land grows and the demand for new agricultural lands increases, crops will need to be planted in areas that were not suitable for crop cultivation. Creating plants that can withstand long periods of snow, drought or high salt content in the soil and groundwater will help people to plant crops in areas that were previously unacceptable. For example, GM salmon, genetically engineered from other fish species, grows faster than wild salmon and can survive cold water, allowing salmon to grow in new areas. However, it is currently out of the market. Another non-market mutation is the cold-blooded gene. Unexpected snow can destroy sensitive plants and damage the entire crop. Cold genetics from cold-water fish were introduced into plants such as tobacco and potatoes. With this cold-blooded gene, these plants are able to withstand cold temperatures that would normally kill unruly plants. This technology will allow these plants to grow in colder climates where they usually do not germinate.

Traditionally, American agriculture has been marked by inefficiency and waste. The soil has been completely eradicated and fields have been left small, water sources have been depleted and water is being spilled or evaporated, and food production is being pressured to meet the needs of a growing global population. Fortunately, the situation is not as bad as it seems; Many conservation measures are in place to help regenerate the soil, new technologies will help protect our limited water resources, and human ingenuity is being used in food production. Clearly, we are on the path to a modern, sustainable, and efficient agricultural system.

Agricultural practices in the United States have left a lasting impression. Fortunately, the situation is not as sad as it seems; Many conservation measures are in place to help regenerate the soil, new technologies will help protect our limited water resources, and these same technologies are being used for food production. We seem to be on our way to a more sustainable, viable agricultural system, with the appreciation and support of our growing people.