Human beings have learned the art and science of cultivating plants and animals over several thousands of years.
In agriculture actually, we are applying the knowledge of ecosystem, i.e. the relationship between the biotic and abiotic factors as well as the interaction between biotic factors.
However differing from a natural ecosystem where various types of organisms live and grow naturally, in agriculture fields one or a few selected plants or animals only are grown.
For any given crop farmers maintain favorable conditions in the ecosystems made by them (crop field) for a period of time during which seeds are sown, plants grow, pollination takes place, fruit or grains come and then the crop matures.
Like you know in paddy field the only paddy is allowed to grow and all other plants present are removed. In crop field ecosystems where the plants such as rice, wheat vegetables etc. are cultivated farmers exploit the relationship between the abiotic factors and producers. For instance, when they add manure to their farm they increase the abiotic factors (nutrients) required for the growth of their plants. Similarly, when they remove pest insects they are eliminating the consumers that will eat the plants (producers) and reduce its growth. Cropland ecosystem like all other artificial ecosystems requires constant intervention by humans. Otherwise, it will degenerate and crop loss would be the result.
Watch the video given below to see various steps of developing a paddy field ecosystem
Video courtesy: Tom Kiron Discussion
Why do we take out the weeds that grow in the cropland?
[Contributed by administrator on 10. Januar 2018 21:33:11]
Agriculture and Ecosystems
Human beings have learned the art and science of cultivating plants and animals over several thousands of years.
However differing from a natural ecosystem where various types of organisms live and grow naturally, in agriculture fields one or a few selected plants or animals only are grown.
For any given crop farmers maintain favorable conditions in the ecosystems made by them (crop field) for a period of time during which seeds are sown, plants grow, pollination takes place, fruit or grains come and then the crop matures.
Like you know in paddy field the only paddy is allowed to grow and all other plants present are removed. In crop field ecosystems where the plants such as rice, wheat vegetables etc. are cultivated farmers exploit the relationship between the abiotic factors and producers. For instance, when they add manure to their farm they increase the abiotic factors (nutrients) required for the growth of their plants. Similarly, when they remove pest insects they are eliminating the consumers that will eat the plants (producers) and reduce its growth. Cropland ecosystem like all other artificial ecosystems requires constant intervention by humans. Otherwise, it will degenerate and crop loss would be the result.
Watch the video given below to see various steps of developing a paddy field ecosystem
Video courtesy: Tom Kiron
Discussion
Why do we take out the weeds that grow in the cropland?