Wheat Farming
Wheat Farming
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction Ecological Economic
Examples -Canadian prairies 加拿大溫帶草原-USA prairies 美國溫帶草原-Murray Basin in Australia 澳洲墨累河盆-Pampas in Argentina 阿根廷南美大草原-Ukaine 烏克蘭-North China Plain 華北平原
Human modification Sustainable farming
Introduction
Distribution of wheat farming
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Introduction1. Relief Flat to undulating
2. Climate Temperate continental climate
3. Thermal input Moderate, around 20’C
4. Rainfall Low to moderate, 500-750mm
5. Drainage Well - drained
6.Life cycle Short, about 3-4 months
7. Soil Rich grassland soil ( e.g. chernozem黑鈣土 , prairie soil 溫帶草原土 )
8. Farm site Far away from urban areas
9. Farm size Large
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Introduction
13. Land value Low
14. Land use intensity Low
15. Type of farm
produce
Wheat (a more durable crop)
Cereal (staple food crop)
16. Source of labour From family, employed workers
17. Labour cost High
18. Level of
mechanization
High, large-scale
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Introduction
19. Input of electricity High ( fuels, petrol )
20. Capital input Large
21. Market Local and international
22. Transport linkage By lorry, railway, ship
23. Settlement pattern Scattered
24. Soil conservation Windbreaks, rotation, fallowing
25. Degree of
modification
Moderate
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Ecological changes and impact
1. Flooding
Flooding due to
- Occasional extreme
weather conditions- Global warming- Snow melting- Widespread
deforestation
Impact- Uprooting and destruction of crops- Excessively prolonged water logging- Rotting of seedlings - Weeds and pests occur- damage of farmhouses and
infrastructure
- Alluvium deposited increases soil
fertility
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
2. El Nino & La Nina
El Nino & La Nina Impact
- More frequent and larger scale of
climatic hazard
- destruction of crop, farmhouse,
machine and infrastructure
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
3. Drought
Drought due to
- Insufficient rainfall- strong wind- drought-prone
areas (monsoon
areas, continental
interior)
- overcultivation
Impact- Inadequate water for irrigation
- Crop failure
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4. Global warming
Global warming Heat is trapped by green house gases
(carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrous oxide)
Impact-Uncertain change of micro-climate - Pests and weeds increase
- Concentrated carbon dioxide
increases crop production
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
5. Tornados & typhoon
Tornados & typhoon Impact- Uprooting of crops- Physical damage of crops - Damage of machines,
farmhouses and infrastructure
- Crop failure
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
6. Frost and hail
Frost and hail Impact-Physical damage of crops - Less frost – free day
- Shorter growing season
- Crop failure
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
7. Soil erosion
Soil erosion due to
- Overcultivation- Deforestation- Drought- Strong wind
Impact- Decreases soil fertility
- Decreases growing capacity
- Crop failure
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Case study – Canadian Prairies
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Case study – Canadian Prairies
1) Long, sunny, summer days
2) Winter frosts help to break up the soil
3) The chinook wind (千諾風 ) melts the snow in spring
helps to extend the growing season.
4) Relief is gently undulating (machinery and transport)
5) Decayed vegetation gives chernozem (黑鈣土 ) and
prairie soil (溫帶草原土 )
Favorable physical characteristics :
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Case study – Canadian Prairies
1) In the north, growing season is short
( falls below the minimum requirement of 90 days )
2) Precipitation is low, about 500mm
3) In summer, hail and tornados ruin the crop and
droughts occur periodically
4) In winter, snows come as blizzards (暴風雪 )
5) Removal of vegetation leads to erosion by wind
and convectional rainstorms
Unfavorable physical characteristics :
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Economic considerations
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
1. High investment cost
High investment cost
- Require high level of technology,
modernized machinery - Routine care against pests - Land preparation (use of fertilizer)
Capital affects the scale of farming
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
2. High management fee
High management fee
Farm size is very large, computer is used for management
High management fee
Cost of production increased
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
3. High wage rate & labour shortage
High wage rate &
Labour shortage
- People is not willing to work in
farm
- Rural – urban migration- Require skillful and educated
workers and technicians
Rely more on machine, labour force is partly replaced
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
4. High maintenance fee
High maintenance fee
High level of machinery (e.g. combine harvesters, sprinkles)
Maintenance fee and electricity fee is high
Increases cost of production
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
5.Land use competition
Land use competition
Urbanization
More demand of land for urban development
Bid up land rent
More tertiary and secondary land use
Less land for farming
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
6. Change from local to world market
Expanded
market
Improved technology International
and transportation Trading Organization
(huge elevators, railway) (WTO, EU)
Better connection of farmers and market
Market expanded
Demand increased
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
7.Change of taste
Change
of taste
MDCs sent surplus Increased living standard
wheat to LDCs as aid
More food variety and choice
Taste changed and demand fluctuated
Farmers pay more attention of
future market projection
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8. Diversification of wheat
Diversification of wheat
Technology advancement
More types of wheat
e.g. Durum (杜蘭 ) pasta
Buckwheat (蕎麥 ) bread
Farmers consider different types of wheat
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8. Diversification of wheat
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Durum杜蘭
8. Diversification of wheat
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Buckwheat 蕎麥 Traditional wheat
9. Government policy
Government policy
Subsidies, protective tariff, government purchase of surplus grain, improves infrastructure
Production cost decreases,
Greater incentives of farming
Farmers may expand their farm
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Human modification
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
1. Mechanization
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Mechanization Problem solved
-water pumps
-sprinklers
-tractors
-combine harvesters
-help in farm procedures (ploughing, sowing, spraying of fertilizers, irrigation, harvesting)
-help in handling, storage, packing and delivery of farm produce
-increase labour productivity, farm yield and efficiency
-reduce the problem of labour shortage
1. Mechanization
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Mill separating wheat into flour, bran and germ
1. Mechanization
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Harvesting
Ploughing
1. Mechanization
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A drill is used to put grain seeds into the ground
1. Mechanization
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
A disk is used to mix and firm the top 6-8 inches of soil
1. Mechanization
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Grain bin is a place where grain is protected from pests attack, rainfall and other damaging wheather
1. Mechanization
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Problem aroused
-soil is compacted by heavy machines. infiltration decreases and surface runoff increases, leading to soil erosion and flooding
-require fossil fuels, which may pollute the environment
-large fields are needed, so often trees around fields are cut down (loss of habitat for birds and wild animals)
-soil is more easily blown or washed away after cutting down of trees
2. Irrigation
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Irrigation Problem solved
-control the availability, quantity, time and reliability of water supply
-lengthen growing season
-the problem of periodic drought is solved
-quality and productivity are increased
2. Irrigation
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Problem aroused
-excessive irrigation water
-water logging
-salinization
-increase the number of pests and weeds
-overpumping of ground water salt-water invasion
3. Use of fertilizers
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Fertilizers Problem solved
-superphosphates in Australia
-nitrogen
-phosphorus
-potassium
-enrich the soil
-crop yield is raised and ensured
3. Use of fertilizers
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Chart showing the amount of different fertilizer used
3. Use of fertilizers
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Problem aroused--crops become more vulnerable to pest attack
-encourage eutrophication of stream(富養化 ) algal bloom
-contaminate water supplies
-increase in DO(dissolved oxygen 溶解氧 ) demand and depletion of DO
-pollute the habitat of birds and animals
-food poisoning
-creation of super species
-nitrous oxides green house effect
3. Use of pesticides and weedicides
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Pesticides &
weedicides
Problem solved
-minimize nutrient loss
-eliminate weeds which drain away nutrients
-reduce loss caused by pests attack
3. Use of pesticides and weedicides
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Wheat sawfly
3. Use of pesticides and weedicides
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Russian wheat aphid
3. Use of pesticides and weedicides
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Problem aroused
-food poisoning
-poison the food chain
-pollute the habitat of birds and wild animals
-pollution of water and air (sprayed by plane)
4. Biotechnology
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Biotechnology Problem solved
-Cross-breeding of plants and animals
-genetic enginneering and modifications
-more rapid growth
-disease resistance
-temperature resistance
-more efficient fertilizer use
-reduced pesticide use
-less environmental pollution by chemicals
-greater yields
-more nutritious composition
4. Biotechnology
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Fertilizer consumption is decreasing due to biotechnology and other improved farmiing method
4. Biotechnology
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Problem aroused
-unpredictable and uncontrollable consequences to ecosystem
-undermines the Earth’s biodiversity
-creation of super species
-food webs are simplified
-fast-growing species less humus(腐殖質 ) from litter decomposition soil erosion
-ecosystems become unstable
-crops are not tested for toxicity before marketing
5.Seed selection
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Seed selection Problem solved
-new strains of plant
(drought-resistant wheat, hybrids 雜交小麥 , high-yielding varieties of wheat HYV )
-healthier seeds
-more efficient use of sunlight
-faster growth, quick-maturing
-drought-resistant
-temperature-resistant
-disease-resistant
-pest-resistant
-higher yield per hectare
-less input of pesticides (less pollution)
5. Seed selection
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Problem aroused
-may lead to over-cultivation
-unpredictable and uncontrollable ecological consequences
-loss of biodiversity
-may lead to extinction of some species
5. Seed selection
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
6.Expand into marginal land
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Expand into marginal land
Problem solved
-more land for farming
-reduce the problem of land competition
-slow down the bid up of land price
6. Expand into marginal land
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Problem aroused
-the growing capacity of marginal land is often low
-require more irrigation, machinery, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides
-overcultivation soil exhaustion and erosion
-loss of swamps, pastures and forests
-habitat of wildlife is damaged
Human modification – sustainable farming method
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
1.Organic farming
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Organic farming BenefitsOrganic way to improve soil
-use biological sources for plant nutrients
-green manure and organic matter (animal waste) is added to the soil to improve soil
structure, enhance fertility, increase water storage capacity
-grow leguminous plants (豆科作物 ) to add nitrogen to the soil
-e.g. mulch護根層 , ash from plants
1.Organic farming
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Organic farming Benefits
Organic way to
protect crops
-biological control of pests is used
(using natural predators 捕獵者 )
-mechanical control of pests
(netthing 網屋 , changing planting times and patterns )
2.Crop rotation
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Crop rotation Benefits
-efficient nutrient cycling
-reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides
-increase soil fertility
2.Crop rotation
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Chart showing less nutrient leakage for crop rotation
3.Windbreaks
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Windbreaks Benefits
-reduce wind speed
-retain exposed soil particles
-eliminate the damaging and desiccating (乾化 ) effects on plant growth
-increase infiltration, reduce surface runoff
3.Windbreaks
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Wind break
4. Contour ploughing
Introduction Ecological Economic Human modification Sustainable farming
Contour ploughing Benefits
-control land-gradient
-reduce soil erosion
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