Agricultural science

History:
– Johann Friedrich Mayer experimented with gypsum as fertilizer in the 18th century.
– John Bennet Lawes and Joseph Henry Gilbert initiated long-term field experiments in 1843 at Rothamsted Research.
– The Hatch Act of 1887 marked the start of a scientific revolution in US agriculture.
– The Smith–Hughes Act of 1917 shifted agricultural education towards a vocational focus.
– Federal agricultural research expenditures surpassed private investments for 44 years post-1906.

Prominent agricultural scientists:
– Norman Borlaug is known as the father of the Green Revolution.
– Wilbur Olin Atwater and Robert Bakewell are notable figures in agricultural science.
– Luther Burbank and George Washington Carver made significant contributions.
– Carl Henry Clerk and George C. Clerk are recognized in the field.
– Agriculture, agricultural science, and agronomy have distinct definitions and roles.

Soil forming factors and soil degradation:
– Agricultural sciences focus on enhancing productivity and quality.
– Efforts include developing drought-resistant crops and animals.
– Minimizing pest impact on crop and animal systems is crucial.
– Transforming primary products into end-consumer goods is part of the research.
– Addressing soil degradation and environmental impacts is a key aspect.

Further reading:
– “Agricultural Research, Livelihoods, and Poverty” explores economic impacts in six countries.
– “Regenerating the Soil: From Agronomy to Agrology” by Claude Bourguignon delves into soil regeneration.
– “Computer les kilocalories” by Pimentel David and Pimentel Marcia discusses calorie computation.
– “Soil conditions and plant growth” by Russell E. Walter explores plant growth dynamics.
– “Genetics and geography of wild cereal domestication in the near east” by Salamini et al. touches on plant domestication.

External links:
– Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is a global research partnership.
– Agricultural Research Service focuses on scientific solutions for agriculture.
– Indian Council of Agricultural Research is a premier organization in India.
– International Institute of Tropical Agriculture specializes in tropical agriculture research.
– The National Agricultural Library (NAL) is a leading agricultural library globally.