What is the significance of irrigation

Identify common species of forage. Provide practice in identifying common forages. Determine limitations to forage selection. Forage selection requires an understanding of species and cultivars.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of selecting mixtures. A model for forage selection Summary Exam References Establishment Overview Pre-Test Instructional Objectives Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pasture establishment Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pasture renovation.

Discuss the steps in seedbed preparation. Discuss the considerations of seed quality. Discuss the methods and timing of seeding. Discuss the purpose and wise utilization of companion crops. Instructional Objectives Explain why producers and the public should be concerned about weeds.

Describe several ways in which weeds cause forage crop and animal production losses. Describe methods in determining quality List several poisonous plants found on croplands, pasturelands, rangelands, and forests. Describe the five general categories of weed control methods.

Describe the concept of Integrated Pest Management and how it applies to weed control. Distinguish between selective and non-selective herbicides and give an example of each.

Describe how weeds are categorized by life cycle and how this is correlated with specific control methods. Describe conditions that tend to favor weed problems in pastures and describe how to alleviate these conditions.

Describe several common weed control practices in alfalfa production. List printed and electronic sources of weed control information. List local, regional, and national sources of weed control information. Describe the impact of defoliation on grass plants. Discuss how grasses regrow. Discuss how livestock interaction impacts grass growth.

Discuss grass growth in mixed stands. Discuss the practical applications of regrowth mechanisms. References Fertilization Overview Pre-Test Instructional Objectives Discuss the importance of soil fertility and the appropriate use of fertilization. Define and discuss the nitrogen cycle. Discuss the major elements needed for good soil fertility and plant growth. Define and discuss micronutrients. In , the Soviet government decided that the two rivers that fed the Aral Sea, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, would be divert ed to irrigate crops of cotton, melons, and citrus in the deserts of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Canals were poorly built, and much of the water went to waste. Before large-scale agriculture was introduced in the s, the Aral Sea had an area of 68, square kilometers 26, square miles. Today, the Aral Sea is three separate lakes, with a combined area of fewer than 17, square kilometers 3, square miles. The Aral Sea ecosystem has been nearly eliminate d.

The areas once-thriving fishery has been destroy ed. Huge fishing vessels now sit abandoned in the middle of the salty desert. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are working with environmental organizations to preserve what is left of the Aral Sea while still allowing farmers to irrigate their crops.

Kazakhstan, for example, built a dam to retain water in the North Aral Sea, one of three lakes now in the area. Fish are slowly returning. Improved irrigation canals from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya also reduce the amount of water lost to agriculture. Irrigation in Oz Australia has seen a boom in its agricultural production in recent decades, which means that it has also seen a huge increase in the use of irrigation.

The Australian government estimates that 70 percent of the water used in rural Australia is used for irrigation. Now officials must work to help conserve the country's water resources. One activity, called the 40 Hour Drought, encourages people to use as little water as possible for 40 hours.

Doing this shows them what it would be like if water supplies dwindled, and is meant to reduce overall water use. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. Caryl-Sue, National Geographic Society. Dunn, Margery G. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service.

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Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. Agricultural communities developed approximately 10, years ago when humans began to domesticate plants and animals. By establishing domesticity, families and larger groups were able to build communities and transition from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle dependent on foraging and hunting for survival. Select from these resources to teach your students about agricultural communities.

The continuous increase in population , the improvement in the quality of life in emerging countries and changes in food consumption, among other factors, is generating a growing general awareness of water consumption and its optimization.

However, irrigation has an impact on many aspects of society and the environment, and therefore, it must be efficient and technician since it is one of the main agents in the change of the agri-food paradigm.

Below, we highlight the positive aspects of irrigation in the current model. It is a reality that irrigation shapes the territory and creates new landscapes. Irrigation landscape elements such as irrigation ditches or canals are characteristic elements that give life to the landscape and help to direct water to our areas of interest. Hydraulic structures are highly valued by society since, depending on the structure, they create a greater or lesser impact on landscape diversity.

Irrigation plays a key role in addressing food security challenges, both in Spain and in the rest of the world. The increase in food production directly influences the expansion of irrigated areas and the availability of water, both in space and time.

In addition, another important issue to be addressed is climate change , since it will directly affect the ratio of future agricultural production , impacting global food security and forcing us to produce more food with fewer resources, or in a more efficient manner. Irrigation contributes to social cohesion and stability ; it is responsible for boosting a territory and is, therefore, one of the basic pillars of rural and regional development.

It is also an essential element for the economy of the regions, for the quality of life or the valorization of products. It has an impact on income and is the main contributor to maintaining social stability.